When you hear the word “feedback” what comes up for you? Do you welcome it or cringe and run for the hills? My guess is most of us are at the latter edge of the spectrum. Why? Because most of us have been the receiver of unhelpful feedback at best or feedback that damaged relationships at worst. If you’re in a position where you give feedback (and really this should happen … [Read more...]
You Don’t Owe Anyone Anything. We Owe Ourselves Everything.
You may feel a bit ruffled by the title of this post. But wait?! Isn’t that selfish and egotistical? Before your thoughts go there, think about this: how often have you said yes when you really wanted to say no? How many times have you sacrificed something you wanted, or didn’t know what you wanted, because you were so focused on pleasing someone else? How much does getting … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Turn Professional Wounds into Power: Why Being Your Own Leader Can Be Healing
Have you been stuck in the same position at a job without opportunities to develop into a role that supports your growth as a leader? Perhaps you were promised an interim review that never came to fruition, or doors continually failed to open despite advocating for a role that excites you. Many of us have been there, and for those of us with an entrepreneurial flair, that … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Improve Your Leadership Through Listening
Excellent listening skills are not always the first thing we think of when looking at a list of desirable personal traits. Many of us probably believe that we are great listeners already. We assume that we are listening because we give non-verbal cues and smile and nod and say "mhmm" while someone is speaking. However, these gestures are only a tiny part of authentic listening … [Read more...]
Lessons Learned from the Former CEO of Pepsico – Indra Nooyi
Indra Nooyi, former CEO and Chairman of Pepsi, is an iconic role model and trailblazer. As the first woman of color and immigrant who rose to become the CEO of a Fortune 50 company, her success is extra-ordinary. I enjoyed every chapter and page in her book, ”My Life in Full, Work, Family and Our Future,” narrated in her distinctive voice. I also attended a virtual fireside … [Read more...]
Executive Women and the Factors Needed for Success
We’re all too familiar with the narrative of how it’s harder for women to get ahead than men in the corporate arena, especially of late with the increased workload that is often placed on women with families. Wanting to understand how best to navigate this slippery terrain, I interviewed several women over the last few months who have reached great heights in their careers, … [Read more...]
3 Ways To Turn Around The Impostor Syndrome And Become A Better Leader
The "Impostor Syndrome" is common even for those who have conquered the peak of their professional career. In this piece, you'll find three methods to keep yourself motivated, focused, and become an effective leader. It finally happens. The opportunity you've been dreaming of since you started your career is so close you can almost touch it. But instead of celebrating it, … [Read more...]
Have Female Leaders Dealt with the Pandemic Better Than Their Male Counterparts?
Throughout 2020, newspapers and media outlets were regularly sharing stories about how countries run by women were faring better than those run by men. In the UK, this was often in comparison to the way our predominantly male politicians were handling the pandemic. As restrictions worsened in the UK, we looked at Jacinda Arden leading in New Zealand and understandably, may … [Read more...]
Women Lead Differently to Men But Leadership Diversity is Key to Success
According to a study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, women display a more collaborative leadership style, listen better, and encourage more participation. This is backed up by evidence from other studies which show that having a transformational, collaborative model of leadership is highly effective in large organizations with women-led companies … [Read more...]
Virtual Team Building – What It Is, Why it Matters and How to Do It Properly
If you type “virtual team building” into Google trends, there is an explosion in the search term usage between the 7th-20th of March 2020. That’s when many countries around the world went into lockdown with once desk-bound employees now working from home. This trend demonstrates the need to connect with our colleagues. No matter the circumstance, it is absolutely essential … [Read more...]