One Big Self Confidence Boosting Tip
She told professional women how to boost self confidence, during a live video broadcast mentoring event.
“Dress your way into self-confidence. If you can, hire an image consultant to help you dress, feel and be your authentic and most confident self.”
Who is She?
Elisha Finney is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Varian Medical Systems. She also has three corporate boards seats on her lipstick belt. Elisha shared career tips as my guest on Germane Coaching & Consulting’s, aka The Corporate Oprah, Mentoring Mentoring Show for professional women. Men who support the development and advancement of professional women also attend the show.
The live on online format allows women and men to pose questions to, and get answers from, high achieving senior women, who act as on-the-spot mentors and advisors to participants. Not all the questions are about self confidence, but that question often gets the longest response. The ensuing conversations reveal that self confidence is a never ending issue for professional women, even those with impressive achievements who’ve earned seats at the C-suite and on corporate boards. In some ways, that’s good news. Why? Lack of self confidence doesn’t have to hold us back. It can remain in place, or come and go WHILE we move upward and onward in our careers.
Here are a few other questions and answers from the show’s mentors.
Setting Career Goals
Did you set a goal, early in your career, to become an executive?
No. That happened over time, but I typically had a 5 year career goal. You need to let people know where you want to go, so they can help you get there. If you aspire to lead at the executive level, it’s important to know what it’s really like, and to make sure it’s what you want. I’m on planes, a lot. It’s not my favorite part of the role, but something I have to do. There are sacrifices. Know what they are and be sure you’re willing to make them. One year my assistant ordered my husband’s birthday cake. I wasn’t even sure what was in it or what kind of cake it was. The good news was, I knew it was his birthday. I’ve never gardened, and I don’t cook. I’m probably missing out on things I might like, but I love what I do, so it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make, and I don’t focus on what I’m missing.
(Click here for an upcoming session on developing your career goals and strategies for achieving them)
The Importance of Having Sponsors
Did you have sponsors during the course of your career?
Yes. It’s important to have a sponsor who can talk about your achievements and your capabilities, to people who don’t know you. Your sponsor makes sure the right people know who you are, what you know, and what you can do, so when opportunities arise your name is on The List.
Contact me to plan a live on-line mentoring talk-show show for your organization.
AND
Consider an on-line image consult with Claire Soper, one of the best in her industry. I know because I’ve worked with Claire. Her individualized approach helps you identify and dress in your authentic style, while putting forward your best and most confident professional self.
You can read the next post in this series, 5 Steps to Build Courage and Self Confidence, here.