Worker Bee vs Queen Bee

Maybe you’ve heard yourself telling a girlfriend, “I know I can make an impact at a higher level – I know I can do more. I want that title and the pay that goes with it.”

Then a few weeks later, you hear yourself saying this: “I don’t know what I have to do to get noticed. Maybe I should go back and get my Masters.” 

Or perhaps you say this: “I am so sick of having to do everything myself. My teammates are useless and do the bare minimums. I have to pick up their slack all the time.”

Do you want to move up in your career?

Then you need to check your thinking.

You’ve got some beliefs that are getting in the way of you moving up the ladder of success. Let’s look at them a little deeper:

“I know I can make an impact at a higher level – I know I can do more. I want that title and the pay that goes with it.”

This starts out strong – believing in yourself and your capacity to handle more responsibility. It starts to fall off the rails when you get to title and money. Why is an increase in money important to you? No one ever works just for money and if they do, it’s a short-lived experience. You’ll soon burn out if you only focus on the monetary benefits of leadership.

Ask yourself why you want those things. What do you make that title mean about you? Is it about power? Leadership? Respect? Proving yourself? Take some time to answer these questions.

“I don’t know what I have to do to get noticed. Maybe I should go back and get my Masters.” 

This is an interesting one because it’s partially about getting someone else to change their behavior. You have no control over what someone else does. You only have control over how you show up. Plus – you’re believing getting another degree will have an influence on their ability to see you.

Are you speaking up in meetings or do you wait to be called on? 

Do you share your ideas with confidence or do you mention them almost as an afterthought? 

Do you add value to your team or project or are you complaining about the workload?

How might people be perceiving you on a daily basis? Take some time to look at yourself honestly – without judgment – to find out how you’re holding yourself back.

“I am so sick of having to do everything myself. My team is useless and does the bare minimums. I have to pick up their slack all the time.”

You may only say this in your head, but it still has a huge impact on how you lead. 

What are your thoughts/judgments around being the boss?

We all have old, default thoughts about many subjects and they influence our behavior.

What are the benefits of being the Queen Bee vs a Worker Bee?

(Clarification: I’m not referring to the Queen Bee Syndrome where women in power positions treat women in subordinate positions more critically. That’s another post for another day).

What do you think about being a leader? What do you make that mean? 

These questions are a must to explore in order for you to get to the bottom of what’s holding you back from advancing. 

What if you enjoyed the people you worked with and created a friendly and safe work environment where they felt they could trust each other and you?

What if it were possible to be a leader who garnered respect from her team and used her position of influence to empower and inspire them to perform at their best? 

How would that feel?

It’s good to be Queen.

P.S. You know you’ve been holding yourself back from reaching that next level. People have told you how talented you are. It’s time to believe them and take the next step. Schedule a complimentary call with me today and start believing in what’s possible. I believe in you.