Is Your Glass (Ceiling) Half Empty or Half Full?

The infamous "glass ceiling" is blamed for Business issues for women from poor salaries to lack of corporate advancement. This invisible barrier holds many women captive in unpleasant work environments, settling for pay which is far below industry averages, accepting weak titles and agreeing to poor advancement opportunities.

Some say the glass ceiling is just a figment of the imagination while others are sure it is a real blockade created to prevent women from reaching corporate success. So, is your glass (ceiling) half empty or half full? In other words, are you going to be kept down by something you can't even see or are you willing to do what it takes to crack through and shatter this issue?

If you've decided that as a woman it will be impossible for you to reach corporate Business success, then you are right. That thought process will get you nowhere but where you are right now. On the other hand, if you are part of the growing group of women who want to break through to their own successes and remove the glass altogether, then keep reading.

To move forward, you must analyze your own communication skills and be brutally honest with yourself about your skill level. Weak and ineffective Business communication skills are often the primary reason women feel held back in their careers and in their lives.

Review this list to help determine where your skills stand.

1. Do you ask for raises?

2. Have you ever asked for a promotion or an improved job title?

3. Do you negotiate effectively for yourself?

4. Are you able to specifically explain the value you bring to your company or clients?

5. Are you an effective presenter or public speaker?

6. Do you apologize for things that aren't your fault or are out of your control?

7. Review your email or other writing. Do you start sentences with the word "I"?

8. Do you see negotiating as a barrier to getting what you want?

9. Do you have difficulty saying "no" even when you really want to?

10. Are you overwhelmed or consumed by stress?

11. Do you have difficulty explaining things or getting people to understand what you are trying to say?

If you answered "no" to any or all of the first five questions, then your assertive skills need an overhaul. If you answered "yes" to any or all of questions six through 11, then your communication skills are ineffective in helping you advance in your career. Essentially, you could be creating your own glass ceiling and holding yourself back.

Often, we are our own worst enemies.

To help put yourself back on the right track and stop constructing transparent blockades to your own success, review the three following PowHERful skills that will help put you on top.

1. Ask for it

If you want something, then ask for it. Make it clear what you want and you are more likely to get it.

A university study of 40 employees found that men are more likely to ask for things when they want them - AND they are more likely to get what they ask for.

Of the 20 women, only one asked for a raise when first offered a job. She was granted the hike in salary. Of the 20 men, 18 of them asked for a raise and all 18 were given it.

If you're one of those people who thinks it's better to magically get something without asking for it, then don't complain when you don't get it. Don't expect people to read your mind or know what you want. It's simply not the way things work.

2. Learn to speak and present effectively

People who communicate well in group settings are viewed as leaders. This perception will get you noticed and help you stand out as someone who is worthy of promotion and other opportunities and bonuses.

The number one reason why most people are terrible presenters stems back to speech development. The purpose of Business presentations are to inform, persuade or both. Therefore, the structure of the presentation must be clear and not bogged down with unnecessary information.

One of the biggest mistakes presenters make is trying to fit too much information