Go Ahead, Be Ambitious!

I was conducting a mock interview for one of my clients, a focused, smart, and confident woman going through an intentional career reinvention. When I asked her if she considered herself ambitious she recoiled as if I used an inappropriate word. After further inquiry she revealed that she never wanted to be seen as the run over your colleague type of ambitious as she thought it would jeopardize her professionalism and collegiality competencies in the workforce.

While some ambitious synonyms include pushy and ruthless, others are go-getting, determined, and motivated. I encourage those of you that are ambitious to own this adjective as a positive one and drive your own marketing message. Define who you are on your terms and don’t fear what others will interpret if you are clear about how you want the career world to see you.

If your boss asks what your career goals are, have an answer and be ready to aim high. You must articulate your goals in the workplace, and as you network, so others perceive you in roles with greater responsibility, higher rank, and a larger salary.

Aiming low and acting too humbly will inhibit your career growth because others will not believe you are interested in moving up. So if you are ambitious (as I am) wear it with pride and own your self confidence by talking about what you want.

By putting your professional wish list out into the world you are more likely to create opportunities that align with your values because others will have a clear expectation of what you want. Take pride in your ambition and own it with a humble confidence that is professionally palatable and will position you to be considered for bigger and better things.

For the record, men have been encouraged and applauded for their ambition for centuries so I’m confident that women can master this technique and use it to our advantage if we own our accolades and our career desires.