A constructive voice, when utilised effectively, will allow you to be recognised, rewarded and promoted in all aspects of your life.
There is really only one main reason men are paid more than women and that is because they ask for more money. They ask for it, it’s that simple.
Some women work very hard day after day thinking, “My boss will notice how great I am, always here on time, never sick, very efficient, so he will pay me what I’m worth.”

Wow, how great would that be? Unfortunately, that is very rarely the case. Don’t rely on merit or hard work to be the basis for pay rises.

We must constantly show and inform our bosses how great we are and what an asset we are to the company. Men are constantly in their boss’ face, telling them how the company could not survive without them, how much money they have saved the company and why they should be paid more money and promoted.

Let’s be honest ladies, how many times have you had a boss who knew less than you, worked less efficiently than you and you wondered why the hell he had the job instead of you, especially seeing you were the reason he shined?
After learning in the mid-90s that a boss was taking credit for most of my work, and being paid four times what I was being paid, I made sure from then on, that the right people were aware of who was doing what. Through self-promotion, I saw my yearly salary more than double over a period of a few years. This would never have happened if I sat back thinking, “They know how valuable I am.”
Also, a lot of women hold back on sharing money-saving ideas as they feel they may be perceived as a trouble maker in the eyes of their employer. This is classic survival mode. What we are really thinking is “I need this job to survive,” and we remain merely surviving instead of thriving.

Now don’t get me wrong, I totally understand the thinking, “I can’t rock the boat, I have a mortgage to pay. I can’t survive without this job as I am living week to week.”
Also, that way of thinking is “topsy-turvy thinking.” It comes from a lack of self-worth and self-esteem and is the reason we are trapped in a ground-hog day life, so to speak.
By sharing our ideas with our bosses in a constructive, professional manner, they will more likely notice us, see that we care about the organisation, be thankful that they can save some money and, more importantly, may even promote us, especially if we continue to come up with these ideas.

In the early 90s, I was working at Dreamworld (a theme park on the Gold Coast in Australia) when the company went into receivership. During the first month, the receivers had a meeting with all 400 staff members. The first question they asked was: “If this was your company, what procedure or thing would you change/put in place to save money.” By utilising the ideas from staff, the receivers immediately cut expenses by 30% and added a couple of new revenue streams.
From then on, I have utilised this way of thinking, constantly asking myself: “How can I do this more efficiently?” One of my pet hates when I questioned a procedure or process was to hear: “We have always done it this way.”
I always managed to save expenses. As I was very efficient in my work, I always took on extra tasks and when I left a company; 1.5 or 2 people normally replaced my role to accomplish the same amount of work.
Start thinking and working from this perspective. Put your hand up for projects even if you feel that you may not have all the skills required for the tasks. You will learn quickly and grow exponentially when you are given the chance. And guess what? No one expects you to know it all. You just must know where to look for answers and the internet is a valuable resource.

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, is the first to admit that he is never the smartest person in any company meeting. He hires people to fill the gaps in his knowledge. A favourite quote of Richard’s (and there are many) is: “If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later.”

It is everyone’s right to have a joyous, harmonious and prosperous life, so go and get it. Stop playing small. You know in your heart that you desire it because you deserve it. And your voice is the key.

Not sure where to start?