Women in Leadership GLBR News

Owning Growth in Community Health

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:09:22 GMT

Growth in community health does not happen by accident. It happens when people choose to care deeply, lead boldly, and take responsibility for creating environments where others can thrive. For women in leadership, owning growth in community health means recognizing that leadership is not only about strategy, performance, or professional success. It is also about people. It is about understanding that healthier communities are built when individuals feel seen, supported, educated, and empowered.

Community health reaches far beyond clinics, hospitals, and medical programs. It includes mental health, emotional well-being, access to resources, healthy relationships, education, safe neighborhoods, and opportunities for people to live with dignity and hope. When women step into leadership with a commitment to strengthening these areas, they become catalysts for meaningful and lasting change. They influence families, workplaces, schools, nonprofits, and entire communities simply by choosing to lead with intention.

Owning growth in community health begins with ownership of perspective. Strong leaders do not wait for someone else to fix what is broken. They ask questions, listen to the needs around them, and look for ways to contribute. Sometimes that contribution is large and visible. Sometimes it is quieter, happening through mentorship, advocacy, collaboration, or the creation of spaces where people feel safe enough to share their struggles and dreams. Real growth often starts with one person deciding to care enough to act.

Women leaders are uniquely positioned to shape the health of a community because they often lead with both vision and compassion. They understand that progress is not just measured in numbers, but in people. A healthier community is one where businesses support families, where organizations work together instead of in silos, where education is accessible, and where individuals know they are not walking through hardship alone. This kind of growth requires connection, and connection is one of the most powerful tools leadership can offer.

Community health also grows when leaders are willing to model it themselves. Owning growth means being honest about the importance of balance, resilience, rest, and emotional wellness. It means challenging the belief that leadership must come at the cost of personal well-being. When women leaders value health in their own lives, they give others permission to do the same. They help redefine success in a way that is sustainable, human, and healing.

No one grows a healthier community alone. It takes partnerships, conversations, courage, and a shared willingness to move forward together. That is why leadership communities matter so much. They remind us that we are stronger when we support one another, learn from one another, and build alongside one another.

Owning growth in community health is not about having every answer. It is about showing up, staying engaged, and using your influence to make life better for the people around you. When women lead this way, communities do more than improve. They transform.

Full intelligence is not just IQ...

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:25:30 GMT

In leadership, there are seasons when we are simply trying to keep up. Deadlines pile high. Family responsibilities call our name. The team needs direction. The inbox never quite empties. We operate in response mode—solving problems, putting out fires, managing one urgent situation after another.

There is nothing wrong with resilience. In fact, many women have built remarkable lives because of their ability to endure and adapt. But endurance alone is not the pinnacle of leadership. There comes a point when reacting is no longer enough. We are called to rise into something deeper, wiser, and far more powerful.

When we live in constant urgency, we often rely on instinct and speed. We make quick decisions. We protect what matters. We push through. Yet true leadership requires more than survival instincts—it requires access to our full intelligence.

Full intelligence is not just IQ. It is the integration of logic, emotional awareness, intuition, lived experience, creativity, and values. It is the ability to pause instead of panic. To respond instead of react. To lead from alignment rather than exhaustion.

For many women, this shift begins with awareness. Notice how often you operate from pressure instead of purpose. Notice how frequently your calendar dictates your priorities instead of your vision. Notice the physical signals—tight shoulders, shallow breathing, racing thoughts—that tell you you’re stuck in “just get through it” mode.

The next step is permission.

Permission to slow down long enough to think clearly. Permission to say no without guilt. Permission to ask better questions instead of rushing toward quick answers. Permission to rest—not as a reward for productivity, but as a strategic tool for clarity.

When you create space, something powerful happens. Your emotional intelligence sharpens. You listen more deeply—to others and to yourself. You recognize patterns instead of isolated problems. You begin to anticipate challenges rather than simply respond to them. Your decisions become less reactive and more intentional.

This is where sustainable leadership lives.

Intentional leaders do not ignore difficulty; they engage it with steadiness. They understand that every obstacle carries information. They trust their ability to navigate uncertainty because they are grounded, not frantic. They value collaboration over control. They lead conversations instead of defending positions.

Perhaps most importantly, they model a healthier standard for the women around them. When one woman leads with clarity instead of chaos, she quietly gives others permission to do the same. Teams feel safer. Creativity increases. Communication improves. The ripple effect extends far beyond the boardroom.

This kind of leadership is not about doing more. It is about doing differently.

It may look like beginning your week with reflection instead of reaction. It may mean aligning your goals with your values instead of outside expectations. It may require courageous conversations that clear long-standing tension. It may simply start with a deep breath before answering a difficult email.

Leadership rooted in wholeness creates influence that lasts. It transforms not only results, but relationships. It builds cultures where women do not have to prove their strength by exhaustion.

You are not here merely to endure. You are here to shape, to inspire, to create. When you choose to lead from your full capacity—mind, heart, and wisdom combined—you move beyond merely getting through the day.

You begin building something that truly matters.

Mentorship Matters: How Women Lift Each Other Up in the Great Lakes Bay Region

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 19:05:33 GMT

If you ask a woman in leadership how she got where she is today, chances are her story includes another woman who nudged, encouraged, challenged, or believed in her at just the right moment. That’s the power of mentorship—and it’s one of the quiet forces shaping the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Mentorship doesn’t always look like a formal program with sign-up sheets and scheduled meetings. Often, it starts in small moments: a conversation after a WIL event, a text checking in before a presentation, a recommendation sent to the right person at the right time. These seemingly simple acts of support add up, forming a safety net and launch pad all at once.

For women, mentorship is deeply relational. It’s not just about transferring information or tips; it’s about being seen and believed in. A mentor says, “I see your potential, and I’m willing to walk beside you while you grow into it.” In a world where many women still wrestle with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, that kind of affirmation can be life-changing.

In the Great Lakes Bay Region, mentorship is also about local context. A woman who’s built a career, business, or nonprofit here understands the unique dynamics of our communities. She knows which partnerships matter, what challenges are common, where opportunities are emerging, and how to navigate the networks that aren’t always obvious from the outside. When she shares that knowledge generously, she shortens the learning curve for someone else.

Mentorship isn’t one-directional, either. While we usually think of mentors as the ones pouring into others, the relationship often becomes mutually enriching. Seasoned leaders gain fresh perspective, renewed energy, and new ideas from those they mentor. Younger or earlier-stage professionals bring creativity, innovation, and different lived experiences. Together, they create a kind of leadership “ecosystem” that’s stronger than any one person.

For women who feel like they’re “not experienced enough” to mentor yet, here’s an important truth: you don’t have to be at the top to be a mentor. You simply need to be willing to share what you’ve learned so far. If you’re one step ahead of someone else in a particular area, you have something of value to offer. Maybe you’ve navigated a career change, negotiated a raise, launched a side business, returned to school, or set better boundaries. Those lessons matter.

On the flip side, if you’re longing for guidance, don’t be afraid to ask. Many women are honored to be invited into that role; they just may not realize you’re looking for it. Start by reaching out to someone you admire from a WIL event or local gathering. Tell her what you’re working on and ask if she’d be open to coffee or a short conversation. Mentorship often grows from small, simple yeses.

Ultimately, mentorship is one of the most powerful ways women can lift each other up—in business, in leadership, and in life. It helps us remember we’re not alone. It widens the path for those who come after us. And it creates a culture where women don’t just succeed individually; they rise together.

In the Great Lakes Bay Region, that’s not just a nice idea. It’s already happening. And you can be part of it—both as a learner and as a leader.

What to Expect from WIL in 2026: Goals, Events, & Growth Plans

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT

A new year always brings fresh goals, but for women in leadership across the Great Lakes Bay Region, 2026 is shaping up to be more than just another calendar flip. It’s an invitation. An invitation to step into deeper connection, bolder leadership, and more intentional impact through Women in Leadership Great Lakes Bay (WIL). If you’ve been curious about where this organization is heading, 2026 is the year to lean in.

First, expect more structured leadership development. Women are leading in every corner of our region—business, nonprofits, education, healthcare, real estate, small startups, and beyond. WIL will continue to create spaces where those women can grow their skills in communication, strategic decision-making, emotional intelligence, and personal branding. Workshops, panels, and facilitated conversations will focus on real-world tools that women can apply immediately in their work and life.

Second, 2026 will bring a stronger emphasis on member involvement and leadership pathways. WIL isn’t designed as a “sit back and observe” group. It’s a community where members can step into meaningful roles, whether through committees, event planning, mentoring, or volunteering. Expect clearer on-ramps for women who want to take that next step: how to join a committee, how to help shape programming, and how to bring your own ideas to the table.

Events will also continue to evolve. In addition to signature gatherings, you can anticipate more intimate connection opportunities—smaller groups, roundtables, peer circles, and spaces where it’s easier to have real, honest conversations. These environments are where mentorship is born, collaborations begin, and friendships take root. Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards anymore; it’s about building relationships that last.

You can also expect WIL to deepen its community impact. Leadership isn’t only about titles or positions; it’s about using your influence for good. 2026 will likely bring new service projects, philanthropic initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations. Women will have more chances to give back collectively—whether that’s supporting other women in transition, uplifting youth, or helping meet needs across the region.

Another important shift is around visibility and storytelling. WIL will continue spotlighting women doing remarkable work—business owners, executives, public servants, creatives, and community champions. Expect more member features, success stories, and panels that highlight the many different ways women lead. When we see ourselves in others’ stories, we remember that our own path matters too.

Finally, 2026 will be a year for clarity and courage. Clarity on what kind of leader you want to be. Courage to say yes to opportunities that stretch you. And support when you need to say no to what no longer aligns. WIL isn’t about perfection or hustle culture; it’s about sustainable growth and authentic connection.

So what can you expect from WIL in 2026? More chances to be seen. More tools to grow. More women cheering you on. And more spaces where you don’t have to choose between ambition and authenticity—you get to bring your whole self and lead from there.

The door is open. The year is waiting. And you are invited.

Turning a Negative Workplace into One with a Positive Company Culture

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:00:00 GMT

A negative workplace can feel suffocating. The atmosphere might be marked by tension, disengagement, and low morale, leading to decreased productivity and higher turnover. However, transforming this environment into one with a positive company culture is possible, and it often starts with a shift in leadership, communication, and daily practices. Here’s what it takes to turn things around and foster a thriving, positive workplace culture.

1. Lead with Empathy and Transparency

The foundation of any positive workplace culture is leadership that genuinely cares about its employees. To build trust and a supportive environment, leaders must practice empathy and transparency. Acknowledge the challenges the company faces and involve employees in the improvement process. Be open about expectations, successes, and areas that need attention. When leaders are transparent about challenges, employees feel like partners in the company’s journey rather than mere cogs in a machine.

Empathy is also key—recognizing employees’ personal needs and career aspirations fosters a sense of belonging. Employees who feel seen and heard are more likely to stay engaged and loyal to the company.

2. Encourage Open Communication

Communication is a powerful tool for creating a positive work environment. When employees feel they cannot speak up or express concerns, a negative culture thrives. Encourage open lines of communication across all levels of the organization. This could be through regular check-ins, town hall meetings, or anonymous feedback channels. Make it clear that constructive feedback is welcomed and valued.

When employees can freely share their ideas and concerns, they’re more likely to feel a sense of ownership over their work and the company’s success. Additionally, positive feedback should be just as common as constructive criticism. Recognizing and celebrating achievements, big or small, contributes to an overall uplifting atmosphere.

3. Promote Work-Life Balance

A healthy work-life balance is crucial for employee well-being and job satisfaction. When employees feel overworked, stressed, or burned out, the overall culture suffers. Encourage flexible working hours, remote work options, or mental health days. Ensure that employees understand they’re valued as whole people, not just workers. Show that their well-being is a priority by offering wellness programs, mental health support, and even simple activities like team-building that promote relaxation and connection.

By prioritizing work-life balance, employees will feel more energized and motivated, which will translate into a more positive and productive work environment.

4. Foster Collaboration and Inclusivity

A positive workplace culture thrives when collaboration is encouraged, and inclusivity is a top priority. Breaking down silos between teams and departments fosters trust and communication. Ensure everyone, regardless of position or background, has an equal opportunity to contribute ideas. Diverse perspectives help companies innovate and problem-solve more effectively.

Inclusivity extends beyond diversity—it involves creating an environment where everyone feels valued, included, and respected. Organize team-building exercises, celebrate cultural diversity, and create opportunities for employees to connect outside of their day-to-day responsibilities.

5. Set Clear Expectations and Encourage Growth

A positive workplace culture is one where employees are empowered to grow. This starts with clear expectations and goals. When people understand their roles and how their work contributes to the larger mission, they’re more engaged and motivated.

Offer opportunities for professional development, training, and advancement. Encourage employees to learn new skills and take on new challenges. When employees feel they’re growing both personally and professionally, they are more likely to stay committed and enthusiastic about their work.

Conclusion

Transforming a negative workplace into one with a positive culture takes time, effort, and intentionality. By fostering empathy, open communication, work-life balance, inclusivity, and personal growth, organizations can build an environment where employees feel motivated, valued, and inspired. The end result isn’t just a happier workforce—it’s a more productive, innovative, and successful company.

Ageism in the Workplace: A Growing Concern and How to Combat It

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Ageism, a form of discrimination based on a person’s age, is an unfortunate reality in today’s workforce. While it may be more commonly associated with older workers, ageism can affect individuals of any age. Whether it’s the dismissal of older employees as outdated or the exclusion of younger employees due to perceived lack of experience, ageism is a pervasive issue that hinders diversity, inclusivity, and productivity in the workplace.

In many industries, there is a common misconception that younger workers are more adaptable, tech-savvy, and energetic, while older workers are seen as rigid, slow to learn, or nearing retirement. These stereotypes ignore the valuable experience, wisdom, and work ethic that older workers can bring to an organization. Conversely, younger employees are often judged for being inexperienced, overconfident, or lacking the maturity to handle certain responsibilities. This creates a toxic environment where employees are judged not by their skills or qualifications, but by their age.

Ageism has real consequences, both for individuals and organizations. For workers, it can lead to limited career opportunities, stagnant growth, and, in some cases, forced unemployment. For organizations, ageism can result in the loss of valuable talent, reduced employee morale, and missed opportunities for innovation. Diversity in age, just like diversity in gender, race, and background, is crucial for fostering a dynamic and creative workforce. A mix of ages brings a variety of perspectives, problem-solving approaches, and innovative solutions that can drive business success.

To combat ageism in the workplace, employers must foster a culture of inclusion and equality. This can be achieved through several proactive strategies:

1. Promoting Awareness and Education: One of the most effective ways to combat ageism is by raising awareness about its existence and impact. Employers should offer training programs that address unconscious bias and highlight the value of age diversity. When employees, managers, and leaders are educated about ageism, they are more likely to recognize and challenge discriminatory behaviors or practices.

2. Fostering Mentorship Opportunities: Intergenerational mentoring programs are an excellent way to bridge the gap between older and younger workers. These programs allow employees to share their knowledge, experience, and skills, helping to break down stereotypes and encourage mutual respect. Older employees can offer mentorship to younger workers, while younger employees can provide fresh insights into technology and innovation.

3. Revising Recruitment Practices: Employers should review their hiring processes to ensure they are not inadvertently favoring one age group over another. Job descriptions should focus on skills and experience, rather than age-related assumptions. Additionally, recruiters should actively seek out diverse candidates from different age groups to ensure a more inclusive hiring process.

4. Encouraging a Flexible Work Environment: Flexible work policies can benefit workers of all ages. Older workers may appreciate the ability to work remotely or adjust their hours to accommodate personal needs, while younger workers may seek a better work-life balance. Offering flexible schedules and remote work options can help retain employees and reduce age-related turnover.

5. Celebrating Age Diversity: Finally, organizations should make a conscious effort to celebrate age diversity in the workplace. Acknowledging and highlighting the contributions of workers from all age groups can foster an inclusive environment where employees feel valued regardless of their age.

In conclusion, ageism is a significant issue in today’s workplace that must be addressed. By promoting awareness, fostering mentorship, revising recruitment practices, and celebrating age diversity, employers can create a more inclusive and equitable workplace that benefits everyone. Age should never be a barrier to career growth, and organizations that embrace age diversity will find themselves better equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Job Market Evolution in 2026: What You Can Expect

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT

As we approach 2026, the job market continues to evolve rapidly, influenced by technological advancements, changing societal needs, and global economic shifts. Here are some careers that are expected to rise in the coming years.

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Specialists

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have been at the forefront of technological innovation for the past decade, and their influence is continuing to grow. Companies across various industries are seeking specialists who can develop, implement, and optimize AI/ML solutions to enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and deliver improved customer experiences. These roles often require expertise in programming, data analysis, and algorithm development.

2. Data Analysts and Scientists

As data becomes an increasingly valuable asset for businesses, the demand for data analysts and scientists continues to soar. These professionals help organizations make sense of vast amounts of data, providing insights that can inform decision-making, strategy, and operational improvements. Proficiency in statistical analysis, data visualization, and programming languages such as Python and R is essential for success in this field.

3. Cybersecurity Specialists

With the rise in cyber threats and data breaches, cybersecurity has become a top priority for both businesses and governments. Cybersecurity specialists are tasked with protecting sensitive information, securing networks, and responding to cyber incidents. This career path offers numerous growth opportunities, mainly as organizations invest more in their security infrastructure.

4. Healthcare Professionals

The healthcare industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by an aging population, advances in medical technology, and a greater focus on preventive care. Careers in nursing, healthcare administration, telemedicine, and mental health are expected to see substantial growth. Additionally, roles in healthcare IT, such as health informatics specialists, will be crucial in managing and analyzing healthcare data.

5. Renewable Energy Technicians

As the world shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, careers in the renewable energy sector are on the rise. Solar and wind energy technicians, in particular, are in high demand as more countries invest in clean energy infrastructure. These roles typically involve the installation, maintenance, and repair of renewable energy systems.

6. Remote Work Coordinators

The shift to remote work, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has given rise to new roles focused on managing and optimizing remote workforces. Remote work coordinators are responsible for ensuring effective communication, collaboration, and productivity in remote and hybrid work environments. This career requires strong organizational, communication, and technological skills.

7. Digital Marketing Specialists

As businesses continue to prioritize their online presence, digital marketing remains a crucial component of their overall strategy. Digital marketing specialists are experts in SEO, content marketing, social media, and online advertising. They play a key role in helping companies reach their target audiences, build brand awareness, and drive sales.

8. E-commerce Specialists

The growth of online shopping shows no signs of slowing down, and e-commerce specialists are vital to the success of digital retail platforms. These professionals manage online stores, optimize user experiences, and implement strategies to increase sales and customer satisfaction. Knowledge of e-commerce platforms, digital marketing, and customer service is essential.

