India, Aug. 20 -- One of the ways for women to achieve parity at work is to develop executive presence. To be able to speak up and take up space like men do. Here's how.

Men have the cultural and physical advantage of being noticed when they walk into a room. They are also encouraged to take charge and be in the forefront. It's just the opposite for women - and not just in our country.

We are conditioned to stand back, not be too assertive or speak about ourselves. The social perception of an assertive woman being 'bossy' hasn't done us any favours. The stereotype is mostly this:

Nice = pushover

Assertive = bossy

Peggy Klaus, the best selling author ofBrag! The art of art of tooting your horn and not blowing it starts her book with t...