There comes the moment in a woman’s career when you realize: being good isn’t good enough.
Maybe you get passed over. Or you discover that the departmental fool is earning as much as you. (I remember that one.) You’re feeling underappreciated, perhaps even invisible. Despite the outstanding outcomes, the extra miles, the collegial contributions, your career has stalled.
The thing is, there are job skills, and there are career skills. Being good—even great—at...
When last we met, I challenged you to take a quiz: “What is your ambition quotient?” (Did you miss it? Check it out here.) How did you score? If you’re lagging a bit, you’re not alone. It’s tough to keep our ambition fresh when we’re in the trenches focusing on the day-to-day. As promised, here is my best coaching advice to boost your ambition quotient:
1. Pay attention to all...
There has been a lot of ink (and pixels) devoted to “what to wear,” but not so much about “how to sound.” No matter how impressive a woman exec may appear, a weak or tentative speech style will betray her journey to the C-suite.
In preparation for taping my first audiobook (Do-Over! How Women Are Reinventing Their Lives), I undertook voice coaching with Pamela Christian PhD, a former colleague of...
Consider what Houston’s most influential women have to say about leadership. Houston Woman Magazine features 50 of Houston’s best and brightest in its current issue:
“Leadership is not about having all the answers; it’s about having the right people and unleashing their potential.” Susan McEldoon, President & General Manager, KHOU-TV, Channel 11
“Commitment and hard work can make you successful, but leading through others will multiply that success in ways you can’t imagine.” ...
Ah, the holiday season offers so many opportunities to connect! It can be a thorny challenge, however, to negotiate the delicate art of holiday merriment at the office. I asked my favorite, smartest gal-pal experts to offer you their top “Do’s and Dont’s” for social capital-building during the holiday season:
DO continue to network during December. Many people think that no one will want to meet or develop business during the holidays,...
Even the most seasoned leader is vulnerable to stress. Stress brings out the “shadow side” of our personal leadership style, potentially derailing our leadership skills—as well as our reputation.
I learned all about leadership derailers from Deborrah Himsel, a fellow speaker at a recent retreat held by the Women’s Energy Network. Himsel is a leadership consultant and faculty member at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
A...
It’s Fall! We see some of our friends and colleagues heading back to school for an MBA, and we wonder: How do I know when the time is right for me to consider enrolling in an MBA program? I asked five smart women for their best advice:
Elissa Sangster, Executive Director of Forte Foundation, providing women with the tools and resources to achieve a successful career in business:
“Most students consider...
Wither goes the proverbial "pipeline" of women to the top of the professions? The National Association of Women Lawyers revisited the "pipeline theory" of women's advancement at a recent conference in Dallas. "The Pipeline to Equity Partnership" featured keynoter Kim Askew, a Dallas-based partner with K&L Gates LLP. Kim is nothing short of a rock star. (If you ever have the chance to meet or hear her, run--don't walk.) Kim...
Birds and career success? In her new book, career expert Nacie Carson uses Darwin's finches as a model for the successful professional who, unlike her less adaptive colleagues, manages to survive and thrive--even in this challenging economy. The Finch Effect: The Five Strategies to Adapt and Thrive in Your Working Life will help you avoid going the way of the do-do bird.
Carson (director of development services at...
Eszter Szabo’s talent is helping women envision themselves as leaders.
Based in Budapest, Hungary, Szabo leads the General Electric Women’s Network, East Central Region. In fact, she started the hub in Hungary back in 2000. Within two years it became Best in Europe and in 2003 garnered a global award.
The secret to her success? Working simultaneously at three levels: First, support other women on an individual basis. Second, join (or...
