How to Leverage Women Leadership and Empowerment Campaigns in Your Success!
There has never been a better time to get involved in changing the trajectory of women in business and life, as in the past 15 months; just about the time, Sheryl Sandberg published Lean In, Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Whether you like or agree with her ideas or not, you cannot avoid the dialogue and debate it has since created regarding women in the boardroom and leadership, diversity, pay equality and more. Since then, other prominent campaigns, movements and books have come to the forefront:
- Ban Bossy – campaign by Sheryl Sandberg, Jennifer Gardner, and other high profile women
- Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder – book by Arianna Huffington
- The Life You Want Weekend – event with Oprah Winfrey
- Shedding the Bitch – book, radio show and movement …by yours truly
However at times, I feel overloaded by opinions, advice, and the do’s and don’ts from both high profile and every day professionals, telling me how I should lean in, thrive vs. survive, ban degrading terms such as bossy, and even, shed the bitch. But are they effective? Do they make you want to take action – whether through motivation, inspiration or even anger and fear? Or are you left stuck, unsure of what YOU can do to influence change for not only yourself, but other women in the workplace and at home?
Do they do the job of raising awareness and educating you on the issues impacting you and other women in business? Only you can decide and to do so, you have to be involved.
Do they do the job of raising awareness and educating you on the issues impacting you and other women in business? Only you can decide and to do so, you have to be involved.
LEADERtips™ for stepping up, leaning in, standing tall, banning, or even shedding what YOU want in order to change the trajectory of women, once and for all.
- Knowledge is power. Set aside time, daily, to learn what the reality of women in business is. Get the facts, whether in the pages of magazines, online articles and/or media news. Simply Google ‘women in leadership’, ‘diversity in the workplace’, or ‘statistics about women in leadership’ and you will find plenty of content to dive into, for example:
- Statistical Overview of Women in the Workplace at http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/statistical-overview-women-workplace
- Why Women are Better Leaders from Business Insider http://www.businessinsider.com/study-women-are-better-leaders-2014-1
- Be sure to find and read stories, articles and news pieces that highlight not only the strengths and value of women in business, but also the areas of needed development, confidence and strength.
- Whether you are someone moved by being ‘scared’ versus ‘motivated’, be sure to focus on those that make you move forward versus fall back.
- Get involved with one or several professional women networks within your local community and/or on the national level; online and in person.
- Whether you are a corporate or entrepreneur female professional, senior executive or an up and comer, in a specific industry or cross-industry, there are local and national groups, i.e. Makers, World50, 85 Broads, Womenetics, NAWBO, 85 Broads, Fearless Women Network, AWBA (American Women’s Business Association and many more.
- Get engaged with ‘circles’ of other like minded professional women (and men), in a mastermind type of setting focused and dedicated toward enhancing your success; goals, measurements, accountability, problem solving, networking and more.
- You may find industry based, cross industry or function, local or national groups, who meet in person or online; for example Lean In Circles, Circle of RICHes and others.
- Start your own movement within your own circle of other professional women, like Sheryl Axelrod and Mary Ann Mullaney did for the legal industry in Philadelphia with Fearless Women Network.
- Start a conversation with the women in your office, in your social network and even your community. Discuss what they are looking for and how as a group you could be influencers for change. You may be surprised at how many women, like you, and even the men around you, are searching for options, answers and opportunities.
“Didn’t they realize that the only way to change things was to act?”
― Tamora Pierce, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man CALL TO ACTION – Decide for yourself what your position is on leaning in, thriving, how to lead, how not to, banning bossy or shedding the bitch, so you can influence change for women in business and life.
Whatever you do…. get involved, on your own or with a group – you deserve to be honored for the skills, talents and ambitions you have.
― Tamora Pierce, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man CALL TO ACTION – Decide for yourself what your position is on leaning in, thriving, how to lead, how not to, banning bossy or shedding the bitch, so you can influence change for women in business and life.
Whatever you do…. get involved, on your own or with a group – you deserve to be honored for the skills, talents and ambitions you have.
LISTEN to this week’s radio show – Sheryl Axelrod of The Axelrod Firm and I talk…. Can We Ever Ban Bossy and other B’ words from Our Vocabulary and Workplace!
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About Bernadette Boas
With the savviness of a 25 year corporate executive and the get it done creative spirit of an entrepreneur, Bernadette is a ball of fire business and leadership consultant, speaker, author, radio host and CEO of Ball of Fire Consulting, igniting the leader from within women around the globe!!
“My greatest passion is creating those ‘ahha’ moments for individuals when it comes to their career, business and life.”
Need a Ball of Fire CONSULTANT/SPEAKER/TRAINER – call us at 404.997.8074 or email BernadetteBoas@BallofFireInc.com
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