I was giving training to the employees of One Cooperative Bank on different banking subjects. More than 80% of the employees were females. The majority of them were hard-working and sincere, but only one of them opted for promotion. The rest were in the same clerical post for more than 10 to 15 years. Management was forced to promote inefficient male employees because the ladies refused to be promoted. It was damaging bank’s image, declining profit, and creating an overall lethargic atmosphere.

Management asked me to give some motivational lectures. I suggested they allow me to take a 5-hour workshop on ‘Self Esteem Tree and Action Plan of Life’ to which they agreed.

On the workshop day, in the initial opening-up sessions, the reasons for not accepting promotions were revealed through discussions. They were fairly common.

• I will have to sit late in the office.
• I will be transferred.
• Household routines cannot function without my physical presence.
• My kids need me.
• I feel guilty over being separated from my children when they were young
• My family is not ready to accept changes.

This is true for all women who wish to go ahead in their careers across the world. My workshop is designed in such a way that it makes you think of yourself as an individual. It makes you shed all the roles, like mother, wife, daughter, and daughter-in-law. It makes you realise your potential and how it is going unused, resulting in unexplained frustration. This creates a feeling of being worthless and left alone by family and friends, and having no respect either in the workplace or in the family.

When the workshop was in progress, all the ladies realised that though they are bankers, they are not aware of even 5% of banking knowledge. They are not confident enough to guide family or friends about banking facilities like loans etc. This resulted in lowering their self-esteem and being looked down upon by their near and dear ones because of their inadequate knowledge.

Through the workshop, they soon realised that families do not need their 24/7 presence at home. The glass ceiling soon started breaking. They were all made to draw their own ‘Self Esteem Tree.’ Now they were ready to accept new challenges. In the last two-hour session, they created an ‘Action Plan for Own Life.’ With little personal interaction and a lot of heartbreaking moments, finally, 90% of them were ready to take a promotion. The management was overwhelmed by the results.

It was only showing light to your sunshine within.