by Dana Theus | Aug 1, 2012 | Corporate Culture, Emotional Intelligence at Work, Gender Equality, InPower Women Blog
Some athletes are simply not destined to get the gold. Women have a record-breaking presence in the Olympics this year – every nation sporting women on their teams for the first time in history and more women than men on the U.S. team. But when I look at the participation stats across the other sectors of society, I’m tempted to wonder what it will take for us to represent our population accurately – as something other than 15% or lower (Fortune 500 CEOs include about 3% women). We have been stuck at about 15% (+/- a few percentage points) everywhere – on boards, in Congress, on TV talk shows, contributing to Wikipedia, running Hollywood, even voices in the op-ed pages (source: The OpEd Project). We are closer to our representative percentage than blacks, hispanics and other minority populations (though not-for-long), but this fact is not good news.
However, hiding in statistics like these are true rays of hope. InPower Women is committed to finding those rays and shining them brightly, intentionally surfacing strategies individual women can use to advance their careers and grow the 15% to 50% and rise as high as they wish to go. (more…)
by Guest Author | Jul 25, 2012 | Communicating With Confidence, InPower Women Blog
In the past, confidence, assertiveness, and being decisive were not typically female qualities. These traits are becoming more the norm with women, which is a good thing as it helps women to realize their potential. On the other hand, there can be too much of a good thing. Feeling overly confident about your abilities can also result in increasing stress, making mistakes and hurting relationships.
What is Behind the Shift in Confidence?
Changes in the way children were raised in the 1960s marked the first time in history it became popular to teach girls they could do anything they wanted and be good at it. Girls had previously been socialized to rely on others. Now in progressive countries, young girls are encouraged to question rules and challenge the status quo. Not only can they rise above the dependence of their mothers, they can make more money than their fathers. In fact, they can make about anything happen when they put their minds to it. (more…)
by Guest Author | Jul 18, 2012 | Coaching Advice, Insights & Inspiration
“Our” truth and “the” truth may or may not be the same thing, and that’s ok.
Truth is complicated because we have so much perspective. When you release the need to share your personal truth with everyone else all the time, you free yourself to own what is yours. Your truth can make you powerful.
When have you spoken your truth and felt powerful?
Want InPower Inspirations in your inbox or RSS feed? Subscribe now.
Photo Credit: Conson
by Guest Author | Jul 11, 2012 | InPower Women Blog, Women in Leadership
Anne-Marie Slaughter’s article in the Atlantic, Why Women Can’t Have it All, has reignited crucial issues of advancement and balance that women continue to face in the workplace. As a male executive in business for over forty years, I have worked with many women who have consistently performed at the highest level, often more capably than some men in their companies, only to be turned down at times of promotion. Smart women, energetic and wise women who advised me at key times on internal relations, were not approved for promotions.
This is simply not good business. Women add tremendous value to culture. I am glad that Slaughter and Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg are shining the spotlight on these issues. I feel very strongly that now is the time for men in leadership positions to recognize that the old boys’ club has suppressed women’s advancement in business. Promoting women is essential to the growth of our companies – to all of us! It is time for us men to get in gear and sponsor women. (more…)
by Téa Blake | Jul 6, 2012 | Entrepreneurship, Gender Research, InPower Women Blog
Study: Resolving the Entrepreneurship Gender Gap (Scott Shane, The Bloomberg BusinessWeek 2011)
Finding: The entrepreneurial gender gap remains stagnant but encouraging young girls to pursue careers in business could foster growth.
Note about The Woman Effect Research Index: This study was performed by researchers not affiliated with InPower Women. Our Research Index includes all relevant research to the subject of women, business and power. We do not influence how the research was conducted or reported by the researchers. In our abstracts, we focus on pulling out the most actionable advice for individual women. To suggest additional research we should index, or discuss our choice of abstract focus, please contact us
InPower Insight: Expand young girls’ knowledge of career options and spark an interest in entrepreneurship by teaching them early about business ownership and exposing them to entrepreneurial female role models. (more…)
by Dana Theus | Jul 3, 2012 | Career Development, Coaching Advice
A simple reality of the working world is that meetings dominate our time, and the higher you go in your career, the more pressure there is to spend every waking moment in a meeting somewhere. I think we should cancel most of the meetings we attend, but what about the ones where you need to be present? What’s the most effective way to spend your energy?
