Money Talk At Work. Yay or Nay?

For months, I have been researching and preparing myself to have series of what I can only call uncomfortable conversations. Surprisingly enough, I found it uncomfortable to bring up the topic of money and compensation in the workplace. Talking about money management for women of all ages and women’s right to be whatever they like… be it the boss, the fashionista, Suzie homemaker, or a combination of it all, is what I LOVE to do! While some view the conversation of money as uncomfortable and impolite, I have always been unapologetic about the topic because I recognize that the benefits of the conversation outweigh the discomfort. Over the maturation of this site and of my development into “real” adulthood, a sort of financial confidence on the subject of debt management has come over me. During that same time, I have realized that while the benefit of the conversation outweighs the stress it may cause, starting and engaging in conversations about my career path and the appropriate compensation has brought up a new feeling of uneasiness and forced me to become a human pendulum of leaning in and leaning back.

What does “Lean In” truly mean?

The phrase “lean in” comes from Sheryl Sandberg, author of the book Lean In, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, and now contributing writer for Cosmo (which I LOVE). It is a phrase used to encourage women to achieve one’s goals and tighten the gap of inequalities in the workplace. The book, which I just started, challenges women to change the conservation from what we can’t do, to what we can.  I believe my lean in started when I polled a number of women on the She Makes Cents fan page and asked the question, Have You Ever Asked for a Raise? That one question commenced my research of women in business, gender/minority inequality in the workplace, and what has surprisingly become my platform of choice, the pay gap between men and women in the workplace. My research confirmed some things I already knew. On average, a woman makes less than a man for doing the same job. This is a fact and for many reasons, but one I had never considered was that women are statistically less likely than men to ask for a raise. Learning this forced me to sit up, dust my fear off, “lean in” and take responsibility in deciding that NOW was the time for my talent, career path, and financial compensation to fall in line. I invite you to stay tuned as I dive into topics such as understanding the best time to ask for a raise, networking tips, work/life balance, leadership skills and personal branding.

Tell Us About Your Last “Lean In”!

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Email SMC: shemakescents@gmail.com