9. Climate Change Analysts

With the growing focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, climate change analysts are becoming increasingly important. These professionals assess the impact of climate change on various sectors and develop strategies to mitigate its effects. They work with governments, businesses, and non-profits to promote sustainable practices and policies.

10. Creative Professionals

The demand for creative professionals, including graphic designers, video producers, and content creators, continues to rise as businesses seek to differentiate themselves through compelling visuals and storytelling. Creativity, technical skills, and the ability to adapt to emerging trends are key to thriving in these roles.

In conclusion, the careers on the rise for 2026 reflect a dynamic job market shaped by technological advancements, societal changes, and global challenges. Aspiring professionals should consider these growing fields and invest in the necessary skills and education to stay competitive in the evolving workforce.

De-Stressing in the Workplace: A Guide to a Healthier, Happier Workday

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT

In today's fast-paced work environment, stress has become an almost inevitable part of our daily lives. Tight deadlines, long hours, and constant connectivity can take a toll on both our mental and physical well-being. However, managing stress effectively can lead to a more productive, healthier, and happier work experience. Here are some practical strategies to help de-stress in the workplace.

1. Prioritize and Organize Tasks

One of the leading causes of workplace stress is feeling overwhelmed by an ever-growing to-do list. To combat this, start each day by prioritizing tasks. Identify what needs immediate attention and what can be scheduled for later. Using tools like to-do lists, digital planners, or project management software can help you stay organized and ensure that important tasks don’t slip through the cracks.

2. Take Regular Breaks

Sitting for long hours without breaks can lead to physical strain and mental fatigue. The Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break, can help maintain focus while allowing time to rest. During breaks, step away from your desk, take a short walk, or practice deep breathing exercises to refresh your mind and body.

3. Create a Comfortable Workspace

Your physical environment can significantly impact your stress levels. Ensure that your workspace is ergonomically set up to prevent physical discomfort. Personalize your space with plants, photos, or calming colors to create a more inviting and less stressful atmosphere.

4. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Incorporating mindfulness exercises, such as meditation or deep breathing, into your daily routine can help reduce anxiety and improve concentration. Even a few minutes of mindfulness practice can provide a mental reset during a hectic day.

5. Stay Active

Physical activity is a powerful stress reliever. If your job requires long hours at a desk, incorporate movement into your daily routine. Stretching, walking meetings, or even short workouts can help reduce stress and boost your mood. Many companies now offer wellness programs that include yoga or fitness classes, which can be a great way to stay active and de-stress.

6. Communicate Effectively

Stress often arises from misunderstandings or unclear expectations. Open and honest communication with colleagues and supervisors can alleviate this. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification or support when you need it. Sharing your workload or seeking feedback can help manage expectations and reduce stress.

7. Set Boundaries

In the era of remote work and constant connectivity, it's crucial to set boundaries between work and personal life. Establish specific work hours and stick to them. Avoid checking emails or taking work calls during your personal time. This separation helps prevent burnout and ensures you have time to recharge.

8. Seek Support

If workplace stress becomes overwhelming, seeking support is essential. This can include talking to a trusted colleague, supervisor, or accessing employee assistance programs (EAPs). Many organizations offer counseling services or stress management resources, providing valuable support.

9. Focus on Positivity

Cultivating a positive mindset can greatly impact your stress levels. Celebrate small wins, practice gratitude, and focus on the aspects of your job that bring you joy and fulfillment. Surrounding yourself with positive influences and supportive colleagues can also enhance your overall well-being.

De-stressing in the workplace is not just about managing immediate stressors, but also about cultivating long-term habits that promote mental and physical well-being. By incorporating these strategies into your daily routine, you can develop a more balanced and fulfilling work-life balance. Remember, a less stressed employee is a more productive, creative, and happy one. Take the time to invest in your well-being—it’s worth it for both your career and personal life.

Reinventing Growth in 2025: A Blueprint for the Future

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 18:03:17 GMT

As we step into 2025, the concept of growth is being redefined across industries. Traditional metrics of success—such as revenue and market share—are no longer the sole indicators of progress. Instead, businesses are adopting more holistic approaches that emphasize sustainability, innovation, and societal impact. This shift is driven by evolving consumer expectations, technological advancements, and the urgent need to address global challenges.

Embracing Sustainable Growth

Sustainability has moved from being a buzzword to a core business strategy. Companies are recognizing that long-term success depends on their ability to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. In 2025, sustainable growth is not just about reducing carbon footprints; it involves creating value for all stakeholders, including employees, customers, and communities.

Businesses are investing in renewable energy, reducing waste, and adopting circular economy principles. For instance, manufacturers are designing products with longer lifespans and recyclability in mind, while retailers are sourcing materials ethically and supporting local economies. This approach not only benefits the planet but also builds brand loyalty and resilience in an increasingly eco-conscious market.

Leveraging Technological Innovation

Technology continues to be a catalyst for growth, but its role is evolving. In 2025, the focus is on harnessing innovation to solve complex problems and improve quality of life. Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data analytics are enabling companies to optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and develop new products and services.

One of the most significant trends is the rise of personalized solutions. AI-driven insights allow businesses to understand customer needs at an unprecedented level, delivering tailored offerings that resonate deeply. In healthcare, for example, personalized medicine is transforming patient care by using genetic information to develop targeted treatments.

Moreover, the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is creating smarter, more connected environments. From smart cities that improve urban living to industrial IoT applications that boost efficiency, technology is paving the way for innovative growth across sectors.

Fostering Inclusive Growth

Inclusive growth ensures that economic benefits are shared broadly, addressing inequality and fostering social cohesion. In 2025, businesses are prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, not only as moral imperatives but also as drivers of innovation and performance.

Companies are building diverse teams that reflect the global customer base, recognizing that different perspectives lead to better decision-making and creativity. Additionally, they are investing in upskilling and reskilling programs to equip employees with the skills needed for the future workforce. This focus on human capital development ensures that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.

Cultivating Purpose-Driven Growth

Purpose-driven growth aligns business objectives with broader societal goals, creating a positive impact beyond financial performance. In 2025, companies are embedding purpose into their core missions, addressing issues such as climate change, social justice, and health and well-being.

This shift is particularly evident in the rise of social enterprises and B Corps, which balance profit with purpose. Consumers are increasingly supporting brands that stand for something meaningful, and employees are seeking organizations that align with their values. By cultivating purpose-driven growth, businesses can inspire loyalty, attract top talent, and drive long-term success.

Conclusion

Reinventing growth in 2025 requires a multidimensional approach that balances economic, social, and environmental considerations. By embracing sustainable practices, leveraging technological innovation, fostering inclusivity, and cultivating purpose-driven strategies, businesses can navigate the complexities of the modern world and achieve enduring growth. This holistic blueprint not only redefines success but also contributes to a more prosperous and equitable future for all.

What Employees Value in a Good Leader

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:32:42 GMT

In today's dynamic workplace, the role of a leader goes beyond managing tasks and ensuring targets are met. Employees seek leaders who inspire, support, and foster an environment that enables them to thrive. Understanding what employees value in a leader is crucial for any organization aiming to cultivate a positive and productive work culture. Here are some key qualities that employees often look for in a good leader.

1. Effective Communication

A good leader excels in communication. This means not only conveying messages clearly but also being an active listener. Employees appreciate leaders who provide clear instructions, offer constructive feedback, and are transparent about the company's goals and challenges. Open communication fosters trust, minimizes misunderstandings, and ensures that everyone is aligned toward common objectives.

2. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Empathy is a cornerstone of effective leadership. Leaders who show genuine concern for their employees' well-being create a supportive work environment. Emotional intelligence allows leaders to understand and manage their own emotions while also recognizing and influencing the emotions of others. This helps in handling conflicts, providing support during personal or professional challenges, and fostering a culture of mutual respect.

3. Integrity and Honesty

Integrity and honesty are non-negotiable traits in a leader. Employees value leaders who are ethical, transparent, and consistent in their actions and decisions. A leader’s integrity fosters trust and establishes a moral standard for the team. When employees know their leader stands by their word, they are more likely to follow suit and feel secure in their roles.

4. Vision and Inspiration

A good leader has a clear vision and the ability to inspire others. Employees want to feel that their work contributes to a larger purpose. Leaders who articulate a compelling vision and align team efforts towards it inspire motivation and commitment. This sense of purpose can significantly enhance job satisfaction and drive.

5. Empowerment and Development

Employees appreciate leaders who empower them by delegating responsibilities, encouraging initiative, and providing growth opportunities. A leader who invests in their team's development—whether through training, mentorship, or career advancement opportunities—demonstrates a commitment to their success. Empowered employees are more confident, engaged, and productive.

6. Adaptability and Resilience

In a rapidly changing world, adaptability is a crucial trait for leaders. Employees value leaders who can navigate change with resilience and guide the team through uncertainty. A leader’s ability to remain calm and focused in the face of challenges sets the tone for the team and ensures that everyone stays on track despite obstacles.

7. Recognition and Appreciation

Everyone wants to feel appreciated for their hard work and efforts. Leaders who regularly recognize and celebrate their team’s achievements create a positive and motivating work environment. Whether it’s a simple thank-you note or a formal recognition program, acknowledging contributions fosters a sense of belonging and encourages continued effort.

8. Fairness and Consistency

Employees seek fairness in leadership. This means treating everyone with respect, making impartial decisions, and ensuring that policies and expectations are applied consistently and fairly. A fair leader builds a culture of trust and equity, which is essential for maintaining morale and harmony within the team.

Conclusion

A good leader is someone who not only guides but also inspires, supports, and uplifts their team. By embodying qualities such as effective communication, empathy, integrity, vision, empowerment, adaptability, recognition, and fairness, leaders can create a thriving workplace where employees feel valued and motivated. Ultimately, the success of an organization hinges on the strength of its leadership and the satisfaction of its employees.

Must-Have Leadership Books for Every Aspiring Leader

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In the ever-evolving leadership landscape, staying ahead requires continual learning and growth. One of the best ways to gain insights and refine your leadership skills is by diving into the wealth of knowledge available in leadership literature. Here, we explore some must-have leadership books that have stood the test of time, offering invaluable lessons and practical advice.

1. "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek, renowned for his compelling ideas on leadership and inspiration, delves into the "The Circle of Safety" concept in this book. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and fostering a supportive environment where employees feel safe and valued. "Leaders Eat Last" is a profound exploration of how great leaders prioritize the well-being of their teams, creating a culture of mutual respect and loyalty.

2. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey

Stephen Covey’s classic work remains a cornerstone in leadership literature. The book outlines seven habits that foster personal and professional effectiveness. From "Be Proactive" to "Sharpen the Saw," Covey’s principles help leaders build character and competence. This book is about leadership and personal development, making it an essential read for anyone looking to lead effectively.

3. "Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown

Brené Brown, a research professor known for her work on vulnerability and courage, brings these concepts to the forefront in "Dare to Lead." She argues that true leadership stems from embracing vulnerability and building trust. The book is a guide to creating brave spaces where people can take risks, innovate, and grow. Brown’s emphasis on empathy, connection, and courage makes this book a must-read for modern leaders.

4. "Good to Great" by Jim Collins

Jim Collins’s "Good to Great" examines why some companies make the leap to greatness while others remain mediocre. Through rigorous research, Collins identifies key principles such as the Hedgehog Concept, Level 5 Leadership, and the Flywheel Effect. This book offers leaders a blueprint for achieving sustained excellence and is filled with practical insights that can be applied across various industries.

5. "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek

Another gem by Simon Sinek, "Start with Why," explores the power of purpose. Sinek introduces the concept of the "Golden Circle" and explains how great leaders inspire action by starting with "why." The book challenges readers to find their "why" and leverage it to inspire and lead others. It’s an inspiring read for anyone seeking to lead with intention and clarity.

6. "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries

While primarily targeted at entrepreneurs, Eric Ries's "The Lean Startup" offers valuable lessons for leaders in any field. Ries introduces the "validated learning" concept and emphasizes the importance of rapid experimentation and adaptability. The book is a powerful reminder that continuous innovation and agility are crucial for long-term success in a rapidly changing world.

7. "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Written by two former Navy SEALs, "Extreme Ownership" provides a unique perspective on leadership. Jocko Willink and Leif Babin share lessons learned on the battlefield and translate them into actionable leadership principles. The book emphasizes taking full responsibility for outcomes, fostering a culture of accountability, and leading by example.

8. "Mindset" by Carol S. Dweck

Carol Dweck’s groundbreaking research on mindset is a must-read for leaders who want to cultivate a growth-oriented culture. "Mindset" explores the difference between fixed and growth mindsets, highlighting how a leader’s beliefs can influence their own and their team’s success. The book provides practical strategies for fostering resilience, learning, and adaptability.

Conclusion

Leadership is a journey of continuous learning and growth. These books provide a wealth of knowledge, practical advice, and inspiration to help you navigate the complexities of leadership. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or an experienced one looking to sharpen your skills, these must-have leadership books are invaluable resources that can guide you towards becoming a more effective and impactful leader.

Checking In with Your 2025 Business Vision: A Mid-Year Review

Mon, 05 May 2025 00:35:56 GMT

As we step into the new year with enthusiasm, it's crucial to pause and reflect on the vision we set for our businesses. Checking in with your 2025 business vision ensures that you stay aligned with your goals and adapt to any changes in the market landscape. Here's a step-by-step guide to conducting a meaningful mid-year review.

1. Revisit Your Vision Statement

Start by revisiting your business vision statement. This statement is the cornerstone of your strategic planning. Reflect on the core purpose and long-term objectives you outlined. Ask yourself:

Is this vision still relevant?
Are we on track to achieve our long-term goals?
Have there been any significant changes in our industry or market that might affect our vision?

By grounding yourself in your original vision, you can better assess where adjustments may be needed.

2. Evaluate Your Progress

Assess your progress toward your 2025 goals. Break down your objectives into measurable milestones and evaluate your current position.

Financial Performance: Review your financial statements. Are your revenues, profits, and cash flow in line with your projections?
Operational Metrics: Look at your operational efficiency. Are there areas where you could streamline processes or improve productivity?
Customer Satisfaction: Gauge customer feedback and satisfaction levels. Are you meeting customer expectations?

Use key performance indicators (KPIs) to objectively measure your progress. This will help you identify areas of success and those needing improvement.

3. Reflect on Challenges and Opportunities

No year goes without its challenges and opportunities. Take a moment to list the major challenges your business has faced in the first half of the year. What lessons have you learned? Similarly, identify any unexpected opportunities that have arisen.

Challenges: How have you addressed them? What strategies worked, and what didn’t?
Opportunities: Have you been able to capitalize on new market trends or technological advancements?

Learning from both challenges and opportunities is key to refining your strategy moving forward.

4. Reassess Your Goals and Strategies

With your progress and challenges in mind, reassess your goals and strategies. Are they still realistic and aligned with your vision?

Short-Term Adjustments: You may need to adjust short-term goals to stay on track. Consider tweaking your marketing strategies, product offerings, or operational plans.
Long-Term Vision: Ensure your long-term vision remains ambitious yet achievable. Stay flexible and open to adapting your strategies as needed.

5. Engage Your Team

Your team plays a critical role in achieving your business vision. Engage them in the review process. Share insights from your assessment and involve them in discussions about adjustments.

Team Feedback: Encourage team members to share their perspectives on progress and challenges.
Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment where everyone feels invested in the vision.

A united team with a clear understanding of the business goals will be more motivated and aligned in their efforts.

6. Plan for the Second Half of the Year

Use the insights gained from your mid-year review to plan for the remainder of the year. Develop a clear action plan with updated goals, timelines, and responsibilities.

Actionable Steps: Break down your plan into actionable steps. Assign clear roles and deadlines.
Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular check-ins to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.

Conclusion

Checking in with your 2025 business vision is more than a routine exercise; it’s a vital part of strategic management. By reflecting on your progress, reassessing your goals, and engaging your team, you can ensure your business stays on the path to success. Take the time to conduct this review and set a clear course for the rest of the year.

Finding the Perfect Work-Life Balance: Tips and Strategies

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:59:29 GMT

In today's fast-paced world, achieving a healthy work-life balance can be challenging. With the demands of careers, family responsibilities, and personal aspirations all vying for our time and attention, it's no wonder many people struggle to find equilibrium. However, balancing work and personal life is essential for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Here are some practical tips and strategies to help you achieve a more balanced life.

1. Set Clear Boundaries. Setting clear boundaries is one of the most crucial steps in achieving work-life balance. This means defining when your workday starts and ends and sticking to it. Avoid checking emails or completing work tasks during your personal time. Communicate these boundaries with your employer, colleagues, and family to ensure everyone understands and respects your schedule.

2. Prioritize Your Time. Time management is key to balancing work and life. Make a list of your most important tasks and prioritize them. Use tools like calendars, planners, or digital apps to organize your schedule. By focusing on what truly matters, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and ensure that both your professional and personal commitments are met.

3. Learn to Say No. Overcommitting is a common pitfall that can lead to burnout. It's important to recognize your limits and feel comfortable saying no to additional responsibilities that don't align with your priorities. Whether it's an extra project at work or a social event, declining certain commitments can free up valuable time for yourself and your family.

4. Make Time for Self-Care. Self-care is not a luxury; it's a necessity. Regularly taking time for yourself can recharge your batteries and improve your overall well-being. This might include exercise, meditation, reading, or simply relaxing. Prioritizing self-care helps you stay energized and more focused in your personal and professional life.

5. Foster Supportive Relationships Having a strong support system can make a significant difference in managing work-life balance. Surround yourself with people who understand your goals and challenges. This includes family, friends, and colleagues who can offer encouragement, advice, and practical help when needed. Don't hesitate to delegate tasks or seek assistance when things get overwhelming.

6. Embrace Flexibility. Flexibility is a vital component of work-life balance. Whenever possible, look for opportunities to incorporate flexibility into your work arrangements. This could mean negotiating remote work options, flexible hours, or compressed workweeks. Embracing flexibility allows you to manage your time and responsibilities better, reducing stress and enhancing productivity.

7. Disconnect to Reconnect In an era of constant connectivity, disconnecting regularly is essential. Set aside specific times to unplug from work-related technology, such as turning off notifications or setting "do not disturb" hours. Use this time to connect with loved ones, engage in hobbies, or simply relax. Reconnecting with the world around you can rejuvenate your mind and improve your overall quality of life.

8. Reflect and Adjust Achieving work-life balance is an ongoing process that requires regular reflection and adjustment. Periodically assess your current balance and identify areas that need improvement. Be willing to change and try new strategies to find what works best for you. Remember, balance looks different for everyone, and it's okay to make adjustments as your life and priorities evolve.

In conclusion, finding the perfect work-life balance is a continuous journey that requires intentional effort and mindfulness. You can create a more harmonious and fulfilling life by setting boundaries, prioritizing time, embracing flexibility, and nurturing supportive relationships. Remember, balance is not about perfection but about making conscious choices that align with your values and well-being.

