7 Ways Your Father Affected Your Career
My father passed away last May at 92, and his passing has spurred me to think even more deeply about our relationship and his impact on me. As one of two daughters and the youngest, I know that my relationship with him, and his expectations of me, have shaped me tremendously. While a number of his beliefs and ideas were different from mine, I’m very appreciative of the life gifts he gave me.
A 30-year General Electric GE +1.61% manager and scientist with 7 patents under his belt, Dad believed many things that influenced my career path, including the idea that the best career is one with a corporate giant that can provide security and stability. I internalized those beliefs without knowing it, but after my 18 unhappy years in corporate life, I finally carved out my own independent path. While that flew in the face of what my father believed was a safe bet, he expressed pride and happiness over my successes on this path.
In wanting to understand more about a father’s impact on a daughter career trajectory and success, I recently spoke with Behavioral Management specialist James Bond, Founder of the Father-Daughter Project™ and author of the groundbreaking relationship book, The Secret Life of Fathers, based on intimate interviews he conducted with 101 fathers of daughters.
James shared his perspectives and insights on the impact of fathers on their daughters’ careers and explained that if you are a woman whose father was present during your childhood, your father’s influence on the career decisions you’ve made throughout your life may surprise you.
Based on James’s research and findings, below are seven areas where a father’s influence on a woman’s career can be significant.
1. Who You Associate With
Is it possible your father’s early involvement with you may have affected who your friends are, by shifting your hormonal development?
Surprisingly, yes. Studies have shown that girls with uninvolved dads tend to go through puberty at least five months earlier than other girls. This leads to a premature interest in boys, often robbing a woman of critical early socialization with peers.
For many women, this early distraction translates into health, esteem and career development challenges that carry forward throughout their lives.
2. Speaking Your Opinion
Are you confident expressing your opinion, particularly when it’s different from those of your boss or peers? That may depend on whether your father encouraged you to express yourself growing up.
A landmark study of college women found that when a father encouraged his daughter to express her opinions growing up, she would generally become more confident at expressing her opinions in school and throughout her life, even when they diverge from the norm.
3. The Career You Choose
Do you see yourself in executive management or as part of the secretarial pool?
Many women tend to pursue lower-paying waitressing, in-home health care and administrative jobs even when qualified for higher-paying executive and technical positions.
Product engineer Debbie Sterling was frustrated because so few women pursue careers in engineering. She believes the expectations set during early childhood are much to blame. Her founding of toy-maker GoldieBlox is her attempt to get more girls excited about careers in engineering.
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