Most Recent Posts
INSIGHT: Vision vs. Reality
How much energy do you spend trying to push back reality? Many of us deplete ourselves unconsciously by fighting reality with vision, and then we wonder why the heck we’re so tired. What insight can we draw from this cycle? I know I can fall into this pit, even with...
Leadership and Power
What is power? It turns out that power means different things to different people, and really is only tangentially related to actual leadership, but in almost all cases power is related to the use of resources and the ability to change the world. The typical definitions of power that I have picked up in having this discussion online over the last few months are all related to “external” power and the manipulation of resources and circumstances outside ourselves. Yet two kinds of “internal” power are at least as important. Not all those in power are leaders, but all true leaders have power.
Questions to Ask a Mentor
Mentors are a true career asset, whether they are “officially” part of a formal mentoring relationship (often matched through a mentoring program) or unofficially informal relationships that grow organically. Regardless of how you enter a mentoring...
Leadership Haiku: Why Do They Follow You?
By: Mary Schaefer “I see you ahead of me. You see me behind. Where are we going today?” Whether you subscribe to the notion of leaders having “followers” or not, let’s consider this: What do others trust your leadership, i.e. why do they literally follow your lead?...
Moving From Managing To Leading: Building Your Authentic Leadership Style
Fun! I recently found this video I made for an online program I ran in 2012. And another one on the same topic (targeting women) in 2023. I still stand by everything I said in both of them! Hopefully there are some gems here for you! The higher you go, the harder it...
When You’re In Power, Are Those Around You Threatened?
Sometimes when we begin to refine our understanding of power, and consciously work to bring more of our own power to the fore in our lives, it creates discomfort with – or for – those close to us, including colleagues, employees, friends and even spouses and children. If others have become used to you giving your power away, when you take it back this can surprise them, and sometimes even threaten them. This can be true when you are granted external power as well, and those around you are not used to the new level of responsibility you now shoulder. As I launch into the Take Back Your Power series of blog posts I think it’s important to acknowledge this dynamic and prepare for how to handle these situations.
Popular Posts
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Leadership
Are We Using Our Leadership Gifts?
“A rising tide lifts all boats.” ~John F. Kennedy Recently, I heard a sermon at church that resonated within me. In the Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” The message was not that we can be the salt...
Mindfulness at Work: The Secret to Productivity and Reduced Stress
What is mindfulness and why do you care? Most importantly, can you do it in the middle of a busy life? Çan you practice mindfulness at work? Mindfulness is an ancient tradition that’s all the rage now. Time magazine’s cover promoted it last year and Harvard Business...
Leadership Is Our Service To Others
“Allow the way to your great work to be guided by your service to others.” – Mollie Marti Recently, I had the privilege and honor of attending the Georgetown McDonough School of Business graduation for Taylor Johnson. In addition to her academic achievements, Taylor...
Mentoring
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Interviews
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Career Advice
Dear Dana Advice: 3 Tips for Good Speech Delivery
Dear Dana, I always thought I was an ok public speaker but my boss recently asked me to cover for him at a large conference, where I think there will be over 100 people in the room and I am suddenly losing sleep. The biggest group I’ve ever spoken to is 20 people! Can...
Personal Branding Tips in the Modern Organization
Personal branding has been a thing now for over a decade, yet too many people still feel invisible where they work. How can that be with a wash of social feeds broadcasting us 24/7? Before social media, people had personal brands and called them “professional...
Dear Dana Career Advice: What do they mean when they say you need a confidence leadership style?
Dear Dana, What do they mean when they say I should be more "confident"? I recently had a boss tell me that if I want to get ahead I need to express “confidence leadership style.” I think I am confident but I keep getting this advice in order to further my career. My...
Women in Leadership
4 Things Women Need To Know About Mentors
Having a well-placed, successful mentor can be the difference between success and failure on the leadership track – but it is definitely more an art than a science for the mentor and the mentee. I recently started hosting a radio show interviewing CEOs of...
Trump and Women: Should We Be?
There’s a lot of confusion and anxiety running around the Internet these days, and it feels relentless, like we’re drowning in the next big thing every time a text alert comes in. When I started writing this, I was thinking of the Women’s March on Washington (and...
The Myth of Hard Work: Maybe You’re Really Not Enough
I’m a positive person and the recent election in the U.S. has dealt my positivity a serious blow. But I will do my best to turn it into a lesson we can all learn from. A week ago the world watched as a highly qualified Wellesley and Yale educated public servant, with...
Diversity & Inclusion
Research Says: Women Being More Risk-Averse May Be a Half Truth
Study: Can Single- Sex Education Make Women Less Risk- Averse? (Sosa, Booth, Nolen, 2012) Finding: Assumptions that women are more risk-averse than men may be more about social context and less about inherent gender traits InPower Insight: When it comes to...
Research Says: The “Daughter Effect” Helps Ease Gender Pay Gap?
Study: Do Daughters Help Ease Gender Pay Gap? (Columbia Business School, 2011, Ross, Dahl, Deszo) Finding: The wage gap decreases measurably when a male CEO has daughters. InPower Insight: Know that people's personal experiences - including yours - effect their hiring...
Research Says: Behind Every Woman The Men Are Helping Achieve Work-Life Balance
Title: Women And Men Make A Great Team When The Woman Make It To Senior Roles Study: Behind Every Great Woman (Bloomburg BusinessWeek 2012) Finding: Many powerful women are receiving significant help - to the point of social role reversal - more and more often to help...