Second Quarter Initiatives and Goals in Business Leadership

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:13:32 GMT

As we approach the second quarter of the year, business leaders have a prime opportunity to reassess and refine their strategies to ensure continued growth and success. This period is pivotal for implementing initiatives that align with the annual goals set at the beginning of the year. Here, we explore key initiatives and goals that can drive effective leadership and organizational progress during the second quarter.

1. Strengthening Team Collaboration and Communication

One of the primary goals for the second quarter should be enhancing team collaboration and communication. This initiative can be achieved by fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue, regular feedback, and the use of collaborative tools. Leaders can organize team-building activities, workshops, and regular check-ins to ensure that everyone is aligned with the company’s vision and objectives.

2. Focus on Professional Development

Investing in the professional growth of employees is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. The second quarter is an ideal time to launch or revisit training programs, mentorship opportunities, and career development plans. Business leaders should identify skill gaps and provide resources for employees to upskill, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle future challenges.

3. Enhancing Customer Experience

Improving customer experience should remain a top priority. During this quarter, leaders can implement feedback mechanisms to gather insights directly from customers. This information can be used to refine products, services, and customer support processes. By focusing on customer satisfaction, businesses can foster loyalty and drive repeat business.

4. Driving Innovation and Creativity

The second quarter offers a chance to encourage innovation and creativity within the organization. Leaders can establish innovation labs, encourage brainstorming sessions, and support new ideas that could lead to product or service improvements. Cultivating a culture of innovation helps in staying ahead of the competition and meeting the evolving needs of the market.

5. Financial Performance and Cost Management

Reviewing financial performance is critical in the second quarter. Leaders should analyze financial reports, assess budget adherence, and identify areas where cost savings can be achieved without compromising quality. This initiative helps in ensuring that the organization is on track to meet its financial goals for the year.

6. Strengthening Company Culture

A strong company culture is the backbone of a successful organization. Leaders should focus on reinforcing company values, celebrating achievements, and recognizing employee contributions. This not only boosts morale but also fosters a sense of belonging and commitment among employees.

7. Expanding Market Reach

Exploring new markets and expanding customer base should be a goal for the second quarter. Leaders can research potential markets, develop targeted marketing campaigns, and establish partnerships that can facilitate market entry. This initiative helps in diversifying revenue streams and reducing dependency on existing markets.

8. Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility

Sustainability and corporate responsibility are increasingly becoming essential components of business strategy. Leaders should initiate programs that focus on reducing environmental impact, promoting social responsibility, and engaging in community development. These efforts not only enhance the company’s reputation but also contribute to long-term sustainability.

9. Technology and Digital Transformation

Embracing technology and driving digital transformation is crucial for staying relevant in today’s fast-paced business environment. Leaders should focus on integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and improve customer experiences.

10. Measuring and Evaluating Progress

Finally, setting measurable goals and regularly evaluating progress is vital for ensuring the success of second quarter initiatives. Leaders should establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and conduct periodic reviews to track achievements and identify areas for improvement. This approach enables timely adjustments and ensures that the organization remains on course to achieve its annual objectives.

In conclusion, the second quarter is a critical period for business leaders to implement strategic initiatives and set clear goals. By focusing on collaboration, professional development, customer experience, innovation, financial performance, company culture, market expansion, sustainability, technology, and progress evaluation, leaders can drive their organizations towards sustained growth and success.

Leadership Skills in High Demand for 2025

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Leadership skills are more critical than ever in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. The ability to guide teams, adapt to change, and drive innovation is essential for organizations to thrive. Here are some of the leadership skills currently in high demand.

1. Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions while also recognizing and influencing the feelings of others. Leaders with high EI are adept at building strong relationships, managing conflict, and fostering a positive work environment. This skill is crucial for motivating teams, improving collaboration, and ensuring a cohesive organizational culture.

2. Adaptability and Flexibility

The modern business landscape is characterized by constant change. Leaders who can adapt to new circumstances and remain flexible are invaluable. This includes pivoting strategies when necessary, embracing new technologies, and responding to market shifts. Adaptable leaders are also more likely to inspire confidence among their teams during times of uncertainty.

3. Communication Skills

Effective communication is a cornerstone of successful leadership. Leaders must be able to convey their vision, listen actively to their teams, and provide constructive feedback. Strong communication skills ensure that everyone is aligned, which helps in executing strategies efficiently. Moreover, transparent communication fosters trust and engagement within the team.

4. Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking involves seeing the bigger picture and anticipating future trends and challenges. Leaders with this skill can make informed decisions that align with the organization's long-term goals. They are adept at analyzing data, assessing risks, and identifying growth opportunities. Strategic thinkers can also guide their teams through complex projects and initiatives.

5. Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

Solving problems and making sound decisions is critical in any leadership role. This involves identifying issues, evaluating potential solutions, and implementing the most effective action. Strong problem-solving skills help leaders navigate challenges efficiently, minimizing disruptions and maintaining productivity.

6. Empathy and Compassion

Empathy allows leaders to understand and relate to the experiences of their team members. Compassionate leaders create a supportive environment where employees feel valued and respected. This leads to higher morale, increased job satisfaction, and lower turnover rates. Empathy also plays a key role in managing diverse teams and fostering inclusivity.

7. Innovation and Creativity

Creative leadership is essential in a world driven by technological advancements and innovation. Leaders who encourage innovation are unafraid to take risks and explore new ideas. They foster a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement, which can lead to breakthrough products, services, and processes.

8. Delegation and Empowerment

Effective leaders understand the importance of delegation. Leaders can focus on high-level strategic initiatives by entrusting tasks to capable team members. Delegation also empowers employees, giving them a sense of ownership and responsibility. This not only enhances productivity but also promotes professional growth within the team.

9. Resilience and Stress Management

The ability to handle stress and bounce back from setbacks is a vital leadership trait. Resilient leaders maintain their composure under pressure and inspire their teams to do the same. They have coping mechanisms to manage stress and are committed to fostering a healthy work-life balance for themselves and their teams.

10. Continuous Learning and Development

In an ever-changing world, continuous learning is essential for leadership success. Leaders who invest in personal and professional development stay ahead of industry trends and enhance their skill sets. They also encourage a learning culture within their organizations, ensuring their teams remain competitive and innovative.

In conclusion, the demand for strong leadership skills grows as organizations navigate complex and dynamic environments. Leaders can position themselves and their organizations for sustained success by cultivating these high-demand skills.

Business Trends to Watch in 2025

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:00:00 GMT

As we enter 2025, the business landscape is undergoing significant transformations driven by technological advancements, changing consumer behaviors, and global economic shifts. Staying ahead of these trends is crucial for businesses aiming to thrive in a competitive market. Here are some key business trends expected to shape the year 2025.

1. Sustainability and ESG Initiatives

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors are becoming central to business strategies. In 2025, companies are expected to further integrate sustainability into their operations as a regulatory requirement and a core value. Consumers increasingly favor brands that demonstrate genuine commitment to sustainability, leading businesses to adopt more eco-friendly practices, reduce carbon footprints, and embrace circular economy models.

Investors, too, are prioritizing ESG metrics, with sustainable companies seeing higher valuations. Businesses that lag in this area risk reputational damage and losing market share to more environmentally conscious competitors.

2. AI and Automation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation continue to revolutionize industries. In 2025, AI will become more integrated into everyday business operations, from customer service chatbots to advanced data analytics. Automation is expected to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and reduce operational costs.

Moreover, AI-driven personalization will enhance customer experiences by providing tailored recommendations and services. Businesses leveraging AI to gain insights into consumer behavior will be better positioned to anticipate market trends and make data-informed decisions.

3. Remote and Hybrid Work Models

The pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, and by 2025, hybrid work models have become the norm. Companies are adopting flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to split their time between home and office. This trend is reshaping office spaces, with many businesses downsizing or redesigning their physical locations to accommodate collaborative work rather than individual desks.

This shift also presents challenges, such as maintaining company culture and ensuring cybersecurity in a dispersed work environment. Businesses investing in robust digital infrastructure and fostering virtual collaboration will thrive in this new work paradigm.

4. Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity

Digital transformation remains a top priority for businesses in 2025. Companies are investing heavily in digital tools and platforms to enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, and drive innovation. As businesses become more reliant on digital technologies, cybersecurity becomes paramount.

The rise in cyber threats necessitates advanced security measures. Businesses are expected to adopt AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, conduct regular audits, and educate employees about potential threats. Building trust with consumers through secure and transparent data handling will be critical.

5. Health and Well-being Focus

The emphasis on health and well-being, both physical and mental, is gaining momentum. Companies are recognizing the importance of employee wellness in driving productivity and engagement. In 2025, expect to see more businesses offering comprehensive wellness programs, mental health support, and flexible work arrangements to promote a healthier work-life balance.

This trend also extends to consumers, with increased demand for products and services that enhance well-being. Companies in the health and wellness sector are poised for growth as they cater to this rising consumer interest.

6. Globalization and Localization

While globalization continues to offer businesses access to broader markets, there's a growing trend toward localization. Companies are tailoring their products, services, and marketing strategies to meet the unique needs of local markets. This dual approach allows businesses to leverage global efficiencies while resonating with local consumers.

Localization involves understanding different regions' cultural nuances, regulatory environments, and consumer preferences. Businesses that strike the right balance between global reach and local relevance will gain a competitive edge.

The business landscape in 2025 is characterized by rapid technological advancements, evolving work models, and a strong emphasis on sustainability and well-being. Companies that embrace these trends and adapt to changing market dynamics will be well-positioned for success. Staying agile, innovative, and customer-centric will be key to navigating the opportunities and challenges of this new era.

What Qualities Make a Good Leader?

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Leadership is a multifaceted role that demands a diverse set of qualities. An effective leader can guide, inspire, and influence others to achieve common goals. Here, we explore the essential qualities that make a good leader.

1. Confidence

A leader must possess strong self-confidence. This confidence is not arrogance but a clear understanding of one's abilities and the trust to make decisions and lead others. Confidence allows leaders to take risks, make difficult decisions, and stand firm in their convictions. With confidence, a leader may gain the trust and respect of their followers.

2. Integrity

Integrity is the foundation of trust. Leaders with integrity are honest, ethical, and transparent in their actions and decisions. They set a moral, solid example for others to follow. Integrity fosters an environment of trust and respect, which is crucial for a cohesive and motivated team.

3. Vision

A good leader has a clear vision for the future and can articulate it to their team. This vision is a roadmap guiding the team towards a common goal. Leaders with vision can inspire and motivate their teams by showing them the bigger picture and the importance of their contributions.

4. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Leaders who show empathy are better at building relationships and fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Empathy allows leaders to connect with their team members personally, enhancing team cohesion and morals.

5. Decisiveness

Decisiveness is the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively. Good leaders gather the necessary information, weigh the options, and make informed decisions without unnecessary delay. Decisiveness helps maintain momentum and ensures that opportunities are not lost due to indecision.

6. Courage

Courage is essential for leaders to face challenges head-on and make tough decisions. Courageous leaders are fearless in taking risks or standing up for their beliefs, even in adversity. This quality helps inspire confidence and trust among team members.

7. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence involves being aware of and managing one's emotions, as well as understanding and influencing the emotions of others. Leaders with high emotional intelligence are better equipped to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. This quality is crucial for managing stress, conflict resolution, and fostering a positive team environment.

8. Resilience

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and persevere in facing challenges. Resilient leaders maintain a positive attitude and stay focused on their goals, even when faced with obstacles. This quality helps keep the team motivated and moving forward.

9. Communication Skills

Effective communication is critical for leadership. Leaders must be able to convey their ideas clearly and persuasively. Good communication involves active listening, clarity in messaging, and the ability to engage and inspire others. It ensures everyone is on the same page and working towards the same objectives.

10. Adaptability

In a rapidly changing world, adaptability is a crucial trait for leaders. Adaptable leaders can pivot strategies and adjust plans to respond to new challenges and opportunities. This flexibility allows leaders to remain effective and ensure their team can navigate uncertainty.

A good leader requires confidence, integrity, vision, empathy, decisiveness, courage, emotional intelligence, resilience, communication skills, and adaptability. These qualities enable leaders to guide their teams effectively, foster trust, and achieve their goals.

How to Work with Challenging Employees: A Leadership Guide

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Navigating the complexities of managing a diverse workforce often involves dealing with difficult employees. These individuals can be a source of friction in the workplace, but they can also present an opportunity for growth and improvement when handled effectively. Here’s how leaders can manage challenging employees with skill and empathy.

Understanding Challenging Employees

Challenging employees can manifest in various forms: the consistently negative individual, the non-collaborative team member, the underperformer, or even the talented but disruptive personality. Understanding the root cause of their behavior is the first step in addressing the issue. Is it due to personal issues, lack of clarity in their role, or perhaps a mismatch between their skills and job requirements? Identifying these underlying factors allows leaders to tailor their approach to each specific situation.

1. Open Communication

Transparent and open communication is crucial. Initiate a private, respectful conversation with the employee to discuss the observed behavior. Use "I" statements to express how their actions impact the team and the work environment, such as “I’ve noticed you’ve been less engaged in meetings, and it’s affecting team dynamics.” This non-confrontational approach helps maintain constructive dialogue without making employees defensive.

2. Active Listening

Leaders should practice active listening during these discussions. This means fully concentrating, understanding, and responding thoughtfully to the employee's points. Active listening helps build trust and can reveal insights into why the employee behaves in a particular way. Acknowledging their perspectives and feelings is essential, even if you disagree.

3. Set Clear Expectations

Often, conflicts arise from misunderstandings about job expectations. It’s vital to define roles, responsibilities, and expected behaviors clearly. Reinforce these expectations consistently and provide regular feedback. Documenting performance and behavioral expectations can be a reference point during follow-up discussions.

4. Provide Support and Resources

Offer support and resources to help the employee improve. This could involve additional training, mentoring, or adjustments to their workload. Sometimes, personal issues outside of work can affect performance, and showing empathy by providing support options like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) can make a significant difference.

5. Encourage Positive Behavior

Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool. Recognize and reward improvements in behavior and performance. This motivates the challenging employee and sets a positive example for the rest of the team. Celebrate small wins to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

6. Know When to Escalate

In some situations, an employee's behavior doesn’t improve despite all efforts. Knowing when to escalate the issue to higher management or HR is crucial. Follow your organization’s disciplinary procedures to ensure a fair and consistent approach. In extreme cases, this may involve formal warnings or even termination.

Dealing with difficult employees is undoubtedly challenging but also an integral part of leadership. By approaching the situation with empathy, clarity, and a strategic mindset, leaders can mitigate the negative impacts and potentially transform a challenging employee into a valuable team member. The key is to remain consistent, fair, and supportive while maintaining a focus on the team's overall health and productivity.

By integrating these strategies into your leadership approach, you can turn the challenge of managing difficult employees into an opportunity for growth and team cohesion.

UP AND COMING WOMEN LEADERS: NAVIGATING THE PATH TO SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 13:00:00 GMT

In the dynamic world of leadership, many talented women are making significant strides, breaking barriers, and shaping industries. As these up-and-coming leaders forge their paths, there are several do’s and don’ts that can help them, and those who aspire to follow in their footsteps, to carve out successful careers.

Do: Embrace Your Unique Leadership Style

Every leader brings a unique set of strengths, perspectives, and experiences. Women in leadership positions often excel when they lean into their leadership styles rather than conforming to traditional norms. For instance, transformative leaders like Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, have been celebrated for their empathy and communication skills, which have proven to be as powerful as more autocratic styles.

Embrace your uniqueness and let it inform your leadership philosophy. This authenticity will not only set you apart but also inspire those around you.

Don't: Shy Away from Challenges

Leadership is not without its challenges, and often, it's how one deals with these challenges that defines one's tenure. Stepping into roles typically dominated by men can be daunting, and the pressure to prove oneself can be immense.

Persevere through difficulties and view them as opportunities to grow and prove your capabilities. Resiliently accepting challenges head-on can solidify your position as a formidable leader.

Do: Seek and Nurture Relationships

Building a network of supportive peers, mentors, and sponsors is essential. This network can guide you, provide essential advice, and open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

Engage with other leaders, attend industry meetings, and participate in forums. Moreover, take into account the importance of becoming a mentor yourself. Supporting other aspiring leaders not only aids their development but also enhances their leadership skills.

Don't: Overextend Yourself

The desire to prove oneself can sometimes lead to taking on more responsibilities than one can manage. This overextension can result in burnout and reduced effectiveness as a leader.

Set realistic goals and learn to delegate. Effective delegation is a critical skill for any leader—it allows you to focus on strategic aspects while empowering your team by trusting them with operational tasks.

Do: Continue to Learn and Adapt

The business landscape is perpetually evolving, influenced by technological advancements, cultural shifts, and economic changes. A successful leader knows the importance of being a lifelong learner.

Stay updated with industry trends, enroll in courses, and attend workshops. Adapting to change and continuously updating your knowledge base is crucial in maintaining your relevance and effectiveness as a leader.

Don't: Ignore Work-Life Balance

Leadership roles demand significant time and energy, but paying attention to personal well-being can impair performance and affect leadership effectiveness.

Prioritize work-life balance. Ensuring you have time for personal development and rest is crucial. Leaders who maintain a balance are often more productive and approach challenges with a clearer mind.

The rise of women in leadership positions is heralding a transformative era in global business and governance. By embracing their unique styles, facing challenges with resilience, nurturing relationships, and maintaining a balance between personal and professional life, up-and-coming women leaders can sculpt a successful trajectory for themselves and the generations that will follow.

In this era, the ceiling isn't just being shattered—it's being redesigned.

Elevate Your Women's Leadership Skills on Summer Vacation

Wed, 01 May 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Summer vacations are often seen as a period of relaxation and indulgence. Still, they also open up many opportunities to refine and exercise leadership skills in less formal yet equally impactful environments. For women looking to boost their leadership prowess, the relaxed settings of summer breaks provide fertile ground for practicing influence, strategic thinking, and self-development outside the confines of the office.

Embrace New Experiences: Learning Through Exploration

Leadership often demands adaptability and an openness to new experiences. When on vacation, you naturally encounter situations unfamiliar to your daily routine. Whether navigating a new city, trying out a different cuisine, or engaging in local customs, each experience challenges you to adapt and learn.

For example, if you decide to explore a new destination independently, you must enhance your decision-making skills and self-reliance. These qualities are crucial in leadership roles where decisions must often be made with limited information or under pressure.

Strengthen Communication Skills: Connect Across Cultures

Vacations often bring you into contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures, offering a unique opportunity to practice and enhance communication skills. Effective leadership depends heavily on communicating clearly and persuasively, making your interactions in new cultural contexts an excellent training ground.

