Smoke filled conference rooms with fist banging, object throwing, and a lone woman or none at all were norms at the outset of my business career. Despite some changes, professional women’s groups participate in a chorus of head nods when I speak of the times…
The mentor cares that the acorn grows into the tree it is meant to be. She is nurturing or tough and everything in between as needed. As she chooses what is called for, it is always with the best interest of the mentee in mind.
In our recent conversation Margaret Heffernan lamented, “Most women would rather spend $500 on a pair of shoes than invest in their professional development.” If we don’t make serious investments in our own careers why should others make serious investments in us?
It’s inevitable. You step on people’s toes at work. Saying “I’m sorry,” matters more than you think.
Especially if you’re the boss and it’s your foot that lands on top.
In November 2010 a list of nominees for “Best Leadership Blog” appeared on the internet. It included 10 white men and 1 white woman. Later that week a list of 25 Leadership Gurus appeared as well. It included 23 white men, one white woman and a man of Indian origin. I was stunned, then outraged, then hopeless and angry at myself for wishing so hard for things to be different that I lost sight of reality.
You are about to enter the mind of a woman. As more women rise to positions of power you have before you an opportunity to learn how we (or at least some of us) make important business decisions – the one’s that affect whether you get hired or whether your company wins our business.
Speak up. You never know when power might just listen and do something.
This month’s NOW Leadership carnival features the elephant in the room, a real life astronaut, several family acts and a king & queen leadership duet of Facebook. The finishing touch includes just a dash of x-rated language.
Shame on you New York Times for a recent headline referring to Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s best friend and further identifying her contributions are “touchy feely.” Get with the program, relationship skills ARE business skills. Watch Sheryl on TEDWomen as she talks about why there are so few women in top leadership roles and what we can do about it.
We help you master the “most difficult” things.