Time and again, women said they want to be respected for the quality of their work, to respect the person they work for, and to be treated fairly in their business dealings. While women felt the need to stand up for their own rights, many said their record in standing up for one another was less sterling. At Cisco I've provided career counseling to women, I've recruited and hired women, I've advised colleagues on issues related to women, corrected inappropriate language and the actions of my peers. It's a tough job and it is possible to decide you are unwilling to accept it. The shadow job carries risks, Muther warned.
Timing is everything.
You have to have established professional credibility before you start. If you try it without building a professional track record, the risks to you are great. Besides being a risk to your professional credentials, the shadow job is also a major time commitment, she said. Unwillingness to take on the shadow job may be one reason women don't mentor other women more often. It's incumbent on women to change.