For instance, learning a few phrases in another language shows respect for the culture and helps hone your ability to convey thoughts clearly through unfamiliar and perhaps uncomfortable modes. This practice can translate into clearer communication in the workplace, simplifying complex ideas and directions into manageable, comprehensible tasks.

Build Resilience: Overcome Travel Hiccups

Travel is inherently filled with unexpected challenges, whether a delayed flight, lost reservations, or even getting lost in an unfamiliar city. While stressful, these situations lend themselves to cultivating resilience and problem-solving—key aspects of leadership.

Handling such stresses with grace and a calm demeanor can inspire confidence in others and demonstrate your capability to manage crises. This is mainly instrumental for women in leadership, as they often face underestimation of their resilience in challenging professional scenarios.

Foster Teamwork: Family or Group Travel as a Mini-Organization

Traveling with family or friends? Treat your travel group like a mini-organization, with everyone having roles and responsibilities. This scenario is a playground for practicing delegation, coordination, and conflict-resolution skills.

Arrange group activities that require teamwork, such as a hiking trip, a cooking class, or a scavenger hunt. These activities require setting clear goals, assigning tasks, mediating conflicts, and ensuring everyone feels included and valued – all of which are daily tasks for influential leaders.

Reflect and Recharge: Enhance Self-Awareness

Leadership isn’t all about action; it's also about reflection and growth. Use the quieter moments of your vacation to reflect on your personal and professional journey. Consider keeping a journal to document your thoughts, feelings, and insights. Such activities enhance self-awareness and allow you to return to work with a refreshed perspective and new ideas.

Read and Absorb: Expand Your Knowledge

Vacations provide the perfect chance to catch up on reading that you've been putting off due to a hectic schedule. Whether it’s the latest leadership literature, autobiographies by influential women, or books on other topics of interest, reading broadens your horizons, provides new insights, and can inspire innovative approaches in your leadership practice.

Observe and Learn: Leadership in Different Contexts

While visiting new places, observe the local leadership styles and practices. How do leaders in another country or in a different industry handle management and teamwork? What can you learn from them? This observation can provide fresh perspectives that disrupt your usual thought patterns and inspire greater creativity in your leadership approach.

Summer vacations aren't just for unwinding and taking a break from your usual routine. They can also be an enriching time filled with growth and learning opportunities, particularly for women aiming to enhance their leadership skills. You can turn your vacation into a productive leadership development retreat by embracing new experiences, strengthening communication skills, building resilience, fostering teamwork, reflecting, reading, and observing. As you enjoy your summer, remember that every experience offers a lesson in leadership, ready to be discovered and applied to your journey as an impactful leader.

Leadership 2.0: Using AI to Take Your Skills to the Next Level

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 22:11:07 GMT

Artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way in recent years. With advanced machine learning algorithms, neural networks, and vast troves of data, AI systems today can perform tasks and make decisions that previously required human intelligence and judgment. AI is rapidly evolving from beating grandmasters at chess and driving cars autonomously to generating human-like art and text.

When it comes to leadership skills, AI holds immense promise as well. AI can identify leadership styles, qualities, and patterns by analyzing data from surveys, emails, meeting transcripts, and more. AI can "read" feedback through natural language processing and help leaders become more self-aware. With predictive analytics, AI can forecast the implications of potential decisions and strategies. And as a tireless coach, AI can provide personalized, unbiased leadership training anytime.

While AI should not fully replace human intelligence in leadership roles, it can be a powerful tool to amplify a leader's capabilities. This article will explore how AI can help leaders hone their skills and make better decisions. With the right human oversight, AI and human intelligence will advance leadership.

AI Can Analyze Leadership Styles

Artificial intelligence has opened up new ways for leaders to analyze and understand their own leadership styles and tendencies. By studying recordings, meeting transcripts, emails, and other communications, AI tools can detect patterns in a leader's language, decision-making, interactions with others, and overall approach.

Some key ways AI can analyze leadership styles include:

- Identifying common phrases, words, and tones that the leader uses. This allows the leader to become more aware of their verbal communication patterns.
Detecting strengths and weaknesses in conflict resolution, giving feedback, inclusive decision-making, and motivating teams. The AI helps pinpoint specific examples of effective and ineffective leadership moments.
Discerning the leader's tendencies towards certain leadership styles like transformational, democratic, pacesetting, or coercive. This allows the leader to reflect on their natural inclinations.
Comparing the leader's communication style with team members of different seniority levels can reveal how the leader may interact differently with more junior vs. senior team members.
Analyzing decision-making patterns to identify whether the leader tends to be more data-driven, intuitive, consensus-oriented, decisive, cautious, etc.
Determining how transparent, open, or top-down the leader's communication style is with their team.

By leveraging AI to analyze all available communications and data, leaders can gain an unbiased, data-backed view of their unique leadership style, strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. The insights allow leaders to be more self-aware and intentional with their leadership approach.

AI Can Provide Unbiased Feedback

One of the most useful applications of AI in leadership development is its ability to provide unbiased feedback. Personal relationships and biases can often influence human feedback. But AI has no such limitations.

AI tools can monitor leaders' communication and actions during meetings, presentations, email exchanges, etc. The AI can then analyze things like tone of voice, word choice, speaking time, others' reactions, decision-making patterns, and so on. Because it is completely objective, the AI's feedback will not be skewed by office politics, favoritism, or other subjective factors.

Leaders may be unaware of some of their own patterns and tendencies until AI points them out. For example, an AI coach could inform a leader that their emails tend to be more directive than collaborative based on linguistic analysis. Or it could identify that a leader allows certain team members to dominate conversations while others remain mostly silent.

Receiving this type of unbiased feedback allows leaders to identify blind spots and improve. Rather than general personality assessments, AI provides highly specific and actionable feedback tied directly to observable behaviors. Leaders can trust what the AI tells them because they know it is not being filtered through human subjectivity.

The end result is that leaders gain an accurate picture of their strengths and weaknesses. This allows them to play to their strengths while correcting any deficiencies or unproductive patterns they may have developed. With AI's help, leaders can become more self-aware and continue honing their skills.

AI Can Suggest Improvements

One of the most practical applications of AI for leadership development is its ability to analyze data and suggest specific improvements. By tracking various metrics and performance indicators, AI systems can identify potential areas for growth for an individual leader.

For example, an AI coach could monitor communications and provide feedback that leaders should improve their active listening skills based on low verbal affirmation rates in conversations. It may also suggest that a leader works on delegating more effectively based on a pattern of taking on too many tasks personally.

The great benefit of AI is that it can digest data and discern patterns and insights without any human bias. The suggestions are based purely on facts and statistics, not subjective hunches or preconceived notions. This gives leaders an objective outside perspective on their development areas.

AI takes it a step further by actually providing customized recommendations on how to improve in specific competencies. This goes beyond just pointing out weaknesses and offers specific guidance and training. For instance, AI may assign instructional content on better delegation strategies, or have the leader practice active listening skills through conversational scenarios.

By having an AI system track progress and continue giving tailored feedback over time, leaders can see measurable improvements of skills. The impartial, data-driven insights from AI provide a powerful way for leaders to identify and work on developing the areas that need the most growth.

AI Can Predict Outcomes

Artificial intelligence has the ability to analyze large amounts of data and identify patterns and connections that humans may miss. This makes AI well-suited for predicting the potential impacts of leadership decisions and strategies.

By crunching data on past performance, market conditions, competitive forces, and more, AI systems can forecast how leadership choices will likely influence key metrics like sales, profits, customer satisfaction, employee retention, and stock performance. Leadership prediction models can be trained on case studies and real-world examples of success and failure.

AI's predictive capabilities are imperfect but can provide valuable decision support. Leaders weighing options for restructuring, new market entry, acquisitions, policy changes, and other significant moves can get data-driven assessments of the likely outcomes, enabling them to make more informed choices.

AI predictions also get smarter over time as they incorporate new data. So, the more leaders rely on AI forecasting, the more accurate it becomes. This allows leaders to experiment and simulate different scenarios to see which decisions will most likely have positive impacts. AI gives leaders a valuable head start in strategizing for the future.

AI Can Personalize Training

Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize leadership training and development. By analyzing a leader's communication style, decision-making abilities, emotional intelligence, and more, AI can gain deep insights into an individual's unique strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, AI allows for highly personalized training recommendations tailored to the leader's needs. The AI could identify gaps in strategic thinking, crisis management, or inspirational communication and suggest microlearning modules, coaching plans, and experiential training to target those development areas.

For example, if AI notices a leader struggles with conflict management, it could recommend training to improve emotional regulation and dispute resolution skills. If another leader lacks self-awareness, the AI may prompt 360 reviews, personality assessments, and mindfulness exercises to foster greater introspection.

The customized recommendations enabled by AI allow each leader to enhance their capabilities in the areas that will benefit them most. By pinpointing development opportunities, AI takes the guesswork out of leadership training and provides data-driven personalization at scale. With the right human-AI collaboration, we can unlock more effective and precisely targeted leadership development journeys.

AI Can Game Out Scenarios

One of the most exciting applications of AI for leadership development is its ability to simulate scenarios. AI-powered simulations allow leaders to practice making decisions in a safe, low-risk environment.

These simulations can present complex leadership challenges, crises, or opportunities. The leader makes decisions as the simulation unfolds, experiencing different outcomes and consequences. This allows them to gain experience and test their judgment without real-world risks.

Some AI programs can analyze the leader's decisions and provide feedback on areas of strength or improvement. The simulations can also be customized to target the development of specific skills, such as crisis management, communication, strategy, or vision.

Practicing decision-making in simulated scenarios has proven benefits for developing leaders' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. It gives them experience in weighing tradeoffs, managing uncertainty, and handling pressure. Leaders can experience mistakes and failures safely in a simulation, enabling faster growth.

As AI capabilities advance, simulated scenarios are becoming more sophisticated and realistic. The future possibilities are exciting - AI could generate highly personalized simulations using data about a leader's psychology, values, biases, and past decisions. Immersive simulated environments could also incorporate elements of virtual reality.

AI-powered simulations provide unparalleled opportunities for leaders to stretch their skills without real-world risks. Practicing decision-making in simulated scenarios will be an essential part of leadership development in the future.

AI Can Broaden Perspectives

Artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly broaden leaders' perspectives by rapidly analyzing diverse sources of information. Human leaders are limited in the amount of data they can process, and by their inherent biases, AI systems can ingest massive datasets from many different fields and sources. This big data analysis allows AI to detect patterns, trends, and insights that might not be apparent to individual leaders.

For example, an AI assistant could provide a CEO with an aggregated analysis of emerging consumer trends across different countries and demographics. This could reveal new market opportunities and challenges that traditional market research alone might have missed. The AI could also correlate these consumer insights with global economic, political, and technological global changes. This high-level perspective allows leaders to understand their business more broadly.

By combining real-time data streams, historical records, news reports, and social media chatter, AIs can highlight interconnections and provide multidisciplinary analysis from a neutral standpoint. This data synthesis and pattern recognition exceeds human capabilities. AI augmentation enables leaders to make decisions based on a more complete, unbiased view of complex situations. Rather than relying solely on past experience, leaders can leverage AI systems to broaden their strategic vision in an accelerated, insightful way.

Risks of Over-Reliance on AI

Relying too heavily on AI to improve leadership skills comes with some risks that leaders should consider. While AI tools provide invaluable data and insights, leaders must think critically and make final decisions. Over-dependence on AI can lead to:

Lack of human intuition and emotional intelligence - AI lacks the distinctly human abilities to pick up on emotional cues, show empathy, and build relationships. Leaders still need these soft skills.
Tunnel vision—AI is based on data and algorithms, which can miss nuances. Leaders who become over-reliant on AI may miss the bigger picture.
Loss of responsibility If leaders depend too much on AI recommendations, they may avoid making tough calls themselves. Leaders need to remain accountable.
Missed opportunities from fear of failure - AI reduces risk and provides optimal choices based on data. But leaders also need a willingness to experiment and fail to spur innovation.

The key is to use AI as a supplemental tool that provides insights rather than as a decision-maker. Leaders must still think independently, weigh the pros and cons, and trust their judgment. With the right balance, AI can enhance human intelligence and leadership capabilities. However, over-reliance can diminish essential leadership skills.

The Future of AI in Leadership

AI is poised to continue transforming leadership development in the years ahead. As technology advances, AI will likely play an even greater role in analyzing leadership styles, providing feedback, suggesting improvements, predicting outcomes, personalizing training, and enabling scenario planning.

Several key trends will shape the future intersection of AI and leadership:

More advanced AI algorithms will enable deeper analysis of leadership traits and behaviors. AI may identify subtle patterns that even human experts cannot detect. This could give leaders unprecedented insight into their strengths, weaknesses, and potential blind spots.
AI's ability to quickly process vast amounts of data will allow for more robust predictive modeling. AI systems could forecast how certain leadership approaches will likely play out in different contexts or situations. Leaders could leverage these projections to make better strategic decisions.
Immersive simulation environments enabled by virtual reality and AI could provide hyper-realistic leadership training. AI characters with sophisticated emotional intelligence may allow leaders to practice soft skills like empathy, conflict resolution, and crisis management in believable simulated settings.
As natural language processing advances, AI coaching and mentoring systems will become increasingly conversational and personalized. Leaders may interact with AI in less robotic and more nuanced ways.
AI will help democratize leadership development, making high-quality training and tools available to a broader range of emerging leaders worldwide through smartphones and other devices.

While AI has much promise, leaders must cultivate distinctly human abilities like creativity, intuition, and emotional intelligence. The future holds an optimal balance of AI and human intelligence in elevating leadership.

How much continuing education should you have to be an effective leader?

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:13:23 GMT

To be an effective leader, it is important to prioritize continuous education and personal growth. The amount of continuing education required can vary depending on the industry and the specific leadership role. However, here are a few considerations:

Stay updated with industry knowledge: Industries are constantly evolving, and leaders need to stay updated with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. This may involve attending seminars, conferences, industry-specific workshops, or enrolling in relevant courses.
Develop new skills: Effective leaders are not only experts in their domain but also possess a wide range of skills that contribute to their leadership abilities. These skills may include communication, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and more. Leaders can benefit from ongoing training to develop and strengthen these essential skills.
Understand diverse perspectives: As an effective leader, fostering an inclusive environment and understanding diverse perspectives is important. Continual education can help leaders stay informed about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, cultural intelligence, and a diverse workforce's evolving needs and expectations.
Soft skill development: Effective leaders also need to hone their soft skills, such as active listening, empathy, collaboration, and negotiation. Regular training and development opportunities that focus on enhancing these interpersonal skills can significantly contribute to leadership effectiveness.

Ultimately, the key to being an effective leader lies in a dedication to lifelong learning and personal growth. Continual education can help leaders adapt to change, inspire their teams, make informed decisions, and drive positive results. Leadership development is a lifelong journey, and it’s important to remember that there are no shortcuts. The best leaders are those who are constantly learning, growing, and adapting their skills to meet the needs of their teams. Leadership is a skill that can be learned and developed. It’s not something everyone is born with, and it does require effort on your part to become an effective leader. The good news is that many resources are available for those who want to improve their leadership skills. Leadership is a lifelong journey that requires continuous learning and development. By investing in your own growth, you can become a more effective leader who inspires others to do their best work. Leadership development is a lifelong journey, and it’s important to remember that there are many ways to grow as a leader. The key is finding the right approach for you and your organization. Leadership is a skill that can be developed and improved over time. By investing in your own development, you will become a more effective leader and be able to inspire those around you to do the same.

Leading vs. Being a Boss: Embracing Effective Leadership

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:43:26 GMT

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing work environment, the distinction between being a boss and being a leader holds great significance. While both roles involve guiding a team towards shared goals, the approach and mindset behind them can vastly differ. "Leading" implies a proactive and collaborative approach that fosters growth, while "being a boss" often portrays an authoritative figure focused on control. Let's explore the key differences between these two approaches and the benefits of embracing effective leadership.

Empowering vs. Dictating:

One of the fundamental differences between leading and being a boss lies in the approach towards the team. A leader emphasizes empowerment, encouraging employees to take ownership of their tasks, share ideas, and contribute to the organization's overall success. Conversely, a boss tends to adopt a dictatorial approach, expecting strict compliance without considering individual capabilities or innovative thinking.

Building Relationships vs. Commanding:

Leaders understand the importance of building strong relationships with their team members. They prioritize communication, actively listen to concerns, and foster an environment of trust and respect. On the other hand, a boss merely relies on issuing commands and enforcing authority, limiting engagement and hindering employee morale and motivation.

Inspiring vs. Controlling:

Leaders inspire their team members, instilling a shared vision and purpose that motivates individuals to surpass their capabilities. They provide guidance and mentorship, helping employees grow both personally and professionally. In contrast, a boss uses control and fear as motivation, often stifling creativity, innovation, and employee satisfaction.

Collaboration vs. Micromanagement:

For leaders, collaboration is the key to success. They actively involve team members in decision-making processes, encourage diverse perspectives, and value each individual's contribution. Conversely, bosses tend to micromanage, stifling creativity and confidence by excessively controlling every detail, which ultimately hampers productivity and breeds disengagement.

Supporting vs. Criticizing:

Leaders understand the importance of constructive criticism and provide feedback that enables growth. They support their team members, acknowledge their achievements, and help them overcome challenges. In contrast, being a boss often revolves around criticizing mistakes and focusing on shortcomings rather than providing guidance or solutions.

Conclusion:

The shift from being a boss to becoming a true leader is a transformative journey that results in a positive work environment, increased productivity, and enhanced employee well-being. Effective leadership fosters collaboration, innovation, and a sense of ownership within the team, ultimately driving organizational success. By embracing the qualities of a leader - empowerment, relationship-building, inspiration, collaboration, and support - we can elevate ourselves beyond being a boss and truly become effective leaders in our professional lives.

Leading into the New Year

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 22:27:41 GMT

As a leader, you have an important role in your organization's success. While it can be challenging to lead others, there are some simple ways to ensure that you and the people you're responsible for are on the right track. Let's explore some leadership goals for 2024 that will help you move forward with confidence and stay true to yourself and your values.

Leading Inclusively

Inclusive leadership is creating an environment where everyone feels heard and respected. It means not only making sure that you're giving all your employees opportunities to lead but also being mindful of the way you communicate with them--and making sure they know they can come to you if they feel intimidated or uncomfortable because of their gender identity/expression, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and/or other factors such as age or disability status.

For this kind of inclusive leadership style to work effectively in your organization, you need buy-in from senior management (e.g., C-suite executives). With their support for this type of change within your company culture, it could be easier--if possible--to implement changes on any scale beyond yourself as an individual leader. A commitment from all levels within the organization will help ensure its success. Your role as a leader means taking risks sometimes by stepping outside your comfort zone so you can understand how others may perceive you differently than we think ourselves when interacting with them; this takes courage!

