I have a female client, J, transitioning careers who just woke up to how she’s getting in her own way – and mustering the courage to stop. This post celebrates her, and every other woman who’s decided to “get ready to be ready” to take that next step and talk up her achievements for the next job,...
career advancement
Leadership Skills Outside Your Comfort Zone
So you’ve just gotten that great opportunity you’ve wanted for so long. You got the promotion! Woo hoo! You settle into your new office, put the higher pay in your monthly budget, meet your colleagues, receive the key to the bathroom and put that first board meeting on your calendar. Then the...
Research Says: Why Men Still Get More Promotions Than Women
Study: Why Men Still Get More Promotions Than Women (Harvard Business Review, September 2010, Ibarra, Carter, Silva) Finding: Mentoring is helpful, but sponsorship cannot be overlooked. InPower Insight : Mentorship isn't enough. Go for a sponsor. You'll get ahead and so will they. Summary:...
Authentic Self-Promotion for Women – Part 1 (Self-confidence Strategies)
Women walk a fine line when it comes to talking up their accomplishments. It's far too easy for us to be too modest, so no one knows how awesome we are - or too aggressive, so we get labeled the B-word (Braggart!). Research last year showed how most of the career advancement techniques we're all...
Research Says: Joint Evaluations Curb Gender Bias
Study: When Performance Trumps Gender Bias: Joint versus Separate Evaluation (Harvard Business School, Bohnet, Van Green, Bazerman, 2012) Finding: Joint evaluations for senior level positions might be the ticket to overcoming gender bias and stereotypical notions in hiring managers....
Do Women Need a Mentor to Succeed?
Every young professional hears it: “Get a mentor!” Many companies invest in mentoring programs, especially for women aspiring to advance. But do mentor programs pay off –– for the mentors and the mentees? My clients and I have had positive experiences, but, who knows? Maybe we’re not typical?...
Q-and-A with Mary Davis Holt: The state of women in leadership
By: James daSilva I recently asked Mary Davis Holt about the book she co-authored, “Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking That Block Women’s Paths to Power,” and some of the general themes regarding women and workplace advancement. Holt is a partner at Flynn Heath Holt...
Who’s the Character in My Character-Based Leadership Style?
I’ve been self-employed for a decade (more if you look closely), but it wasn’t until this year that I became an entrepreneur and began to see my leadership style shift closer to authenticity. What’s the change and why is it affecting my leadership style and character? Unlike a self-employed person...
Research Says: Volunteer to Juice Your Career
Study: Volunteer to Juice Your Career (Forbes, 2012, Hewlett) Finding: Volunteering is a win-win situation with potential to provide a needed spark to a stagnant career. Note about The Woman Effect Research Index: This study was performed by researchers not affiliated with InPower Women....
Five Myths About Women and Success and What You Can Do to Squelch Them
One of the greatest surprises and frustration I found when I did my doctoral research on today's women in the workplace was how long it takes for research and literature to catch up with societal trends. In particular, in 2005 I found little had been written about the emerging numbers of strong,...