Recently, I was having a conversation with a woman at a lunch event. I introduced myself by saying my usual, “I help women find their inner sass”. This woman responded like so many women do, by informing me that she already had her inner sass. The thing is that I’m not so sure. Having your inner sass in your career doesn’t mean you have an attitude or you let people have a piece of your mind. It means that you have the courage and strength to make good decisions. Often, I believe that many women misinterpret this very important distinction.
It means that you have a sense of when to talk and when to not.
It doesn’t mean that you don’t have your voice. A woman that truly has her inner sass has the ability to be patient and hold back her opinion when it’s appropriate. It’s an important skill to be able to discern when to speak up and when to keep quiet. Also, mastering this skill can make a world of difference in your future success. Women with their inner sass have the strength to stay quiet, assess the situation and think things through before taking any action. They don’t make impulsive decisions that come back to haunt them later in their career.
It means that you don’t stay in your job when it’s time to move on.
I’m sure there’s been a time in your life when you stayed past your job’s expiration date. I’ve certainly done this. Frankly, I did it because it was easier than venturing outside and braving the elements. Why do we do this? It’s because in your present situation, at least you know what to expect. Humans like routine and you’re no exception to the rule. Considering leaving a job or career can encourage you to play the “what if” game. What if the new workplace is worse, what if I hate my job, etc. It requires sass to ignore the “what ifs”, take the chance and make that leap to find your happiness.
It means that you know how to take responsibility when you’ve been wrong.
It happens eventually to everyone. You make a mistake at work that will affect others. Having your sass doesn’t mean you can’t make colossal mistakes now and then. However, your sass is contingent on how you HANDLE the mistake. It takes courage and strength to take responsibility for your mess-up. It’s easier to try to slide it under the radar or blame it on someone else. However, taking full responsibility and being proactive in the way you handle the mistake shows integrity and character. It shows others that you are a true leader.
It means that you have the courage to say, “I don’t know”.
Your brain is telling you “I should know this and not knowing makes me look incompetent”. However, that can’t be further from the truth. I’m sure you’ve witnessed a situation where someone tried to make others believe they had the answer when they really didn’t. I bet you didn’t respect them too much after this charade. Being honest and saying, “I don’t know but I’ll find out” shows integrity, confidence, and sass.
So how did you stack up? Do you have some areas that could use some improvement? Be honest with yourself and make the changes to own your sass!