Leading Focused

Keep your eye on the prize.
Remove Distractions
Don't get stuck in the past.
Be flexible to adjust your goals if they aren't working out as well as they could or if new opportunities arise that are worth pursuing instead of those original goals.

Leading Connected

Connect with your staff and customers in person and online.
Staff: Get out of the office and visit with employees at their workstations. It's a great way to see how they work and hear what they say about their jobs and the company. It also allows them to share ideas with you.
Customers: Use social media tools such as Facebook or Twitter to interact directly with customers on matters that affect them (such as product recalls). This can also be done by hosting webinars or holding question-and-answer sessions on forums like LinkedIn Answers or Quora; these platforms allow you to tap into vast pools of knowledge from people who are experts in various industries or fields.

Leading Strategically

The first step to achieving your leadership goals is to make them clear. You can do this by writing down your objectives and identifying the steps you need to take for them to become a reality. Once you've identified all of these things, make sure that they're in line with what's important for your organization right now--it's not worth forcing yourself through something that doesn't fit its strategic direction or isn't aligned with its culture, so be sure that any goals are aligned with what everyone else wants out of their workday too!

Once you've laid out some solid plans, it's time for another important step: stick with them! This may sound simple enough, but many people give up before reaching their destination because they didn't plan properly and underestimated how much work would go into achieving their goal(s). To combat this problem, set reminders on calendars or smartphones so that every day brings you closer to completing tasks needed to reach those results. Also, try setting smaller milestones along the way so there are frequent successes, which will also motivate future efforts!

Leading Victoriously

When you achieve something great, it's important to celebrate! Also, use any setbacks to align yourself and safeguard yourself.

What mistakes or obstacles came up?

What valuable lesson did you learn?

How can you apply that next time? What were some of your biggest mistakes? How did you learn from them? And what could have been done differently next time?

Leading Improved

You must make tough decisions and deal with difficult situations as a leader. You must also work hard to improve yourself to be the best leader possible for your team or organization.

Here are some ways in which we can all become better leaders:

Leadership is a process--it only happens after some time! If you want something from your team or organization (like more teamwork), then take the time to learn what makes teams successful and how they function together. This way, when something goes wrong in the future (and trust me: something will), we'll know how to fix it quickly and effectively--and avoid repeating past mistakes!
Don't think of leadership as just about YOU; instead, think about how YOU can help others succeed by giving them opportunities to shine while learning from their experiences!

Remember that there are no right answers to setting or achieving goals- it's all about finding what works best for you and your team!

What Is Your Leadership Style?

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 23:35:57 GMT

The purpose of this article is to explain what leadership styles are and how they can be developed. We will explore the five leadership styles: authoritarian, democratic, laissez-faire (or free-range), commanding, and delegating. We'll also examine how leaders use these styles to motivate their employees. Finally, we'll tell you what your personal leadership style says about you—and how you can change it if it's not working for you or your team!

The five styles of leadership

Directive

Directive leadership involves giving the team clear instructions and providing them with a vision. This leadership style usually works well with new employees who need direction, but it may not be the most effective way to motivate your team if they're already experienced at their jobs.

Directive leaders can be perceived as bossy or condescending by their teams, and they don't always encourage participation or creativity from their subordinates, which could lead to a lack of engagement in the workplace overall.

What does your leadership style say about you

The way you lead will tell others a lot about who you are. For example, if someone is a laid-back leader, it means they're relaxed and easygoing. If someone is tough on the outside but has a soft heart, that person may be an effective leader because they can show compassion while being firm when necessary.

It's important to recognize what type of leader you are so that you can choose positions in which your strengths will come out naturally and help others around them develop as well as possible.

How to assess your style

To assess your leadership style, look at your past experiences. Ask your colleagues and subordinates what they think. You may also want to take a leadership assessment test online or in person with a coach or consultant specializing in helping people develop their styles. Finally, review the job description for your current position and compare it with how you behave as a manager: Do they match up?

If there are some discrepancies between what's written on paper and how you operate daily, that could indicate that something needs to change--but only if problems result from these differences!

Take inventory of how you lead.

Take inventory of how you lead.
List your strengths and weaknesses, work style, beliefs about leadership, and management style.

Don't limit yourself to one style.

It's important to note that there is no right or wrong leadership style; you can learn from each of these and adapt them to suit your needs. If you are stuck in a rut, it might be time for a change. Don't fear failure or rejection--those are just part of life! And if you need help with your new approach, don't be afraid to ask someone else for feedback on their leadership style either (we have a whole article about how that works).

There are many different kinds of leaders, and that's okay.

In the end, there are many different kinds of leaders, and that's okay. Each leadership style has its strengths and weaknesses. It's important to be self-aware of your leadership style so that you can work on improving it as well as understanding other people's styles.

If you're wondering what kind of leader you are right now, try taking the following quiz:

Do I like working in groups or alone? - Working alone
Am I an introvert or an extrovert? - Extrovert (I enjoy being around others)

There are many different kinds of leaders, and that's okay. Your leadership style is unique to you and what works best for your organization. However, if you struggle with one type of leadership over another, try to seek out other styles or incorporate them into your approach. You may even discover something new about yourself along the way!

7 STEPS TO SUCCESS

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:47:28 GMT

Congratulations! You've decided to lead. Whether you're starting a new job or taking on a new role in your existing organization, leading can be an exciting opportunity. But it also comes with its share of challenges. To help you succeed as a leader, here are seven steps that will help you navigate the uphill climb:

Stop comparing yourself to others.

It's a common mistake to compare yourself to others and feel like you don't measure up. But when we start comparing ourselves and our lives with those around us, it can be easy for our self-esteem to suffer.

I'm sure you've heard of this before: "Comparison is the thief of joy." It's true! When we compare ourselves, it makes us unhappy and unfulfilled because we're not comparing apples to apples--it's more like comparing apples with oranges or even something else entirely (such as an orange with an avocado).

So, instead of focusing on what other people have achieved or how far they've come, focus on your goals instead!

Ask for help.

You'll never be able to do everything on your own. If you're feeling overwhelmed and need to ask for help, don't be afraid to do so! Ask people who are more experienced than you for advice. Don't feel bad about asking for help from a friend or colleague--they likely won't mind helping out with something small in order to get their foot in the door at your company (and may even help out more than once).

Set goals and follow through with them.

So, you want to be successful? Great. Setting goals is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your success comes sooner rather than later.

Before we get into how exactly you should go about setting your goals, let's take a look at why it's so important:

Goals give you something tangible to work towards. They help keep your eye on the prize and motivate yourself when times get tough (which they inevitably will). Without them, all the hard work in between may seem pointless or not worth it--but with a goal in mind, everything becomes more meaningful because it's leading up towards something great!

Be realistic about what you can accomplish.

The first step to success is being realistic about what you can accomplish. Don't set goals that are too far out of reach, and don't be afraid to ask for help along the way. You should also avoid putting too much pressure on yourself by comparing yourself to other people and their accomplishments--they might have different circumstances than yours, so don't get too discouraged if they seem more successful than you at first glance!

Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses.

Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses.
Don't worry about what you are bad at.
Focus on what you can do to improve

Give yourself a break if you need one.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, take some time off to recharge your batteries and get back on track with your goals. You don't have to be afraid of asking for help--there are plenty of resources available that can help you out!

Focus on the long game, not the short term.

The most important thing to remember is that the long game is more important than the short term. This concept can be difficult to wrap your head around, but it's crucial for success.

Consider this: If you're playing baseball and you focus on how many runs you need to score in order to win instead of focusing on every single pitch and swing from start to finish (and making adjustments based on what happens), then there's no way that focus will lead to success. In fact, it might make things worse--you'll get frustrated because nothing seems to work out as planned!

But if instead of worrying about scoring runs or winning games by certain scores, we think about what we can control in each moment--our own performance on the field--then everything falls into place naturally over time without much effort required from us!

Leading is hard work, and there is no single way to do it.

Leading is hard work, and there is no single way to do it. You will have to be willing to work hard, make mistakes, and accept help from others. You must also change your mind if necessary or take risks if you want to succeed.

Summer Vacations Don't Have To Slow Down Your Leadership

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 23:48:00 GMT

Summer vacations are a much-needed respite from our daily routines. But for leaders, the prospect of a vacation can be more stressful than relaxing. You need to plan how you'll keep up with your team's needs while away - and that can feel like too much pressure on top of all the other things you have going on in life. What if we told you there are ways to ensure your summer vacation doesn't hinder your leadership abilities? We'll show you how below!

You can take a summer vacation and still be a leader.

Leadership is a mindset, a skill, and a decision. You choose to do it because it's the right thing to do.

Leadership is not only reserved for those who have been promoted or selected by others in their organization as leaders; it's something we all have the ability to be if we want it bad enough. Leadership comes from within each person who has chosen this path in life--and no one can take away that choice from you unless you give up on yourself first!

The summer vacation season provides us with an opportunity for rest and relaxation but also gives us time away from our daily routines so we can reflect on where we've been and where we want our lives (and careers) to go next year when school starts again: Do I still want my current job? What else could I learn about myself? How can I improve as an employee/leader? What kind of leader do I want my team members to know me as?

Leaders are always on the job.

It's easy to think that leaders are only in charge of their employees' work, but they also have an important role to play in how those employees behave. Your job as a leader is not just about getting things done but also about making sure everyone on your team feels comfortable and supported by the environment you create.

Leaders need vacations too! But if you're going away this summer, ensure it doesn't come at the expense of your team members' well-being or morale--or worse yet, their performance at work while you're gone.

You can still be loyal to your team when you're on vacation.

Be available to your team. If there's an emergency and someone needs help, it's important that you know about it. Even if it means waking up at 5 am (or earlier), ensure your phone is charged and turned on so that no important messages slip through the cracks while you're away from work.
Help out in an emergency if needed--but remember: do not take over! When someone reaches out for guidance or assistance, provide them with as much information as possible without taking over their responsibilities. You want to give them room to grow and learn by themselves; otherwise, they may never develop into competent leaders themselves someday!

Start by defining what you'll be doing as a leader in advance.

Before you start your vacation, take some time to think about what you will be doing as a leader. Think about how much time you want to spend on each task and what resources are needed for each task.

Once you've defined these things, it's easier for people in the organization to know what they need to do when things come up while you're gone.

Have a "turn-off" time planned for each day.

In addition to making time for relaxation, it's important to plan how you will spend that time. For example, if you're going on vacation with your family and want to spend some time relaxing in nature, make sure everyone knows their options so they can avoid feeling like they have no choice but to sit in front of a screen all day.

If the weather isn't cooperating with your plans or if there aren't any activities nearby that interest everyone, consider playing board games or doing puzzles together instead--or even just reading books!

Pay attention to yourself - don't neglect your own health and needs.

Summer is a great time to slow down and enjoy yourself. Take some time off, go for a walk, or sit on the beach. Listen to music you enjoy, do something that makes you happy, and have a good meal with friends or family. Relax with a good book if you're not feeling up for it!

Summer vacations don't have to keep you from acting like a leader at work, but they may require some planning to succeed at work while relaxing.

Leaders are always on the job. That means that even when they're on vacation, they're still responsible for their teams and their projects--and they should expect the same level of performance from their team members while they're away.

So how can you lead effectively when you're not there? Start by defining what you'll be doing as a leader in advance: Will someone else be filling in for you, or should everyone pitch in? Decide which tasks need your attention first, then delegate them accordingly (or ask others for help). If possible, set up meetings before leaving so that everyone knows what's going on when he or she returns from vacation--this will also give those who aren't coming back until later enough to get up-to-speed before jumping into action again!

Conclusion

We hope you're inspired to take a summer vacation and remain a leader! If you follow the steps we outlined above, it should be easy for you to do so. Remember that no matter what kind of work environment you're in, there will always be leadership opportunities--even if that means being there for your coworkers when they need help or support.

5 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTHY

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:53:41 GMT

You've been a leader and have been pretty good at it for a while now. You've got a great team and can easily handle most challenges. But are you taking care of your mental health? If not, that's okay! You don't have to be perfect; just being aware of the challenges will help immensely. Here are five tips to help keep your mental health healthy as a manager:

Be realistic about your capacity.

The first thing you can do to be more realistic about your capacity is to start small. You don't have to do everything at once, and you don't have to do it all alone! Start small and work your way up. If you have a big project coming up at work, build in time for rest and relaxation. Don't overcommit yourself because this will only lead to burnout or, worse--a mental health crisis (which could also affect your productivity).

Being realistic about your limitations doesn't mean being afraid of failure; it means being honest with yourself about what's possible, given the resources available at any given moment. If something needs doing that requires more energy than what's currently available within the framework of your life right now--whether it be physical energy or emotional/psychological reserves--don't try anyway! Ask for help instead; plenty of people out there willing and able would love nothing more than to help out a friend in need!

Set boundaries and stick to them.

Setting boundaries is a very important part of self-care. It's also one of the more difficult parts because it requires you to say no and set limits for yourself. It's easy to feel like we don't have time or energy for other people, but remember that saying yes all the time can be just as harmful as saying no all the time!

To help with this process:

Give yourself permission to say no when necessary. Don't be afraid of disappointing others if they push back against what you want from them; instead, focus on making sure that your needs are being met first and foremost in any situation where there might be conflict over them!
Ask for help when needed--and don't stop asking until someone actually agrees (or gives up). Don't underestimate how much power there is in asking others for assistance; often, people around would love nothing more than to see us succeed at our goals!

Say no to the things you "should" do.

Sometimes we're so busy saying yes to everything that we don't realize how much it's affecting our mental health. And sometimes, saying no can actually be helpful for your mental health.

Why? Well, first of all, it gives you time for yourself. You get to care for yourself and do things that make you happy! It also helps with guilt because if someone asks something from us, but we don't have time or energy, then they won't feel bad about asking again later on (and maybe even give up). Also, when people see that someone else is stepping in to help out instead of always being "the most helpful one"--which doesn't really exist anyway--it makes them less likely to ask again later on because they know there are others who can do the same thing just as well or even better than them!

Think about all the things in life where people say no without feeling guilty: sleeping late after working all night; taking a break while studying; leaving early from work without feeling like an awful person; eating ice cream every day (this one might not apply so much).

Take care of yourself physically.

Remembering that you are more than just your mental health is important. You have to take care of yourself physically, too.

Make sure you eat well and exercise regularly. Exercise helps many people with their mental health, releasing endorphins in the body, and making us feel better about ourselves. Don't overdo it, though--you don't want to injure yourself or burn out on working out--but don't be afraid of pushing yourself either!
Don't forget about rest: Sleep is super important for our minds and bodies alike, so make sure that when it comes time for bedtime, you get into bed early enough so that you get enough sleep each night without feeling tired during the day (or worse yet - tired AND stressed).

Take care of yourself emotionally.

Know your triggers.
Ask for help if you need it.
Be honest about your feelings and be open to discussing them with someone you trust, such as a friend or family member.

Remember, taking care of yourself doesn't mean you must stop leading or doing all the important things in your life. It just means knowing when enough is enough and having strategies in place so that when those moments arise, you'll know how best to handle them.

May 2023 Blog - What’s Your Vision?

Sat, 13 May 2023 21:18:46 GMT

What's your vision for life and work? Did you plan for your life and career to look like it does today? Or did you plan something entirely different?

Rarely does our adult life look as we imagined when we were little. Of course, not many of us worried about the financial burden, career advancement, or fairness in the workplace when we were 10 years old. Nor did we worry about the daily challenges of raising a family and balancing family with our careers.

Success and fulfillment in our workplace aren’t defined the same for everyone. For some, we are fulfilled by a company culture that is encouraging and supportive - no matter the job. Others long for the status of a title behind their name. Yet others don’t think much about being fulfilled at work - they receive fulfillment from the job supporting their family needs.

What kind of lifestyle do you want to lead?

Perhaps you envisioned a two-story home with a white picket fence, marrying the first boy you kissed, two children, and a family pet. Maybe you had different aspirations. Maybe you didn’t have any set ideals.

How do you want to feel at work?
What do you hope to achieve in your career?
What are your life goals?
Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years? Twenty years?

These are all good questions to ask yourself if you want to find the right job and make the most of your life.

Having a vision for your career is good, but keeping yourself grounded in reality is also important.

What inspires you to be who you are?

Inspiration comes from within - and from those around you. What is your inspiration? Is it a mentor or someone you admire? Is it your child who looks up to you as their inspiration?

Inspiration can change over time. Your situation can shape it. It can be a moment in time or an ongoing feeling. As you grow in your life and career, your inspiration will be shaped by your aspirations…likewise your aspirations will show you your inspiration.

Maybe your inspiration is

Resilience
Following a passion
Overcoming adversity

Or maybe it is motivating others…

Being able to motivate a team to take on challenges, overcoming obstacles, and achieving goals is a powerful feeling!

How do you motivate yourself and others?

Doing the same thing day after day can be its own challenge. It can become dull and mundane, and we often crave a challenge. If your vision includes becoming a great leader, you must motivate yourself and others.

Seeing your team grow and develop under your tutelage can give you a sense of accomplishment. Helping others achieve their goals can be personally rewarding. Do this by setting realistic goals. Huge goals are great, but try breaking them down into smaller chunks. Lessen the chances of becoming overwhelmed.

Whether you are looking to those in your workplace or those at home, offer encouragement and support, be a mentor, be organized, and celebrate successes - large and small. Use what inspires and motivates you to reach your vision, and don’t be afraid to celebrate along the way or let your vision change with your circumstances. You are the only one who sets your vision!

Empower Women, Empower Your Organization

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 23:30:13 GMT

Women supporting women in leadership not only empowers the individuals involved, but when you have a women-led team, your business also has the power to accomplish far greater things than you would have been able to do alone.

The history of the women's movement tells us that when women support one another as they grow their businesses, everyone wins. Organizations profit, families thrive, and our communities become more inclusive when women have a seat at the table.

The Value of Women in Leadership

Women who lean into their strong social skills can build up truly valuable connections that can help propel them forward in their careers.
It's important for women to support one another as they grow their businesses and careers.
Support from other women is hugely important for dealing with adversity.
Women are more likely than men to invest in other women.
Women nurture relationships at work.
Women influence workplace culture, creating better working environments for everyone.
Women support one another as they grow their businesses

Women face unique challenges in the workplace.

Look at yourself. How many women in your organization have leadership roles? The answer might be zero. You get to decide the protocol in your organization. What will you do to empower women in your organizations? If you want to learn more about female leadership and how it can strengthen your company, you will benefit by joining a community of women who support each other as they grow their businesses and learn how to excel in life.

Women face many barriers to growing their businesses and careers, but supporting each other can make a real difference. By empowering women in leadership, your organization can be more successful.

We are driving the conversation to connect, empower, and learn from one another. Our focus is to shine a spotlight on those who lead differently. We commit ourselves to finding inspiring leaders—if you stare at a problem long enough, it might solve itself.

