Our thoughts on the “Lazy Girl Strategy” for career progression
Avni Barman, Founder and CEO of Generation She, has a whole system in place for securing a raise and/or a promotion that she calls the “Lazy Girl Strategy”. And apparently, it secured her a whopping $40K raise in salary when she worked as a product manager! Avni shares her experience in this Business Insider article where she argues that you don’t need to be a workaholic to get promoted, because clearly communicating your achievements is just as important as the hard work itself.
Whilst the term “lazy girl strategy” is a bit misleading, it does highlight efficient ways for women (and everyone else!) to advocate for themselves without burnout.
Why do we love this strategy and article so much? Because using this simple but genius system does two jobs:
- It provides both your employer and yourself with the undisputable evidence of your valuable contributions to the organisation (giving you the all-important confidence boost for those negotiations)
- It encourages you to step up every day and make-sure that you’re providing the right sort of value that gets rewarded in the right way.
Here are Barman’s key takeaways for getting promoted with the “lazy girl strategy”:
- Capture Daily Impact: Track your wins! Spend 30 seconds a day taking screenshots or making notes of your accomplishments. This will help you compile a strong record of achievement come review time.
- Prioritize Key Metrics: Don’t waste time on busywork. Focus on what truly matters in your role and align your efforts with your company’s goals.
- Quantify Your Contributions: Don’t just track your accomplishments, quantify their impact whenever possible. Did you save the company time or money? Highlight these results!
- Make Yourself Regularly Visible: Don’t be shy about sharing your successes with your team and leadership. Regular communication keeps your achievements top-of-mind.
- Follow Up Consistently: Getting noticed is just the first step. Follow up after meetings, seek feedback, and keep learning.
Barman herself, acknowledges that the “lazy girl strategy” is in fact, a coping mechanism in unequal workplaces. Until we achieve the systemic change we all want, this metric-focused system, speaks the language of your employer, and can help you get recognised for your work.
The article also includes templates that you can use and adapt to log and communicate your contributions, making it a super-useful ‘how-to’ guide. So read the article, and try the approach. If you focus on working smarter, not harder, and communicate your value effectively, the “lazy girl strategy” might just help you land that promotion!
https://www.businessinsider.com/got-pay-raise-lazy-girl-strategy-2024-3