Career Success For Women - The Foundation Question

Several studies point to the fact that men are more often motivated in their careers by high income and high power positions while women are motivated more often by connection, meaningful work and recognition. But in both cases, the road to success in most organizations means climbing the corporate ladder. And steps up the ladder are supported by rungs of leadership. You must be seen as a leader to move up.

While not easy, leadership is simple. As I write in No Ceiling, No Walls, it consists of a 3-part equation:

1. using your personal greatness/strengths to

2. achieve and sustain key outcomes by

3. engaging the greatness/strengths of others.

Our studies indicate that much of the advice that women have been given about leadership over-focuses on elements 1 and 3: identifying and cultivating their own strengths (74%) and developing the interpersonal skills to effectively engage others (24%). Advice about what it means to deliver key outcomes is sadly missing - only 2%.

This was not the case for Merrill Sherman, CEO of Bank RI who was advised early in her career, "Be for the business." This piece of wisdom is at the heart of the most important question a woman must ask and answer in order to build a successful career:

Do I/Can I believe in and support the mission, work and products/services of this company?

While a man who answers "no" might be motivated to succeed by the allure of higher power and compensation, if you answer "no" to this question, you are likely to find it difficult to wholeheartedly commit yourself to delivering key outcomes. Chances are good that you will be unable to engage your whole self at work. You are likely to burn out or be seen as retired-in-place. The chances of achieving your career goals will be lessened because you won't be seen as "being for the business."

If you answer "yes" to this question, it will be easy for you to engage your heart (passion), head (creativity and innovation) and hands (execution) to achieve and sustain key outcomes in service of your organization's strategy. You will substantially increase your chances of being seen as having potential. You will leave work each day feeling as though you've done something important - and that sense is the difference between distress that leaves you exhausted and eustress (positive stress) that energizes you.

So, look courageously in the mirror and ask yourself if you believe in the company you work for. If your honest answer is "no", create an action plan to move to a company in whose mission, work and products/services you can believe. If your honest answer is "yes", your work isn't over. Make sure that you are able to climb the ladder on rungs of leadership by ensuring that you get high marks on all 3 parts of the leadership and career success equation.

Susan L. Colantuono

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Lessons on Career Success From the Sport World

When we stop and think about it, there is not much difference between the rules that governs our career and the ones that are to be found in the sport world. Basically, the top performers in both fields are the ones who are best rewarded and they also are the ones who are the most dedicated.

We can learn a lot from the sport world, however for that to be done, we need to look at it with a dispassionate eye and cold logic. The glamour and the fantasies associated with the top athletes have to be put aside and replaced with cold hard facts.

As spectators, we tend to see what we want to see rather than focus on the reality of what it is to be a top performer. We tend to focus on the glory but not on the efforts and sacrifices required, we see the glitz but not the sweat.

We tend to believe that being an athlete is about playing all day long whereas being a career person is only about working all the time. That's one the first misconception. An athlete can see his sport as work and a career person can see his work as play

Whether we are working or playing depends strictly on the attitude and not with the process at hand. As a matter of fact, most of the elite in any area of endeavor see what they do as a game. That is the reason that they are so enthusiastic, focused and full of energy.

To succeed at anything, it has to be fun; it has to be exciting it has to hold the prospect of exhilarating rewards. With some imagination and mental discipline that state of mind can be achieved as well in a career as is can in any arena of the sport world.

The next lesson that we can learn from the sport world is about dedication and focus. A professional, whether it is in the business or sport world, has to be focused on one thing and that is winning. Anyone who is ambivalent about winning has no place in the top echelons.

That's a lesson that anyone who dreams of a six plus figure salary has to learn. The performance and the result have to commensurate with the reward. Either we produce and prevail or we fail and leave. That's how it is in the world of sport and that's what it is in real life.

In both worlds, it's survival of the fittest. It may sound cruel but that's how it is. The spoil goes the person who is hungrier and wants it the most. So long as ethic is respected and the laws are observed, anything goes.

Another great lesson that we can learn from the athletes is that they all have coaches and trainers; they rely on the expertise and guidance of others to insure that they always play at peak performance. In today's competitive world, there is little place for errors and no place for bad performances.

No one is above guidance and counseling. Tony Robbins is said to have three personal coaches and he is himself a personal coach for the elite few who can afford the one million dollars a year tab. Good coaches cost money but they are worth every penny spent.

The world of sport and the business/career worlds are very much alike. Something that every budding young lion should be aware off. To succeed and win, excellence is needed and excellence is acquired the same way no matter what place a person occupies.

That is something that you should keep in mind the next time you watch your favorite athlete in action; the man (or woman) is showing you what you need to know and do to reach the top.

Dr. Raymond Comeau 

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Susan Boyle Dreams of a New Career - What About You?

Have you seen the video now sweeping the Internet, of Susan Boyle singing "I Dreamed a Dream" on 'Britain's Got Talent' show?

Her performance brought the audience to its feet in cheers and tears.

Susan is a 47-year-old, unemployed woman - neither stylish nor beautiful - who has never sung before a large audience.

And yet - she wants a new career. She wants to be a professional singer.

When she took the stage and stated her age and her ambition of this new career, the audience and the judges tittered with cynicism and doubt.