We know that diversity breeds innovation, but we don't often hear about how it makes us stronger as a community — until now.

When women come together, amazing things happen. We share ideas, experiences and advice with one another, helping us grow personally and professionally. This type of community building is essential for women to thrive in today's business environment.

The power of women is undeniable. Women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S., and they make up over half of all small business owners.

In fact, research by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor found that 70% of entrepreneurs are women, and female-owned businesses have a higher growth rate than male-owned ones.

But what about when it comes to leadership? Are women getting their fair share of power? The answer is no.

Women make up less than 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs and less than 15% of senior management positions at large companies in the U.S., according to Catalyst. So why are there so few female leaders?

The good news is that there’s an easy solution: support one another as they grow their businesses!

Responsibilities of Women in Leadership Roles

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:28:59 GMT

Being a woman leader is tough. In the corporate world and many other industries, women are still underrepresented in leadership roles. This means they have to work harder than their male counterparts to prove themselves to be just as capable as anyone else. Luckily, some great studies have been done on what it takes for women leaders to succeed at their jobs. Here's an overview of some of those findings:

The responsibility of being a woman leader.

As a woman leader, you must work harder than your male counterparts to prove yourself. You should be able to handle conflict and disagreements with ease, as well as embrace change.

Women are still underrepresented in leadership roles worldwide. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2017, women make up only 24% of all managers worldwide--and only 4% lead Fortune 500 companies (which has decreased since 2013). This means not only do women have less access than men when it comes time for promotions or raises, but they may also need extra support from their coworkers if they hope for success within an organization.

How to handle conflict and disagreements.

Handling conflict and disagreements is a vital skill for any leader. It's also one of the most challenging aspects of leadership because it requires you to be able to listen, understand and respect others' points of view.

Here are some tips:

Listen carefully when someone disagrees with you or offers another perspective on an issue. Try not to interrupt them as they speak; instead, take notes so that you can reflect on what they've said later on to fully grasp their position on things (or even change your own).
Let the other person know that you understand their point of view by paraphrasing back what they told you to ensure there was no misinterpretation between either party involved in this conversation/argument/debate/etc...

Embracing change.

Change is inevitable, and adapting is a crucial skill for leaders. Change can be good or bad; it depends on how you view it. If you embrace change with an open mind and a willingness to learn from your mistakes, you'll find that most of your experiences are positive ones that help grow your leadership skills.

Suppose we want women in leadership roles today so that one day our daughters can have those same opportunities tomorrow. In that case, we need more role models willing to step up and take risks by stepping out of their comfort zones into uncharted territory--even if they're not sure where they're going yet!

Working with women employees.

Women are more likely to be promoted to leadership roles than men. This can be attributed to the fact that women have been shown to be more collaborative and effective leaders than their male counterparts. However, it should also be noted that there is a difference between public sector versus private sector workplaces when it comes to promoting female leaders:

In the public sector (government), 57% of senior positions are held by women;

In the private sector (business), only 31% of senior positions are held by women;

The not-for-profit sector has the highest proportion of female board members at 41%.

The key to success in a leadership role is handling people well and working with them effectively.

As a leader, you have to be able to work with other people. You need to be able to collaborate and delegate effectively, which means building trust in your team members. Hence, they feel comfortable approaching you with questions or concerns (and vice versa).

You'll also need the ability to handle conflict productively, especially from within the organization. This can mean helping employees resolve their differences through mediation or arbitration or simply ensuring that no one gets too heated during an argument to avoid damaging relationships further down the line.

You'll also need some measure of flexibility when working with others: change always happens! If someone is unhappy about something at work, it's up to you as manager/supervisor/leader figurehead, etcetera...

Conclusion

This article has given you a brief overview of some of the responsibilities of women in leadership roles. If you are interested in pursuing this career path, we encourage you to do so! It can be a challenging one but also very rewarding. Remember that there are many ways to become involved with your community and help others achieve their goals.

Acupressure Points to Enhance Your Concentration and Memory

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 12:59:42 GMT

Article Credit to Tianlong Du MD (China), L.Ac., AP, article retrieved from: https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupressure+Points+to+Enhance+Your+Concentration+and+Memory

During January's meeting I shared some of these "brain points" with the ladies at the luncheon. While I have studied these points and use them regularly myself, I found that this author's description of the points' location and description is well stated. Therefore, I'm doing something I have never done and using his material while giving credit.

"Whether you are a student, a professional, or a homemaker, issues with concentration and memory can create a lot of problems in your life. From as simple as not remembering where you have put your car keys or if you have picked up the groceries, to more serious ones like missing a doctor’s appointment or forgetting to pass on that important piece of information to your superior at the office, your life could be a mess and your confidence may take a serious beating.

When you are often distracted by various thoughts or find focusing on your work a big problem, you lose the zeal to carry on with your responsibilities and daily affairs since the inherent enjoyment of doing them would be gone. This, in turn, can cause a dent in your dedication and motivation, thus making your whole life a muddled affair. But there’s no reason to lose hope as acupressure can come to your rescue. By working on your acupressure points, you can improve your concentration and memory, thus bringing a significant change in every aspect of your life.

1. Sun Point (Tai Yang)
About 1.5 inches away from your eyebrows, this point can be found in the depression of your temples. Applying slight pressure on these two points for 2-3 minutes will not only improve your concentration and memory but also offer relief from mental stress, dizziness, and headaches. However, remember to be gentle when applying pressure on your Sun Point and be consistent by repeating the process 3 times every day to get the best results.

2. Third Eye Point(Yintang)
This point is located between your eyebrows, in the indentation where your nose’s bridge and forehead meet. Apart from improving your focus and memory, massaging this point for 3-4 minutes every day would bring a calm and uplifting effect, which would help when you feel stressed or overwhelmed. To get the best results, you should massage your third eye point 2 to 3 times each day.

3. One Hundred Meeting Point (Bai Hui)
You will find this point on the top of your head in between the cranial bones. By placing a finger at the top of each ear and following an imaginary line upwards to reach the top of your head, you will reach a point where the two fingers meet. This is the point where applying gentle pressure would improve your concentration and bring notable mental awareness and clarity. Whether you are suffering from a creative block or headaches, massaging this point for 1 or 2 minutes will offer relief by increasing the body’s vital force and raising the emotional energy.

4. Gates of Consciousness (GB-20)
If you run your fingers just below the base of your skull, you will find shallow hollows on both sides, approximately 2-3 inches apart. Stimulating the gates of consciousness will offer relief from headaches and help improve poor memory. In case you have concentration problems due to arthritic pain, stimulating this point will help reduce the pain, irrespective of the location of the pain.

5. Middle of a Person (GV-26)
This point is located between your nose and the upper lip. It’s about two-thirds of the way up from your upper lip to the point between your nostrils. Pressing this point firmly with your finger for a few minutes will help improve concentration and memory, in addition to offering relief from dizziness, fainting, and cramps. If you often find yourself daydreaming during work, or have thousands of distracting thoughts that make it difficult to concentrate, stimulating this point will ground you and bring you back into the moment, thus letting you focus on the task at hand. You can increase the effectiveness of this point by accessing it every day for several weeks.

6. Sea of Tranquility (CV-17)
This point is located at the breastbone’s center, three thumb widths above the bone’s base where you will feel a little indentation. Stimulating it improves concentration and offers relief from anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, depression and other emotional imbalances that hinder your ability to focus and think clearly. Thus, knowing this point would help you recall things and enjoy improved focus as well as clarity of thought.

7. Heavenly Pillar (BL-10)
You will find this point 1.5 inches below your skull’s base, on both sides of the spine, each 1.5 inches away from the spine. Being an excellent stress-relieving point, massaging it in a circular motion for 7-8 minutes every day would help beat stress, overexertion, burnout and unclear thoughts. If these problems are inhibiting your focus and memory, stimulating this point would help relax your neck, thus facilitating better circulation into your brain. This, in turn, would improve your ability to concentrate, memorize and remember.

8. Three Mile Point (ST-36)
This point is located 1 cm away from your shinbone and 2 inches under your kneecap. To ensure you have the right point, bend and straighten your foot to notice a muscle-flexing under your finger. Use your middle and index fingers to press this point for 5 minutes to boost your energy levels, strengthen your body and mind, reduce pain and gain improved mental clarity.

9. Effective Brain Point (LV-1)
This point is located right beneath your big toe. The point on your right toe will let you access your brain’s left side and vice versa. You can massage this point every day by moving your thumb on the big toe for 1-2 minutes in a way that tries to cover it (the big toe) completely. Remember to keep your massage duration same for both the toes. Doing this regularly will help your brain to relax and give your ability to concentrate a big boost.

10. Bigger Rushing (LV-3)
You will find this point on the top of your foot, in the indentation between the second toe and the big toe. Pressing this point every day for 2-3 minutes will offer relief from fatigue, memory problems, headaches and poor concentration while boosting energy, motivation, focus, and clarity of thought. If you are battling flagging concentration and memory, stimulating this point would give you a fast pick-me-up with improved concentration and focus.

Summary
An improved ability of memory, concentration and recalling is useful for everyone. While students will find it useful to excel in their studies, adults handing professional or domestic responsibilities will enjoy better creativity and productivity in their everyday tasks. Yet, we often find several physical, mental and emotional problems causing an imbalance in our body and mind, which in turn causes everything from lack of focus and poor concentration to anxiety, insecurity, insomnia, confused thought and much more.

By stimulating the acupressure points we have mentioned above, you can now enhance your concentration and memory, which in turn would help you remember your tasks, have better focus and clarity of thought. However, you need to be consistent in your effort to stimulate these acupressure points if you want to reap the best benefits. Start making the most of these acupressure points today to organize your thoughts well with optimum focus and an uncluttered mind. You will soon find how fun, easier and fulfilling your life becomes!

To learn more about acupuncture for concentration and memory contact an acupuncturist near you!

About the Author: Tianlong Du is an acupuncture and neurology specialist at Beijing Acupuncture and Herbal Life based in Georgia with over 49 years of experience. Dr. Du has been practicing acupuncture and Chinese medicine in greater Atlanta for the past several years. He was a renowned neurologist in Beijing, China before he came to U.S."

Don’t Let Procrastination Win - 5 Tips To Getting It Done

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:42:35 GMT

We are all guilty of it. It could be as simple as letting that load of laundry grow bigger before we toss it into the washing machine. Or it might be letting the dishes wait until morning when you aren’t quite so tired.

Or…it might be putting off that task on your to-do list at work. You know the one. You have been avoiding it for a few hours, or maybe until the next day…or even next week, if you don’t want it to give you a poor start to your weekend.

But I’m going to let you in on a little secret…

It won’t go away.

No matter how much we wish the procrastination fiery would come and do our laundry, our dishes, or that hated task at work…she is a busy little fiery. She is not as magical as Santa visiting every house in one evening.

Tip #1 Know your triggers.

What does your behavior look like when you are procrastinating? Do you put that folder at the bottom of your inbox? Or do you look the other way when that frustrating email glares at you? Recognizing your patterns is the first step in changing your procrastination ways.

Tip # Why do you procrastinate?

Studies have shown that people procrastinate because they are delaying or are against doing the task, aren’t organized, lack motivation, or are impulsive. This results in putting off one task in preference to another (yes, of course, there are times when something lands on your desk that is a legitimate “must do now” task). Sometimes we feel the task is too big, and we become overwhelmed or fear failing to do the task well.

Tip #3 You can change!

Know that just because you have procrastinated doesn’t mean you have to keep procrastinating. Forgive yourself and move forward, knowing that you are intentionally trying to leave your procrastinating ways behind. Simply acknowledge that fact and let it go. Not acknowledging it will set you up for failure in the future.

Tip #4 Procrastination is an evil beast.

Try making a commitment to yourself that you will get this task done by such & such a date. Then just do it. Make it happen. Don’t get distracted or discouraged. Don’t let stress creep into your mind, and don’t stop. Take one bite at a time out of that beast of a project. (You might need to take a step back, gain some perspective, or if you are like me…a change of scenery adds some fresh ideas and gets your cognitive juices flowing again!).

Tip #4 Find a goal buddy.

A co-worker, a friend, your significant other…it doesn’t matter. Talk to one another about your goals for the day. Make yourself accountable to someone. Then celebrate your successes together! Make your to-do list have a fun ending you will look forward to!

Tip #5 Slap your inner voice.

When you find yourself hearing inner thoughts of “I can’t do this,” “I wish this didn’t land on my desk,” “I don’t have enough time or information to complete this”, etc., simply shove those inner thoughts aside. Your inner voice can be a negative force, and will do her best to try to talk you out of completing your to-do list. (Mine likes to talk me into believing something sugary will help me focus. Beware of this - it’s simply NOT true.)

A few final words: Your most hated tasks that cause procrastination are not a catastrophe. They aren’t out to get you. Don’t stress over perfection. Put your best into it, then don’t criticize yourself because you didn’t have enough time to make it perfect. You do have enough time, don’t let this be a distraction. Set your to-do lists realistically. None of us can do everything. Delegate, take small chunks, set small goals and know your peak efficiency times - and use them for good!

Barriers Women In Leadership Face & What To Do About It

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 14:00:00 GMT

As women we have had to face challenges that our male counterparts don’t. Society has one view of a woman’s role, men have a view, and of course, we have our own view of what we want our roles to look like. No matter what role we are in, there are barriers to accomplishing our dreams.

Of the top barriers women face in the workplace is sexism. Many have fought having women in high-level leadership roles because we are women. We are the recipients of harassment, interruptions, or being mistook for lower level workers. Stereotyping of a group, a gender, a race all leads to low expectations. When women have assertive traits at work we are seen as pushy, aggressive, or some wonder if it’s that time of the month for us. We may face backlash or be deemed less competitive if we don’t fit into a set behavior pattern.

Women also have more family responsibilities than many men. Balancing work and family is a struggle. Household responsibilities tend to fall on the woman, such as laundry, cleaning the house, cooking, shopping, caring for the children, and of course caring for the sick family members.

So what can we do to remove barriers?

Having a well developed leadership network is a great way to begin lowering those barriers. Sharing concerns and challenges with other women in your shoes gives you a sounding board, reinforcement, and camaraderie in our professions. Small gatherings over wine or more formal meetings are both good ways to learn from each other. Having a strong network will help you personally and professionally.

Look for programs in your industry, or on a topic important to your career. Building your community of support will offer both you and your contacts a place to work through barriers together. Finding inspiration in one another, showing empathy for challenges, and adopting tried and true leadership traits will enhance your value to your support network and by extension to your employer.

Remember, a great way to be involved is to be a mentor or seek a mentor. Having this dynamic relationship can remind the mentor of the struggles they faced and how they overcame them. That knowledge can help the mentee learn from your experience. Mentoring empowers professional women to grow, excel, and gain the visibility needed to advance in their careers.

Tap Into Leadership Programs and Positions

The more you put yourself out there and take on challenges the better equipped you will be for the next barrier to advancing your career. Have a goal in mind for your career advancement. Opportunities don’t just fall in your lap. Plan, strategize, and communicate your career advancement goals to your supervisor. Set your sights on short and long term career goals. Know your strengths and make a plan to develop those strengths further. Know your weaknesses and how to overcome them. Finally, when you set your career goals, know what it will take to achieve them. Seek guidance when you can and make it happen! It might be a bumpy road, but you are the only one that can truly stop you.

Procrastination

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 14:50:40 GMT

Cherina Johnson is our guest blogger.

Have you ever put off doing something for a day that ended up being for weeks, months, or even years? How about avoiding to do something because it brings up painful memories, is boring, or the task seems overwhelming? If so, well let’s talk about procrastination.

Procrastination “is the act of unnecessarily postponing decisions or actions.” Merriam-Webster defines procrastination as “to put off intentionally and habitually; to put off doing something that should be done.” When something is intentional, it means it was done on purpose. On the other hand, when something is habitual it means it is a lifestyle. When procrastination gets to this point, it is hard to break. Not impossible to break, but will be a challenge to overcome. Let me repeat it again, not impossible to break, but rest assure you are likely going to have a fight on your hands in doing so. Depending on how long the procrastination has gone on will determine the strength of the stronghold it has in your life.

In order to correct procrastination in your life, you have to first be honest with yourself and acknowledge you have a problem. Well, I make myself vulnerable and share openly that I have a problem. The two areas I would like to share about is not keeping my purse cleaned out, and allowing paperwork to pile up on me to the point of clutter. Now, I carry a purse practically every day. Starting off, I already have a lot of stuff in it; however, when I throw in receipts, paper towels, candy wrappers, check stubs, etc. over time it ends up looking a hot mess inside. Recently, my every day purse was so heavy that my husband even agreed with me that I needed to clean it out. So I made up my mind and put forth the action to lighten the load. In my private time being home alone, I poured the majority of the contents of my purse on the floor and started to separate the items into different piles; keep, shred, and recycle. It was an embarrassment to see all that “stuff” that was in my purse, and that I had allowed it once again to get to that point. Whether personally or professionally, we all need to clean out some areas in our lives so that we can grow and be more productive. The second thing is allowing paperwork to pile up on me to the point of clutter. Junk mail sits on the kitchen counter that should immediately be placed in the recyclables and legitimate mail stays unopened longer than it should, which should be promptly addressed then properly filed. What kind of things are piling up in your life?

According to (Shatz, n.d.), the following are some dangers of procrastination:

Academic issues
Employment and financial issues
Interpersonal relationship issues
Reduced wellbeing
Worse mental and physical health.

However, (Chua, 2022) suggests ways to break the cycle of procrastination by doing these things:

Break your work into little steps
Change your environment
Stop over-complicating things

If you have a problem with procrastinating in your personal or professional life I hope you were inspired “to do” something about it. Join me and make a personal declaration to stop procrastination, taking one step at a time.

Chua, C. (2022, September 26). How to stop procrastination: 14 practical ways for procrastinators. Lifehack. https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/11-practical-ways-to-stop-procrastination.html.

Procrastination. Merriam-Webster. www.https:// https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/procrastinate#:~:text=%3A%20to%20put%20off%20intentionally%20and,something%20that%20should%20be%20done.

Shatz, I. Procrastination dangers: the negative effects of procrastination. Solving Procrastination. https://solvingprocrastination.com/procrastination-dangers/.

Positivity Attracts Positivity

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:41:42 GMT

Cherina Johnson is our guest blogger.

The topic of discussion for September’s Women in Leadership luncheon was “Seasons of Change and Transformation” with guest speaker, L’Oreal Hartwell. The author, entrepreneur, and business woman shared valuable life lessons from personal experiences and family situations that have shaped her into the awesome woman she is today; which also include being a beloved wife, mother, and sister. However, her transparency in sharing her story was magnetic. It drew you in to want to hear more and more of what she had to say. The positive outlook on life, despite the many obstacles she and her family had to overcome to reach the level of success that they enjoy now is admirable. The sincerity from her heart to want to see others succeed in life, and her willingness to make herself available to assist in whatever way she can to help make it happen, even giving complete strangers her personal phone number to reach out to her to connect later, so that she can see how to help to make their dream a reality. I was really impressed with our guest speaker in action up close and from afar in her interactions with others as well as myself. She was down to earth and personable.