In my consulting and coaching practice, I spend a lot of time facilitating executive meetings and board retreats. This causes me to constantly refine my awareness of meeting dynamics and how I can most effectively manage them — and coach my clients into doing the same. I do a really good job, but I have to come clean and tell you I have a secret sauce and that you can buy it at a bookstore. (more…)
by Téa Blake | Jun 29, 2012 | Diversity, Gender Research, InPower Women Blog
Study: Where the Worlds Top Companies Stand: 20-First’s Global Gender Balance Scorecard 2011 (Wittenberg-Cox, 20-First 2011)
Finding: Executive committees are a much better indicator of true gender balance in corporate culture than board reports, and women’s representation on them tends to lag board participation.
Note about The Woman Effect Research Index: This study was performed by researchers not affiliated with InPower Women. Our Research Index includes all relevant research to the subject of women, business and power. We do not influence how the research was conducted or reported by the researchers. In our abstracts, we focus on pulling out the most actionable advice for individual women. To suggest additional research we should index, or discuss our choice of abstract focus, please contact us
InPower Insight: Increase the diversity of your executive committees to realize the true benefits of gender balance.
Summary:
Listen up women in leadership! If you’ve been keeping tabs on gender balance in the workplace, then you’ve seen report after report on the balance of boards, but you may be wondering how this fits into your own leadership journey to the top of your company. This study by 20-First focuses on executive committees rather than board statistics, believing that people running the company are a “much better indicator of corporate progress in managing and developing talent in a truly meritocratic and gender “bilingual” way.” Executive committees play a larger role in the direction and status of the business. (more…)
by Dana Theus | Jun 28, 2012 | Coaching Advice, InPower Women Blog, Leadership, Women in Leadership
When I interviewed Mike Howard, Chief Security Officer at Microsoft, on the subject of leadership, we also had a great conversation about the role he sees gender and diversity playing in modern organizations. I listened to understand Gendership – the partnership of women and men working and leading together – from his perspective so I could share his insights with you.
Women in a Man’s World
Mike started his career on patrol as a police officer in Oakland, California in the mid 70’s. He had the privilege, he said, of working with the first female patrol officer in Oakland and this experience has stayed with him through his entire career in the CIA and now at Microsoft. One particular incident stands out in his mind, especially when he hears male colleagues say “women just can’t hack it.” (more…)
by Guest Author | Jun 21, 2012 | Career Development, Coaching Advice
What does it mean to be a powerful woman? Do we have to be aggressive and domineering, exerting power over others to drive success? Or if you favor collaboration, can you transform the meaning of power?
There are two steps to consider when determining how you can be powerful if you desire to be.
First, you need to be aware of the various types of power you can use.
In my experience teaching leadership for 32 years, I have found the following six types of power plus one where you give away your power.* (more…)
by Guest Author | Jun 21, 2012 | Career Development, InPower Women Blog
In a recent survey of working adults conducted by Accenture, 68 percent of the women thought it took hard work and long hours to advance in a company. The result often leaves women feeling burned out, and in some cases, they don’t even choose to move up the ladder. Yet the study also found that even though many women are dissatisfied with their jobs, they aren’t planning to leave the company any time soon.
In reality, people don’t advance into top positions just because they work harder and give up their lives for the company. If you focus on these traits, you will be more resentful than successful.
I do live 360 interviews for my executive clients. The interviews center on these two questions: “What does my client do well as a leader” and “What could she do differently to increase her value as a leader in this organization?” No one says my clients should work harder. Most often the suggestions for improvement include: (more…)
