The best careers advice for women is for them to speak their mind in the workplace and learn how to be more assertive, according to Interweave Consulting.

Founder and chief executive Nirmala Menon said her 20 years of experience in HR roles has shown her that acquiescing with every request the boss makes is not always in your best interest.

"Most women have a tendency to please others," she argued. "Unlike men, they want to be seen as 'nice' and are scared of confrontations or upsetting their colleagues with a no. But they need to unlearn this trait once they step into the corporate world, especially if they intend to assume leadership roles."

While colleagues might live by the mantra, 'if you want something done, ask a busy woman', you will only increase the pressure on yourself by complying with unnecessary demands.

"If you keep compromising on situations, the time will come when co-workers start treating you like a pushover," Ms Menon stated, adding that being overworked will result in you giving a poorer performance, which could ultimately impact on your company.

Her comments were echoed by HCL Technologies Srimathi Shivashankar, who said: "Blame it on cultural upbringing or the pluralistic society, women haven't yet learned to speak up. They may be extremely hard working but don't claim credit for their work or negotiate properly. They also find it difficult to say no."

She advised females to prove themselves in a new job before they start raising objections and to strike a balance between being naive and arrogant.

"You should be able to assess the situation and the relevance of your response to your career," Ms Shivashankar added.

One way you can do this is by asking for more time when asked to take on a new assignment or role rather than responding immediately.