There were so many things that resonated with me during L’Oreal’s presentation that caused me to have an inward excitement. For example, her positive outlook on life was one of my favorites. Positivity attracts positivity! I was leaping inside with excitement, and different Bible verses were coming to mind as she spoke. Such as, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26) and “Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24). However, she was not just a positive voice, but shared practical things that she put into action to improve her quality of life for she and her family. For instance, from academic probation to MBA graduate and from her and her family temporarily living with her grandmother to having a home in the neighborhood she envisioned living in. Even though she shared with the group how nervous she was to speak at the Women in Leadership luncheon it was not obvious for she gave an awesome presentation that was shared from her heart that was practical and sincere. As a result, you could see and feel her positive energy, choosing to look at things from a positive perspective despite what she has gone through in life. Being a person of resilience, bouncing back from obstacles, disappointments, setbacks, and lack into a beautiful person of gratitude for the blessed life that she now enjoys with a desire to help others to enjoy a blessed life as well; through living their God-given dreams and accomplishing their goals.

Some of my takeaways were the following:

· “Breakdown and breakthrough happen at the same time”
· “Everything is based on perception”
· “I do not lose I learn.”

On behalf of Women in Leadership Great Lakes Bay, thank you, L’Oreal Hartwell for sharing your story with us. We were inspired, challenged, and blessed by your presence!

Be A Mentor!

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 16:46:32 GMT

Think back to a time when you had someone who was a confidant, a role model, a person that led the way for you, and helped you in some way…

Wasn’t it a nice feeling knowing you had someone you could count on to help you navigate life’s moments? You had a mentor!

Many of us have had someone who was a mentor at one time or another. An older sibling, your mother, your father, a teacher, your first boss. The opportunities are endless to form that mentor/mentee relationship.

What does it take to be a GREAT mentor?

Not every one wants to be a mentor. So the first step is to have the desire to mentor someone. A mentor should be eager to teach and willing to invest time and energy into another person. There should also be a connection between the mentor and mentee. The dynamic is very important because a mentor also needs to provide honest and direct feedback. A trusting relationship must be built so the mentee understands the feedback is for their benefit and not seen as negative.

Top qualities of a good mentor are

Enthusiasm
Connection
Value learning
Encouragement
Active listening
Provide feedback
Respect
Experts

To be a mentor, you need to have extensive knowledge and experience in your field, having learned from practice and applied principles yourself. This way you can honestly say you know from experience when you offer feedback and instruction. Knowing people and the ability to teach at different levels helps. If you don’t understand what your mentee needs from you, there is a gap in the process. Your job is to help them grow!

Mentors are an integral part of many organizations. You will increase your mentee’s confidence level, reassuring them that they are doing a good job, and encourage them in their thought process, getting out of their comfort zone, and taking initiatives. As a mentor you will be passing down your wisdom and giving them a framework for handling situations. The mentee will still plan their career path, and the mentor helps them achieve their goals with coaching, and what they need help with.

Ideally the dynamic will be mutual.

Sharing your thoughts and desires for the mentor/mentee will create a mutually dynamic relationship. It should not be a one sided thing. It takes effective communication, constructive criticism, and no judgement on either side. Clear communication, trust, and respect are key elements of a making this relationship effective.

Your mentee will learn just as much from their mistakes as they do their successes.

Don’t focus on the negatives. Neither party will be perfect, and shouldn’t be judged. While pointing out mistakes or ways something could be improved is needed, highlighting the positive is a win too! Empathy is important so your mentee knows you can relate to them and understand their feelings.

Note that not everyone works and learns at the same pace. Your mentee might be quick to pick up some things, yet have more challenges with other tasks. Work with the strengths your mentee has and nourish the areas that need more guidance.

If you are looking for a mentee or a mentor, don’t be shy. Reach out and ask someone!

How To Host A Power Talk

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 19:46:39 GMT

As women sometimes we have to dance around issues or avoid certain topics. But why should we? Each of us has valid opinions and knowledge to share. It’s ok if we disagree, but it’s not ok to hide our true thoughts and feelings to avoid a nasty conversation.

Keeping in mind that there is no wrong or right here. But here are some ideas to think about when hosting a power talk.

Age can be a plus!

Multi-generational discussions can offer differing perspectives on your chosen topic. What is true or the norm in today’s world views isn’t going to be the same as it was 10 or 20 years ago. More experienced women can offer things a younger generation has not considered, and vice versa.

Include women you DON’T know…

Part of what makes power talks exciting is hearing opinions from people you just met. Step out of your comfort zone of trusted friends and hear it from someone new to your circle. Set some ground rules or no-judgement policies so nobody takes the discussion too negatively. Keep it engaging and thought provoking, but a safe zone where everyone feels validated.

What about men?

There will be some topics best kept between your girls, but how about including some men from time to time? They can be a great ally. Women still face inequalities in the workplace. Why not have a power talk with some men who see women as valuable individuals that have a different perspective than they do. Learn from each other, find ways to use your differences to benefit your profession.

Life experiences can add a lot!

There are definitely some things many of us experience, such as childbirth, family vacations, and challenges in the workplace. Even though we share the experiences, the process adds something unique to our lives. One person’s take can give some food for thought to another.

Size does matter.

Your best discussions will happen when your group is kept small enough to feel intimate and comfortable. Having too large a group can be intimidating for people to speak freely. Maybe have some snacks and beverages to help lighten the conversation and keep it friendly!

Informal is empowering.

Who doesn’t like a bonfire? Or an evening at home? Keeping the location informal gives you control over the environment. You won’t have to worry about a loud restaurant, nosy neighboring tables, or a feeling of distaste about a topic or comment. A cozy atmosphere at home is a better option for your guests to really open up about their thoughts and feelings.

Are you ready?

Whether you create a formal invitation, an email invite, or a social media message is up to you. To be more effective, you can have some topics and questions written down before your guests arrive. You can even include this in your invitation!

What are you waiting for? Invite some peeps and get talking!

Keep Your Appetite

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 19:40:56 GMT

Sandra Crosby Robinson is our guest blogger.

It is key to visualize what you desire and to always keep the vision with you as you grow and change.

Imagine this, You are at dinner at one of your favorite restaurants and have decided to enjoy your meal without guilt, just pleasure. The ambience is beautiful, service is excellent. After waiting and anticipating, here comes your meal. As your server is bringing your meal to the table, you notice that it resembles the picture in the menu. Not only is it what you asked for, it is also what you desire! Your mouth begins to water, there is a twinkle in your eye, and your heart skips a beat. You subconsciously place your dinner conversation on pause while you reach for your silverware. You recognize that you are about to have a sumptuous meal and wonderful dining experience. Suddenly, before you can taste your feast and enjoy the moment: you began to count calories, your eyes wander to the plate next to you, and you question if you should have ordered the same meal as someone else. Finally, you calculate the price of the meal in your head— in lightning speed, what was a joyful treat, has now become a mediocre or unappetizing meal that you no longer desire to eat; you are unable to enjoy and have a sumptuous dining experience. Translation: you just lost your appetite (desire, liking, fondness, taste, willingness, hunger, zest, gusto, thirst, and inclination)! Why? What happened?

Just a thought: The meal did not change once it was placed on the table; nor did the meal of your guest change. What changed was your Appetite: Your desire to dive-in while allowing your imagination and reality to meet. We are all endowed with an Appetite for several things, not just food. Our Appetite fuels us and is a key deciding factor in how we approach our life.
Have distractions, disappointments, questions, guilt and/or fear interfered with your goals? Do you want to regain your hunger? Try this, go back to the original picture; your original “why?”. As your server (appetite) is bringing your meal (hopes, dreams, goals, desires) to you, choose to notice that it resembles the picture (imagination) in the menu (potential). Not only is it what you asked for, it is also what you desire. Choose to get that twinkle in your eye, allow your mouth to water, and allow your heart to skip a beat.

Place your dinner conversation on pause while you subconsciously reach for your silverware. Recognize that you are about to have a sumptuous meal (live life). Take your first bite, immediately close your eyes as you savor the first bite, and smile with satisfaction. Take delight in the meal while looking forward to the next time. Now recognize it is worth the cost and so are you!

Tantalize your taste buds. Live life. Remember, do not give up!

“Stay focused, ignore the distractions, and you will accomplish your goals much faster.”

— Joel Osteen

Sandra Crosby Robinson

Just Pen It

Why Do Women Make Great Leaders? 4 Tips for Success

Tue, 03 May 2022 17:02:26 GMT

By nature women are ingrained to be nurturers, cheerleaders to their spouse and children, short order cooks, chauffeurs, nurses, and all the other things we do for others every day. We are used to multi-tasking and caring for others. It makes perfect sense that these traits will carry over as we enter leadership roles on the job.

What traits do women bring to the table?

One can argue that women approach leadership differently. But that’s not the whole picture. It’s more about the purpose we have and the contributions we make in our careers. In a study conducted by Caliper, women who held leadership positions were more likely to exhibit assertiveness, be persuasive, are more motivated to get things done, be empathetic, are more flexible and more social. That’s not to say men don’t have these traits, but women scored stronger.

Women tend to have a high level of emotional intelligence in their leadership roles. This differs from being emotional on the job. Emotional intelligence refers to considering others’ feelings, keeping commitments, and offering praise and learning opportunities for others. Women leaders also tend to like more autonomy, and thrive on a flexible schedule of work formats such as in-office and remote work combinations.

What about ambitions?

It seems ambition is directly related to company culture and diversity. Less diverse companies tend to have less ambitious women, creating a gap in ambitions by gender. These companies will have more men in upper management positions. However, when there is greater diversity and a solid company culture, women are just as likely to move into those upper management positions.

Home and family commitments do not necessarily affect professional ambitions of women. They can be just as driven as men and have a family. It might take a little planning, but aren’t we all great multi-taskers?

Wouldn’t we all like to think of ourselves as great leaders? That’s partially true. Where we fall short is in thinking we have it all figured out.

Tip #1: Nobody has it all figured out.

It doesn’t matter what your business is, it is constantly changing.Change is good. But we have to evolve with the changes. We have to stay on our toes. We have to be smart, efficient, and experts in our field. But keep it real. We don’t know it all, and we never will. So accept the fact that it will never be figured out.

Tip #2: Be self-aware.

Know your limitations, flaws, and weaknesses. Knowing this will undoubtedly make you a better leader. Lean on those on your team that have strengths that make up for your limits. This will also make it easier to set realistic goals and give you reason to be prepared.

Tip #3: Know how to motivate!

Leading isn’t just about providing direction. Your staff needs you to help motivate them. One way to do this is to transform attitudes and beliefs. This won’t happen overnight, but a gradual change in culture to promote teamwork might be the ticket to success.

Tip #4: Know who comes first.

Who comes first? No, this isn’t a chicken or egg question. It’s more simple than that. Your staff, your employees should come first. Leadership is last. People who feel valued will reciprocate by trying harder and will do it joyfully. Be empathetic by making connections. Build up the employees you lead. Help them to grow and reach their full potential.

In short, what do women bring to the leadership table? Everything!

How Do You Measure Success?

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 22:07:57 GMT

Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom. - Gen. George Patton

Does anyone else notice how families don’t live just down the street from one another like they used to? Maybe it is you that moved away from your hometown, maybe your adult child has moved out of state for college or to start their own adventures. It is every parent’s dream to see their child spread their wings and watch them make their way in the world.

Success is a journey, not a destination. - Arthur Ashe

Success is where preparation and opportunity meet. - Bobby Unser

This is an incredible compliment to your parenting skills. The journey your child takes, the way your family will branch out across the country, even to other countries shows how successful you have been in raising your child.

Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill

Behind every successful man there’s a lot of unsuccessful years. - Bob Brown

Success is measured according to each person’s perspective of what success means to them. Success can be measured by wealth, level of education, status, popularity, occupation, etc. In business, you often measure success by customer satisfaction. A happy customer will return to do more business with you. On a personal level, success is measured by something different.

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. - Thomas Edison

That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well. - Abraham Lincoln

How do you measure success in your life? As Women In Leadership roles or who want to achieve your own level of success, what do you do to make it happen? Do you work hard so you can play hard? Do you continue your education? Do you want recognition? Is your success just for you?

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. - Robert F. Kennedy

So what is the true measure of success? Ask yourself:

Do you enjoy what you do?
Do you love your life?
Are you proud of yourself?
Have you made an impact on others?
Do you have people that care about you?
Do you see progress in your life?

What would you add to our list of ways to measure your success?

Fall Into Place

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 12:21:03 GMT

Guest Blogger, Cherina Johnson is the owner of Upstairs Resale Shop located in Saginaw, MI, which is currently operating as an online and pop-up store.

Fall is a favorite time of year for me. If you enjoy eating apples as I do, the fall season should make your taste buds burst inside by the mere thought of all the apple goodies that are in season and available this time of year; for instance, plain apples, caramel apples, homemade apple pie, apple donuts and fresh apple cider to name a few.

Fall brings about cooler temperatures that are perfect for wrapping up in a soft throw and sit in a favorite chair or recliner, to enjoy a cup of homemade chicken noodle soup or soup of your choice, or to sip a hot cup of tea. I look forward to these moments to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the day, and it a purposeful effort to get some relaxation time on a consistent basis.

Over a year ago I purchased online two greeting cards from Shannon Cohen, Inc. located in Grand Rapids, MI. I really liked both of the cards that I had selected, but one of the two cards stuck out to me. It read “THINGS FELL INTO PLACE AS SHE GOT INTO POSITION.”

Since I like giving and sending cards to others for encouragement, my intention was that I would do the same with these two cards as well. However, I have held onto both of them. I propose to you that things will not fall into place in your life or in my life, if we do not have the right attitude. Proverbs 23:7a (NKJV) states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” With all the negativity that our minds are bombarded with on a daily basis, especially from the news outlets, we have to watch ourselves that we do not fall into the trap of negativity. It is easier said than done, but we have the power to control what we allow to feed into our minds.

Watch what you say about yourself and the situation, as well as be attentive to what you allow others to say to you or about any given situation. Be informed but do not become a garbage container for it is toxic to the mind. It is our responsibility to keep a positive outlook in life, not matter what is going on outside of us. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” according to Romans 12:2a (NIV). There could be chaos going on all around us; in our lives, on our jobs, in our family, even in the world, but we do not have to allow the chaos to reside within us. Choose to keep a positive attitude, no matter what! Then watch out and see how things will fall into place because you positioned yourself from the right mental standpoint.

Cute as a Button, Tough as a Girl

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 12:44:12 GMT

Guest Blogger, Cherina Johnson is the owner of Upstairs Resale Shop located in Saginaw, MI, which is currently operating as an online and pop-up store.

Congratulations to WIL Member Cherina Johnson for publishing her first book! The following is an excerpt from her autobiography "Cute as a Button, Tough as a Girl" now available on amazon!

"Growing up people would often comment that I was pretty. This was passed down to me from my Creator through my very beautiful mother. This proved to be such an asset to me throughout my basketball career. People often underestimated me based on my looks. Many assumed that I could not play ball or did not initially take me seriously as a player, especially the boys. Once I recognized that at a young age, I used it to my advantage. Despite my outward appearance, there was another part of me that went unseen by the natural eye. I was a competitor and hated to lose. The inward part was more important than my outward appearance, which would repeatedly prove you should not judge a book by its cover."

Getting It and Keeping It Together!

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 18:42:46 GMT

Guest Blogger, Dawn Shestko is the owner of DRS Performance Solutions. Find Dawn on Linkedin Facebook and Instagram

I cannot tell you how many times over this past year I’ve heard people, (myself included) preface how they’re doing or feeling with, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately, but…”

It seems we're all on the collective struggle bus. Many are having a hard time sticking to any healthy routines, and many are fearful of feeling and staying stuck. Lots of us are having a hard time focusing on anything for longer than a few minutes, and many talk of low energy, no drive, and zero motivation. Many wonder why they just can’t seem to get it together and keep it together!

That’s the thing… It's the keeping it together that’s challenging. We seem to get back on it with the best of intention, only to fall off again a short time later. I get it. The ups and downs since March 2020 have been plentiful!

Now that things are opening up again and life appears to be returning to somewhat “normal” we naturally assume these feelings will just disappear, and that we’ll magically feel inspired, motivated, and energetic. More than likely, we’ll get a burst of all the good feels, because summer is here and vacations are calling!

As a matter of fact, I’m on vacation right now, and am feeling great! I also know that I am in no way healed from this pandemic experience and that more than likely, a downturn is ahead. So, this morning I’ll take some time to remind myself of the things that have kept me afloat and doing okay this year, followed by a to-do list once back home in my beloved Bay City!! Setting oneself up for success by having a plan is essential.

Oh, and let me just say, that never in my life has “staying afloat'' and “being okay” been the goal… My goals are typically more impressive than that! But let’s face it, there are days when simply staying afloat and being okay is a win!

My hope is that you find some value in a few things from each list.

Read Adam Grant’s, New York Times article, “There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing.” This is a game-changer! I’ve read and reread this article multiple times, and have suggested it to everyone I know! If you want to do something nice for yourself today, you’ll take a few minutes to read it!
Show yourself grace. The definition of grace is a willingness to be fair or to forgive. Isn’t it interesting how we show our loved ones grace without reservation, and yet to do the same for ourselves is exceptionally difficult. Many of us are way too hard on ourselves. I often suggest to clients to treat and talk to themselves like they would their best friend.
Create or maintain healthy routines. Routines help provide a feeling of normalcy and consistency - both of which are necessary to stay afloat and okay! Remember, routines are about discipline, not motivation. Healthy routines should be non-negotiable!
Be intentional, be grateful. I’ve included time for intention and gratitude in my morning routine for years. I write my intention for the day based on my values and on who I’m striving to become. I follow that with writing about a few things I’m grateful for. This daily practice helps to center myself before the day starts. I find it extremely valuable.
Write a daily to-do list. I’ve written a daily to-do list for 30+ years, and I understand the value. Clients have told me this was their game-changer! Be sure to pay attention to your whole self by giving yourself a few action items each day for your spirit, body, and mind.

Managing your Mental Health - Mental Health Awareness Month

Sat, 22 May 2021 01:27:10 GMT

Guest Blogger, Arielle Roth is the Marketing Manager of Amigo Mobility, Owner of Riella Marketing & Design and Co-Owner + CCO of Emerge Entrepreneur Collective. She also speaks on mental health and addiction, and works to create a safe space for others struggling.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Nearly 450 million people worldwide are currently living with a mental illness, yet nearly two thirds of people with a known mental illness never seek treatment. ADAA is dedicated to helping those living with anxiety, depression, and co-occurring disorders and their loved ones find treatment, support, and resources.

