My Speech: 7 KARTINI Habits to Progress Your Career

Kartini Day is commemorated and celebrated annually every mid April to mark the emancipation of Indonesian women and to preserve our culture. This year I celebrated Kartini Day by participated in speech competition that my office organized. Each participant was given 5 minutes to deliver a speech with a topic "what it takes to get the corner office, to progress our career".

Alhamdulillah, "7 Kartini Habits" speech I wrote and delivered in front of my super big bosses and colleagues both Indonesians and expatriates won the 1st place. I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to share, to receive appreciation and good feedback, even then several Asia Pacific VPs wanted me to move to their division and other colleagues suggested me to run for governor election because of my speech and public speaking skills :D :p

I wore traditional costume from Kalimantan/Borneo, the third biggest island in the world. As we know, Kartini is originally from Java island, same as me and probably you. However, there are many other Kartinis outside of Java island as well. A good example can be Borneo. Borneo women are very hard working and to reflect their hard-work nature, I wore their traditional costume. Now let me begin my speech.

Delivering speech with a topic "what it takes to get the corner office" at Kartini Day Celebration

7 KARTINI Habits to Progress Your Career

Ladies and gentlemen, do you know what it takes to get the corner office?
You know corner office has the best view where top management positions usually sit there.

I don’t see anyone raised a hand.

Is it some kind of secret that only chosen ones happen to know?
No, it’s not a secret. In fact, already thousand years ago people knew answer to this question.

Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”

By the way, he said it when he was sitting in his corner office so you should trust him.

But joking aside, he was right.

It is your habits that can get you to the corner office.

Today I will share with you 7 such habits. To make it easier to remember, we can call them K-A-R-T-I-N-I habits, yes, KARTINI habits.

First habit, K is for Know your career passion and mission

If you do what you love, you will absolutely enjoy your life and the result of your work will guide you to achieve your career mission which is declaration of your goals.

Second habit, A is for Allocate time to make career plan and strategy

Have a plan of action with a goal and concrete achievable steps. For example, twice in a year I have discussion with my line manager and my mentors about my career development which will be updated into my Personal Development Plan (PDP).

Third habit, R is for Recognize your strengths and weaknesses

Build on your strengths can help you to stand out from the crowd. Minimize your weaknesses, otherwise they will drag you down while you are trying to reach the top.

Fourth habit, T is for Tie in your competence with good management and marketing yourself

Competence alone will not get you what you want. You must also manage your time and quality of work and ensure that the management notices when you do a good work. That is why you need to marketing yourself.

Fifth habit, I is for Improve yourself with new skills

Do not let stagnation enter into your professional life. Progress in your career can happen only when you evolve, and evolution is possible only when you keep learning new things. Take up certificate courses, attend seminars or workshops, undergo specialization trainings and so on.

Sixth habit, N is for Network, network, and network

Networking has been known to many as one of the most favorite and effective vehicles for growth. Make sure you network and do it with the right people.

Seventh and the last Kartini habits, I is for Integrate your work with your life in a balanced way

People who have found proper work-life balance truly follow the Carpe Diem ideology – they seize each day and make the most of it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I started my speech with a quote and I will also finish it one. That’s one thing about me, I like to have things in a balanced way.

But this one is not from Aristotle, it’s from Mahatma Gandhi. He once said: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” And I believe it’s valid also for our careers, be the change you wish to see in your career.

If you want to get the corner office, you should start with yourself, through your habits. And the 7 Kartini habits that I shared with you today will show you the door to the corner office.

Thank you.

- Citra Chergia