Smiles and kind words are great, but it’s time to make a real difference for the women around you at work. Here’s how to do it.

With International Women’s Day on March 8, it’s essential to recognize how challenging the past couple of years have been for many. As we celebrate women’s achievements, it’s common to feel less than our best this year.

While affirmations can build confidence, there are even deeper ways to uplift the women in your workplace. Compliments about a strong presentation or a stylish handbag are nice but don’t truly impact someone’s career. Here are effective actions you can take to genuinely support your peers.

Invest Your Time

Your time is precious. Whether you’re helping someone update their resume, chatting over coffee, or unwinding with drinks after work, dedicate your energy to those who matter. Focus on someone you truly want to help, like an ambitious intern, a mid-career mom juggling responsibilities, or a colleague dealing with personal loss.

Words of encouragement are well-meaning, but being present and listening is far more valuable. Just 30 minutes of focused conversation can reveal opportunities or insights that could significantly impact someone’s career. You might also gain a fresh perspective from their experiences.

Be Direct

Dr. Brené Brown, in her book Dare to Lead, emphasizes the importance of honesty at work. Avoiding the truth to spare feelings often leads to discomfort later. Instead, having tough conversations can be the most helpful thing you do.

Next time you’re tempted to sugarcoat feedback to maintain comfort, reconsider. Addressing a colleague’s self-sabotaging behaviors may feel awkward, but it can be transformative.

Remember, be straightforward without being hurtful. Focus on specific actions instead of personality traits. Keep your feedback honest, concise, and compassionate.

Give Credit Where It’s Due

We’ve all experienced someone taking credit for our ideas in meetings. To prevent that for others, ensure that their contributions are acknowledged. Simply saying, “This idea came from Kate, and it’s crucial for our progress,” can make a world of difference.

Recognizing a team’s efforts is equally important: “This project wouldn’t have succeeded without Sofia, Sam, and Rachelle’s hard work.”

Practice Genuine Acknowledgment

Following Brené Brown’s advice and giving credit, adopt the practice of Authentic Notice, a concept introduced by speaker Linda Clark. This approach fosters a supportive environment.

When offering encouragement, instead of using superficial compliments, be real. Sometimes the best support is simply acknowledging the challenges someone is facing: “Wow, this situation is tough! Want to talk about it?” Facing reality together allows others to feel validated.

Help Identify and Communicate Value

Early-career professionals may struggle to articulate their skills in meetings. Help them recognize their strengths, whether it’s design skills or attention to detail.

For example, say, “I’m confident presenting, but your visuals are amazing! Want to collaborate for next week’s meeting?” Acknowledge their contributions throughout the presentation to boost their visibility.

If someone has been away from work for personal reasons, they might need help seeing how their skills apply. Experiences like managing toddlers or completing coursework translate into valuable professional skills like time management and communication.

Balancing supportive words with actionable guidance can truly uplift the women in your life. While being friendly is nice, making a concerted effort to help can lead to meaningful change. Often, it just requires a little thought and intention, and the rewards will be fulfilling for everyone involved.