Key Takeaways: Subtle discrimination in the workplace often shows up as “office housework,” where women are expected to handle tedious, low-visibility tasks that don’t advance their careers—it's time to name it and challenge it. “Office housework” is real—and women are still doing more than their...
Communicating With Confidence
3 Tips To Help Women Network Effectively For Career Development
Key Takeaways: Women often build great networks but hesitate to use them—and that hesitation comes from deep, gendered wiring. Many women feel “icky” about leveraging relationships for professional gain, confusing authenticity with self-sacrifice. It’s time to rewrite that internal script and own...
Why Playing Small Doesn’t Serve You Or Your Company
This guest post from Laurie Erdman reminds us that even though we are often encouraged to play small and create a work environment where I staffs can play small too, this helps nobody. It takes courage to play big. Where can you play bigger than you do today? ~Dana Key Takeaways: Fast-growing...
How to Prepare for a Performance Review or Job Interview
One thing I love most about the InPower Community and other forums where I take part as an expert is answering people's questions. One of the most popular topics on people's minds is how to prepare for a performance review, followed closely by queries about how to prepare for a job interview....
3 Steps To Escape The Double Bind Of The Female Boss
Women make great leaders, but do they always make a great bosses? Yes, that’s a trick question. No one is a good boss because of their gender any more than because of their race, religion or geography of origin. But if you had a peek into my inbox over the last month, you’d be asking yourself the...
Do Women Really Have Effective Communication Skills?
Women are great communicators... aren't we? Well, it depends on what you think the most successful aspect of communication really is. Mary hits it right on the nose. Good communicators, and powerful people, are excellent listeners. Effective communications skills start with listening. - InPower...
Executive Communications: Start with the Bottom Line
Every single one of my coaching clients face challenges with executive communications in one form or another. The most common contexts in which these issues come up include these two dimensions of personal branding and executive presence: Communicating in an executive fashion to be seen as a...
Unconscious Bias: The Key to Effective Gender Communication
In executive coaching (both women and men) I’ve often observed that two parallel stories about women and men in the workplace often coexist. First, “women and men communicate differently” is a truth that few bother to deny. Second, “men and women are treated equally in the workplace.” To me, it’s...
Team Achievements Examples: Accomplishments When Applying for a Job
Welcome to “Dear Dana”, a column to give you career and workplace advice/coaching from executive coach, Dana Theus Dear Dana, I am updating my resume to apply for jobs. I read your article about "speaking accomplishments." I liked your advice and will apply it to how I manage the way I think about...
INSIGHT: Fake It Or Make It
Every time I speak about building confidence I’m asked, “Can I fake it ‘til I figure out how to make it?” I usually ask the crowd their opinion. Vigorous discussion ensues, making my job really easy. Many have experienced the hollow feelings of inauthenticity that faking it brings, and they argue...