If you've ever had an introductory course in sales, you know what WIIFM’s are. WIIFM stands for “What’s In It For Me?” and these statements focus our sales efforts on how our product or service benefits the customer. They are meant to shift our mindset from our own agenda to what the customer wants and needs. It has been my experience that using this benefit language is … [Read more...]
Getting Beyond Unconscious Bias
We are all guilty of bias. It is part of being human. One of the issues facing women in business is continued stereotyping , unconscious bias and the unintended consequences that result. This is one of the most difficult issues organizations face when they are working on culture shifts that must take place if women are to participate on an even playing field. The most … [Read more...]
What’s all the chatter?
One of my favorite things about Twitter are the chat groups. On any given night, you can join dozens, or even hundreds, of other Twitterers in a lively discussion about a specific topic. Not only can you learn from others in the field, but you can establish yourself as a leader and expert while gaining new followers. How does a Twitter chat work? The moderator of the group … [Read more...]
What You Dont Know Can Hurt You
Many times when working with organizations on strategies to increase gender diversity in the leadership ranks the leaders will say " lets just get all the women together and ask them what they want". While this is noble and certainly talking with the women in the organization to understand how they experience the culture is critical it is not "the answer" . One of the most … [Read more...]
Women are in the Social Web Driver’s Seat
A report from comScore paints a clear picture of the information superhighway, and women are in the driver's seat. Statistics related to social web use show more women visit social networking sites than men (75.8% of women vs. 69.7% of men). Furthermore, women spend 30% more time on social networking sites than men do. Another interesting point from the study reveals that … [Read more...]
Successful Marketing Strategies for The Job Seekers
I have several friends who recently found themselves in the market for a new job – and, fortunately, have successfully landed another job. Watching them through the process, I’ve concluded that finding a job in today’s job market can be like conquering a new frontier – and not just because the job market is flooded with stiff competition. The days of mailing in your resume … [Read more...]
Generic Answers Lead to Lost Opportunities
If you find yourself constantly resorting to generic answers when people ask you questions about yourself – it’s time to rethink your approach. We can so often drift through our day, not even seeing the opportunities in the conversations with others. From the simplest Hey, how are you? to the more complex questions you are asked throughout your work day - how often do you … [Read more...]
The Aspirations of Women
"Women simply do not have the aspiration to pursue C Suite roles which is why we do not see equal numbers of men and women in leadership positions." I have had this conversation more times then I wish to remember when working with organizations on increasing gender diversity in the leadership ranks. The aspirations of women can be a very perplexing yet popular topic of … [Read more...]
How to Network Like a Pro
Post by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer You’ve arrived at an event that you believe will help you professionally – perhaps a meeting of a business organization or community group where you hope to see people you know and meet new contacts. You are investing your time, perhaps money too, to be there. So how can you make the most of this … [Read more...]
Customize Your Pitch
Why do we hate those nagging telephone calls from strangers telling us to buy something? Why do car salesmen have a bad reputation? The reason, I believe, is that the sales techniques they use are impersonal and we often feel that something is being forced on us that we do not want or need. The fact of the matter is that even if we do need the product or service that’s … [Read more...]