And then she began to sing.

Instantly, everyone knew they were witnessing something quite extraordinary. She stirred their souls with her beautiful voice and heartfelt rendition. In the blink of an eye, an audience of skeptics was transformed into adoring fans.

I don't know what Susan's future holds, but I am sure she will have a new career very soon!

Susan Boyle's moment captures what I have been talking about for years and reflects what Eleanor Roosevelt said: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

For 35 years Susan dreamt of a new career. She sought her opportunity. She risked being ridiculed on television because her dream was stronger than her fear.

She, quite literally, put herself 'out there.'

Are you willing to risk everything for the beauty of your dream? Are you looking for and seizing all opportunities to live your dream and find your new career?

Our dreams do have beauty in them. They have meaning, not only to us, but also to others.

As we express the beauty from within into outward form as Susan did, we stir something in the souls of others, not just our own.

Susan Boyle expressed her beauty through singing. How will you express yours?

I read once of an angel taking a human on a guided tour of extraordinary creations of art, music, inventions, architecture and the like. The human marveled and asked the angel, "What is this place?" And the angel answered, "These are all the inventions that were intended to be created by humankind over the years - and never were."

Henry David Thoreau said, "Most people die with their music still in them."

What about you?

What do you have a burning desire to create? What new career is calling you? What music is still in you? How will you sing your own version of I Dreamed a Dream?

In my own life, sometimes I've taken risks and sometimes I've stayed in my comfort zone. But there is no real safety in hiding - no satisfaction either.

When I've taken risks, the outcome always led to more and better surprises than I ever thought. New careers opened up; promotions and bigger assignments were available.

Best of all, I had the deep satisfaction of knowing I was fulfilling my purpose. And I influenced other people in positive ways, adding to my own joy in expression.

Dreams come from the depths of your soul. Denying them only leads to your detriment.

I challenge you to do what Susan Boyle is doing. Sing your own rendition of I Dreamed a Dream. Recognize and celebrate the beauty of your dreams - then create them!

Anita

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Enhancing Women's Career Development

Over half of all mothers with children under six years of age are in the work force. Between 1990 and 2008, there will be an estimated net increase of 18 million female workers, compared with 9 million male workers.

This trend presents opportunities and challenges to organizations. If women's potential is to be fully utilized, companies must take steps to foster their career development. Some of these routes take the form of such traditional means as visible posting of job opportunities, career counseling, and training programs. Others are more innovative, such as opportunities for part-time jobs at advanced hierarchical levels and a variety of family-sensitive work practices.

Unfortunately, many women and minority workers complain that it is difficult to find mentors, especially at upper-management levels. At such levels, many executives have had little experience working closely with women and minorities. Also, many mentoring relationships are based on friendship and nurturing developed outside a 9-to-5 schedule.

If whites and blacks do not interact socially, the relationships upon which much mentoring is based are never forged. It is partly for these reasons that, as noted previously, some firms are formally assigning mentors to females and minorities."

One recent, and very controversial, suggestion to accommodate women in the work force is the so-called Mommy Track. The idea of the Mommy Track is that firms should permit women who are more committed to family than career to have greater flexibility but that they should be eased off the fast track.

Although presented as a way for some women to have careers while raising a family, it was met with anger and frustration by many women and women's groups.They protested that the Mommy Track reinforces the view of some executives that women can be active parents only at the expense of their careers.

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Career Fashion - How To Choose A Pair Of Earrings For A Professional Image

What types of earrings go with your office attire?

How do you accessorize your business suit to enhance your professional image instead of detracting from you carefully cultivated I-mean-business business image?

Carefully chosen jewelry would certainly help. Bold earrings that draw attention to your face are a career woman's best friend. Especially if you are on the large side.

Caution should be taken here. Bold as in earrings that are fixed to your earlobe with nothing dangling from them. Save your drop earrings and chandelier earrings for your evening dates. They have no place in the office. When you make a presentation, you do not want to distract the audience with baubles jingling jangling from your ears. That would look unprofessional.

Another thing. If you want to be taken seriously at work, cleavage should be avoided in the office environment. Cover up, dress professionally to project a business-like image.

As for accessories, a pair of earrings would be all you need.

If you have sharp features, a narrow face or angular features, round earrings and earrings with curved lines would look good on you. If your face is flat or round or wide, visually slim your face and sharpen your features with angular shapes and vertical lines.

If you normally wear drop earrings and chandeliers because these look good on you, you can switch to earrings that are longer and wear them vertically. Like round earrings? Go for oval ones instead and position them so they are longer vertically.

For work, the subtle look is best. You can't go wrong with stud earrings. If you want to project a successful image, try diamond studs. They are subtle, but the dazzle from the diamonds would light up your skin, drawing attention to your face.

If diamonds are too expensive go for cz earrings [http://www.sexy-earrings.com/color-cubic-zirconia-earrings.htm]. These are stunning, expensive looking yet very affordable. So much so that you can even have a pair to match every outfit. You don't have to stick to single stone stud earrings. As long as it doesn't dangle distractingly, you can wear it to work.

For a more mature, sophisticated look, go for peals. Not just earrings. A short strand of pearls around looks elegant. Like a lady or a well groomed, successful business woman.

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