Growing up, I loved watching the joy that cooking brought to my mother. She was in her element when preparing meals for her family and friends. The only time this was not enjoyable for her was when other cooks were in her space. For example, if her best friend or sister attempted to help her, my mother became extremely agitated and sometimes angry. These episodes usually ended with her kicking everyone out of the kitchen until the meal was ready.

Why is this relevant to the business world? Well, I am glad you asked. In today’s world, we are fortunate to have women breaking the glass ceiling. However, while the analogy above is not limited to women (men love to cook), it has been documented that women have a challenging time coexisting with other women in the “C-Suite.”

In the article “Work with Other Women, Not Against Them,” Dr. Nancy writes, “Sometimes women will sabotage one another and intentionally lie or destroy the work of others to discredit them, they may engage in backstabbing, or even take credit for the work of others.” In addition, women often feel that there is not enough room in the leadership world for too many women. Consequently, qualified women do not get promoted at the rate they should.

Circling back to my original analogy, my mother later realized that if she wanted her fantastic food to be served for generations, she had to mentor and teach others how to prepare different dishes. She overcame her anxiety regarding having too many cooks in the kitchen by assigning individuals specific duties. This mentoring can and must be done in the workplace for generations of women to shatter glass ceilings.

If you desire to become a better mentor, I am here to help!