6 Non-Negotiables for Women in Power

As I've started to scope caller maturation milestones successful my business, I've had this increasing realization: Knowing your non-negotiables isn't conscionable important; it's essential. Not having them clear? Well, that's a consecutive summons to Discontent City, which, fto maine show you, doesn't do immoderate favors for your success, coming aliases future.

It's measurement excessively easy to fto things slide, isn't it? You make excuses for others (and yourself) and move a unsighted oculus to signs that all's not good because, hey, losing a customer sounds for illustration a nightmare, right? Or possibly you're truthful dazzled by what could beryllium that you discuss what is without moreover realizing it.

These thoughts person been swirling successful my caput ever since I attended nan Black Women's Power Summit. The stories I heard from these unthinkable women, who've faced and conquered monolithic hurdles to unafraid their spots successful positions of power, really deed home.

Here are six non-negotiables from myself and immoderate of nan powerful women we each look up to that will thief you support your occurrence and thief you push done to nan adjacent level.

Related: Stepping Into Your Power arsenic a Female Leader

1. Have uncomfortable conversations immediately

Let's person uncomfortable conversations. I utilized to dodge them for illustration a pro. But, facing them head-on? That's wherever nan magic happens. More often than not, I'd find retired I was missing a portion of nan puzzle. Whether they changed my position aliases cleared nan air, those talks ever near maine emotion lighter, fresh to attraction connected what matters.

2. Wait 24 hours earlier making decisions fueled by emotion

And here's a norm I unrecorded by now: If a determination is riding connected a activity of emotion, I deed region for 24 hours. It's astonishing what a small clip tin do for perspective.

3. Don't judge little than nan power you bring

Accepting little than I'm giving? No more. That's existent for activity and life. Steering clear of toxic people sounds obvious, but we've each been there, keeping personification astir when, heavy down, we cognize they're conscionable bringing play and draining our energy.

Related: 5 Women Entrepreneurs Share Their Top Advice for Finding Your Path to Career Success

4. Don't beryllium acrophobic to inquire things that alteration you to show up arsenic your best

When nationalist talk show big and character Sherri Shepherd was asked to beryllium connected circuit pinch Babyface, nan section glitter squad was not equipped to style a female of color. The squad could not style her wig, and nan instauration didn't lucifer her skin. Can you ideate having to big a large-scale event, looking up astatine nan monitor, and being distracted because nan reflection is not of your standard?

As women, it's often implied that asking for thing much than what is provided is considered "high maintenance." Don't beryllium acrophobic to ask for what you need to show up arsenic your champion self, and don't expect anyone to understand your petition arsenic they're not connected your way and they're not nan ones who person to show up successful your shoes.

5. Understand that work-life equilibrium is simply a lie

I listened to Thausandra Brown Duckett, CEO of TIAA, talk astir really work-life equilibrium is simply a lie. Her proposal is to dainty your life for illustration a diversified portfolio. She said work-life balance is simply a dishonesty because it ne'er reconciles. She suggests surviving your life for illustration a diverseness portfolio. Write down everything that matters to you, and allocate based connected your priorities. Over time, you will outperform successful each areas. Do not put each your clip aliases power into 1 thing. Don't hide to springiness yourself nan grace to recalibrate your portfolio arsenic needed.

6. There must beryllium incentives to innovate

And there's 1 gem I picked from Thai Randolph, who co-founded HartBeat Productions pinch Kevin Hart, that's go a mantra for me: She said that successful each opportunity, location must beryllium thing intrapreneurial. What that looks for illustration is having nan opportunity to build things, break things and standard things. There has to beryllium a existent inducement to innovate.

Related: 5 Trailblazing Black Women Entrepreneurs Share How They're Breaking Barriers — And How You Can Too

Honestly, my non-negotiables aren't groundbreaking, but ever since I've put them beforehand and center, communicated them to my squad and decided to unrecorded by them, nan quality has been transformational. Thanks to these non-negotiables, my company, Society22 PR, made it connected Inc.'s Fastest Growing Companies list, and we person been capable to nurture a company culture that's beyond what I dreamed.

So yes, these reflections connected my non-negotiables person reshaped my attack to business. It's not conscionable astir mounting boundaries; it's astir creating a abstraction wherever you, your squad and your business tin thrive. And fto maine show you, nan consequence has been beautiful great.