With changes and unknowns due to the past year, the number has grown tremendously, while access to resources has become significantly harder. WIL member Arielle Roth has battled depression and bipolar since her teen years, and in the past year began speaking on managing mental health, she shares her journey and some of her tips for balancing her mental health, stress and life with us:

It's hard to be vulnerable, but important. It's how safe spaces are created for others, especially for those that have not struggled before it can be overwhelming and it's time to #BreakTheStigma for others to realize they aren't alone.

I was diagnosed with chronic depression and high anxiety when I was 17, and I always find it interesting that even at that age I was incredibly comfortable speaking about it. But I didn't fully understand it, especially how to manage it. That mixed with side effects of medications, trial and errors of finding the correct ones, along with just the general angst of being a teenager was...a lot. And I always assumed things were working as they were and my life would always just be that way.

As I got older I started to realize the medications weren't working for me. I also started to realize that I do not have anxiety, I rarely feel anxious in regards to life and decision, am capable of making game plans and very logically make decisions. My struggle is large mood swings, heavy depressive ones, I am easily distracted, have a hard time staying on track or on deadlines, and a handful of other side effects that led us to realize it was bipolar. Which I have never struggled with - on the contrary it simply brought me answers I needed.

Around 21 I also made the decision to fully go off of medications and learn how to manage my illnesses on my own. Please note - I am not a medical professional, this is in no way my advice to someone, only my experience. I did this with the help of a professional therapist and trial and error on my own part. 95% of the time I am great, but when I struggle...I struggle hard. But if you're trying to get a better grasp on your mental health, especially after this last year, here is some of my best advice:

Embrace it - Find the positives in your mental illness. Odd statement right? It's been a revelation for me though, it is a part of me. And negatives aside it makes me incredibly passionate and self-aware of my life which has brought many positives.
Be active - it really is the best natural medicine. Your doctor isn't just telling you that. Even if it is only a thirty minute walk a day, I can tell a drastic change in my mood if I'm staying active or slacking.
Let the bad days be bad - if you are avoiding letting yourself be sad or feel the negatives you will continue to bottle them up. At some point they are going to overflow. So let the bad days be bad, but know the next day is a new fresh start and it doesn't need to be bad too.
Think before you panic - it took me a long time to get into this habit but, when you are in a situation that makes you uncomfortable ask yourself "what is the worst that can happen in this situation?" Majority of the time the worst outcome is exactly where you are at currently, and you're already surviving that. This also allows you to make a game plan by looking at potential outcomes rather than panicking.
Learn what works for you - I have a really hard time with sticking to deadlines, keeping track of...anything, and simply being forgetful. I have had to learn how to offset that. I tried digital planners it doesn't work. Bipolar comes with an interesting aspect that if we can't physically see something we forget it exists, so phone planners don't work. Instead I have a yearly monthly planner, I also have a one month giant whiteboard calendar in my office, and I use a desk calendar for EVERY individual client. But it means at all times I can see everything I need, it is what works for me.
Find something be thankful for everyday - and write it down. Even if it's a tiny moment, it forces you to find a positive even when you are struggling.
Realize you are not alone - find someone who will listen. And if you can't, I always will and can be reached by email or Facebook anytime you need.

Spring into Life

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 14:43:24 GMT

Guest Blogger, Cherina Johnson is the owner of Upstairs Resale Shop located in Saginaw, MI, which is currently operating as an online and pop-up store.

A benefit of living in Michigan is that you get to experience all four seasons. Each season brings forth certain characteristics from beautiful landscapes to various weather conditions. Each season within itself can stand on its own and in the forefront at its appointed time during the year to showcase its strengths and reveal its weaknesses.

We are still in the midst of a pandemic, but do not let the pandemic get inside of you through complaining and having a gloomy outlook on life. A lot of devastating things have happened since spring 2020; thousands of deaths, job losses, and business closures. While acknowledging these things, let us also recognize the positive things that has spring forth: more family time spent together, businesses pivoting into new ventures to survive, and work from home that allowed parents to be present to assist child with virtual learning.

It is inevitable that life will throw you some twists and turns throughout your seasons. The outcome will depend on how you act in the midst of the challenges. Either you will react or respond to the situation. Reactions are emotionally driven and most likely to be accompanied with regret. On the other hand, when a person responds to a situation it tends not to be done hastily, but given thought into how to proceed and overcome the circumstance at hand. Just like the seasons come and go, know that wherever you find yourself in life at this given time, it will surely pass. Therefore, let go of things that have held you down, that has frustrated you, and kept you from moving forward because you are stuck in the past. This is your season to let go of fears, disappointments, uncertainties, jealousies, and inadequacies. This is your time to rise up and spring into new opportunities and new beginnings in your life, family, workplace, and community. This is your time to shine and launch into endless possibilities.

Spring into life…

The Path to Purpose

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 12:20:03 GMT

Guest post by Andrea S. Richmond - Proprietress, Leopard Print Books, Gifts & Curiosities and Account Manager, The Scott & Miller Group

Years ago, I read a book on how to be more creative. One of the suggestions from the author was to change your route to work and places you travel frequently. By doing so, you expose yourself to new sights, new sounds, and new paths, which change neural connections in your brain and foster creativity. Since many of us are working from home, changing the path to our workplace isn’t going to make much of an impact. There are a finite number of ways from your bedroom to your desk, after all. However, we can still apply this approach when we do go out and about.

“If we know exactly where we're going, exactly how to get there, and exactly what we'll see along the way, we won't learn anything.”
― M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

For example, taking a side street on your way to Meijer can shift your perception or spawn an idea. Even taking a different path shopping in the store can change your mindset. I applied this idea when I went for a walk in the woods recently. There’s a path I always take. I often think to myself, “I should try a different route (or travel the path in reverse),” but then make excuses for not doing so. “I know this path. It will take me longer to go a different way. I’m not sure where I’ll end up, etc.” However, Sunday morning, I took a different route. And, what happened? I saw things I hadn’t seen before and they were exciting! A muskrat swam under the ice directly under the bridge I was standing on. A blue heron, who was standing in a marshy area, took flight right before me. Some of you are probably wondering how a muskrat and heron can be exciting. But for a nature and animal lover like me, it was.

Poem of the One World
This morning
the beautiful white heron
was floating along above the water
and then into the sky of this
the one world
we all belong to
where everything
sooner or later
is a part of everything else
which thought made me feel
for a little while
quite beautiful myself.”
― Mary Oliver, A Thousand Mornings

These experiences also reminded me of why I love walking in the woods so much. Like Oliver, it fills my spirit. In every season. The aroma of the earth and decaying autumn leaves. The sound of birds chirping and wind making music striking branches together. Sights of a snow-covered landscape or lush moss on a fallen log. Ahh. And, in an age that’s full of spirit-sapping devices, media, and sometimes people, finding something that brings you into the present moment and fosters appreciation is life giving.

I’m fortunate to have friends that also inspire me. My friend, Pearlette, who was the presenter for March’s monthly meeting, always provides unique insight. In addition to being very driven, she’s also very intuitive. She often says something that I’ve known at some level but I’ve either missed or ignored. During our last chat, we talked about listening to our intuition. I don’t know about you but sometimes I don’t listen to the nudges. Sometimes, they are little ones, “you shouldn’t type that” in an email. Sometimes, they are bigger, like making a big mistake because you’re overtired should have gone to bed.

Listening to your inner voice is required if we are to live our best, most authentic life. It’s why I started an indie bookstore. I had an epiphany sitting in one of my favorite bookstores, Literati in Ann Arbor. I had wondered what my life purpose was for years and read, journaled, and worked with a life coach to figure it out. That day, I was reading The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau. (This is a great book for entrepreneurs and wannabees) And, it hit me like a jolt. My intuition said, “I need to open a bookstore.” It was the convergence of all the things I love – books, creativity, art, funky stuff, shopping, and uplifting people – and things I am good at – organizing, making connections, marketing, transformation, and shopping. (Yes, shopping appears twice.)

Now, would that idea have come to mind if I hadn’t been quiet and listening? I don’t know. What I do know is that making time for myself was absolutely necessary to birth this vision. For most women, myself included, this is incredibly difficult to do.

“Tell me with whom you consort with [or how you spend your time] and I will tell you who you are.”

~ Goethe

Who am I? Who are you? Are you who you want to be? Authentic conversations with people we trust like Pearlette can provide insight into what we already know. I need to do the work – recharge, spend more time in nature, and go within and listen – in order to be who I want to be and live my “I am.” What about you?

“Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.”
― M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

Building or running a business is a ton of work. We must nourish ourselves so we can give to our families and friends, to our communities, and to our passion. When we realize our value, our lives, our community, and our world will be a richer, more vibrant and fulfilling place for all.

Building Civility in the Workplace

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 14:47:26 GMT

Guest Blogger, Cherina Johnson is the owner of Upstairs Resale Shop located in Saginaw, MI, which is currently operating as an online and pop-up store.

Do you work in an environment that is hostile, disrespectful, or unappreciative of your skills or input? This is a toxic relationship. What can you do if this is something that you are experiencing now or have been experiencing for some time? There are basically three options you can choose, each having its own pros and cons.

First, you can stay at the workplace and tolerate the abuse. You will most likely keep your job, but under the present circumstances you probably will be stressed out or even fearful to go to work.

Second, you can report incident to immediate supervisor or executive management of any intimidating or rude behavior that has been targeted against you. This may reveal to management a potential problem, however, if management does not take it very seriously it could result in a more vicious attack on the individual who disclosed the issue.

Finally, you could quit this job and find work elsewhere. If you leave the job it would be a good thing for your mental health, yet it may put you in a financial bind until you find another job with comparable or better pay and benefits.

If there is incivility in the workplace, in order for the root of it to be cut off it must be dealt with from the top down. What is civility? This is something that has to be defined, communicated and demonstrated by word and deed by executive management, not just written in an employee’s handbook. Sure, these individuals may not deal with the staff much on a one-on-one basis, but they set the tone of what is expected from their staff and how the workers should be treated by their superiors and toward each other; no matter, what department they are working in. The following is an example of what civility is according to the law firm Bryan Cave in Irvine, California (Porath, 2018):

Bryan Cave’s Code of Civility

1. We greet and acknowledge each other.
2. We say please and thank you.
3. We treat each other equally and with respect, no matter the conditions.
4. We acknowledge the impact of our behavior on others.
5. We welcome feedback from each other.
6. We are approachable.
7. We are direct, sensitive, and honest.
8. We acknowledge the contributions of others.
9. We respect each other’s time commitments.
10. We address incivility.

Another thing to take into consideration to foster a civil atmosphere at the workplace is to teach employees skills in how to act civil through ongoing training, including role playing. Being civil is a learned behavior, so teaching about civility is important. Yet, modeling civility is essential. Like the old adage says, “action speaks louder than words.”

Reference: Porath, C. (2018). Making civility the norm of your team. HBR.

3 Tips for Networking During the Age of Social Distancing

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 19:44:15 GMT

Guest Blogger Neena Hogle is the 2021 President for Women in Leadership, she is also an inspirational speaker and owner of Fearless Networking.

Grabbing coffee or lunch with a friend or colleague probably isn’t going to happen anytime soon, at least not in person. But social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t network. In fact, you may find even more ways to connect and network with your circles.

Due to modern technology, meeting in-person isn’t required to develop new relationships or deepen existing ones. So, although we’re all practicing some form of social distancing for the moment, here’s how to maintain and grow your network while social distancing:

EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

Be intentional about reaching out to different people and groups of people. A lot of us have big holes in our schedules because of cancelled plans, In the past, many of us struggled to make time to network - now is a great time to reach out and get a response. How do you find these people without leaving the house?

Identify people you would like to connect with on LinkedIn.

Utilize professional organizations and association websites, i.e. Chambers of Commerce, Women in Leadership, Rotary, etc.

Go through your collection of business cards. Organize and follow-up with connections from your current collection of business cards.

Take advantage of one-on-one networking opportunities – global quarantine has had unexpected benefit - a surging interest in one-on-one mentorship and networking.

Carve out time to stay connected. Online relationships require nurturing just as much as (if not more than) those in the real world.

Consider mentoring - many successful people attribute their success to having had a great mentor and you can grow exponentially by being a mentor, as well? Serving as a mentor can develop your communication skills, allow you to gain a new perspective, give back and expand your network.

ASK how you can help! Be up-front and authentic and offer something like ‘since I can’t support you financially right now, how can I help?’

Write recommendations and testimonials – share them on contacts LinkedIn and Facebook Business Pages – and be sure to email a copy contacts can utilize for their website, or however they want.

Last but not least leverage social media by Following, Liking and Sharing posts to help contacts grow their online presence. Many small businesses and entrepreneurs rely on social media marketing and it’s hard to get content in front of people without paying for advertising.

FOCUS ON LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Don’t focus on sales, focus on the relationship. Reaching out with, ‘Business is really slow right now, do you have any leads?’ is not only transactional and opportunistic, it’s inept, we all know businesses are suffering. We don’t know how long the crisis will last; and we’re all adjusting to new restrictions, and this is not the time to be aggressively prospecting with people. What’s the best way to build relationships during the age of social-distancing?

GIVE WITHOUT KEEPING SCORE

How can you give back? We’ve seen a lot about supporting local businesses and restaurants #TakeOutTuesday, which is wonderful, but if you’re one of the many people that still aren’t working, and aren’t getting unemployment – you might be struggling to pay bills – and purchase-support may not be an option for you. So how can you give back?

Women Share Their Stories to Self-Love

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 16:57:20 GMT

What is your story? What makes you become a confident, empowering woman? Women from the Midland, Michigan area came together to share just that with Self Love Beauty through our Beautiful Me campaign.

Our Beautiful Me campaign has been bringing women together to showcase the shirts from our shop as well as hear from women on their journey to find self-love and what makes them beauty. Click here to view the photos from the Midland photo shoot.

Each person has their struggles and it is amazing to hear their stories so we can help others relate through story. Quite often you see people looking for Life lessons and quotes that help them through their situation because they can see that others have managed to get through tough times too.

Hear from women on their journey to find confidence:

I’m still in pursuit of being a confident woman. I try everyday to be kinder to myself and stop my negative self-talk.- Ali Cnudde

“I think my story is still a work in progress. It all started as an athlete

in high school and then in college. That’s when I am comfortable and feel like I am in my own shoes. I now feel like I can do anything because of my drive that I got from playing in sports my whole life.” Alexsis Koch

“I became and confident woman after leaving a bad relationship that made me feel like I wasn’t a lovable person. After I left that relationship I was able to focus on myself and learn to love myself. I saw that the relationship changed me and I didn’t like it. I saw that I needed to believe in myself and stop giving up on things and missing out on other opportunities because of someone else. I knew I needed to learn to love myself before I started dating again. Then I met my husband who helped me become confident in myself and show me just how lovable/wonderful I truly am. Also once I had my daughter I knew with all of the body shaming and bullying these days I needed to be strong and confident for our daughter. I need to teach her how to love herself no matter what . I am her example. ” Nichole Elledge

“When I was younger, I had extreme social anxiety and was super self conscious. I wanted to be someone other than myself. I didn’t like the way I looked, I cared what other people thought of me, and felt like I couldn’t be myself with anyone except my family. It took a long time to feel comfortable in my own skin and confident in who I was. When I went away to college, I started to learn more about myself and really came out of my shell. Being on my own, trying new things, and just putting myself out there, really helped me become a more confident, empowered woman. After I graduated and moved off on my own, I grew more confident as I learned how to support myself and take charge of my own destiny. Don’t get me wrong, this journey was by no means pretty, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Because without those messy life experiences, I don’t think I would be the person I am today.” – Marie Nesbitt

“A former health teacher turned studio owner, put me in a position to help change or influence the lives of others which means I need to lead by example .” –Amy Jaster

“Through embracing the good in life and learning from the hardships.” -Alyssa Bickel

“Throughout my childhood my dad always told me “numbero uno” meaning number 1 in Spanish… sounds silly but it taught me always to keep me in mind first. I still repeat it to this day when I find myself caught up in the chaos life brings and remind myself to take care of my mind, body and emotions. It can begin to sound selfish but to remember about ourselves and show ourselves love is key to living my life freely. It has taught me to be true to who I am, my dreams and future. Over the years, I’ve learned so much about my self talk and being “my own best friend”, someone I can count on. My confidence and self love stems from loving and being true to who I am.” – Samantha Schlicker

“Learn from your set backs instead of dwelling on them . Remember to celebrate the small wins and your will find peace in the process.” -Selena Ashley

“I kicked cancer in the face while maintaining a positive attitude and having a lot of laughs”- Hayley Coleman

“I discovered my self love through my involvement with SLB. It has been incredible to a part of the blog as it has grown. I have been honored to witness it touch so many woman’s’ lives.”- Gabriella Hoffman

“The Air Force played a huge role in me becoming who I am today. I loved being in the military, it had its ups and downs, and there were days when I was away that I cried more than smiled. But it taught me incredible things. It taught me that I can take care of myself, that I can hold a career, be successful, pave my own path, and it taught me to be proud and it humbled me all at the same time.” –Delainey Doughty

“My strongest support system is my immediate family. My mother and father have always encouraged me to strive for success, and they have supported me every step of the way. I know I am so blessed to have graduated college debt-free with a 4.0 GPA, traveled the world through study abroad opportunities, landed more than 10 internships in a field that I love, and so much more. I know that I can do anything I set my mind to, and I take great joy in sharing my story with other young minorities to encourage, assist and mentor them to strive for success as well. I also take pride in my characteristics of a confident, empowering woman as I want to be the best role model for my younger sister to look up to.” – JoLena Broussard

“In the past, I have tried to be that size 0. I have worked out for countless hours and ate very little. I have ran for hours on end and hated having muscles. I would avoid working out my legs or my shoulders because I hated how muscular they were. I hated being the girls with the big biceps or big, broad shoulders. Then I discovered CrossFit. CrossFit showed me that having muscles bigger than the average person is a good thing. It not only is impressive to watch a person throw about 170 pounds over their head, but the hard work and dedication it takes to get it there. CrossFit has opened a new world for me and has shown women, all shapes, sizes and ages, that being strong is a beautiful thing.”- Danni Radosa

“Through the revelation of God’s constant belief in me walking out of the darkness and into the light.” -Ruth Rushlow

The Beautiful Me Campaign comes from Self Love Beauty’s mission is to ensure women have self-love through feeling confident in their own beauty and feeling empowered one story at a time knowing they are not alone on their journey to reach their full potential.

Self Love Beauty’s online Beautiful Me shop opened in the fall of 2016. The shop includes a variety of shirts that showcase quotes for women to choose from to wear that best describes themselves.

What is the Beautiful Me Campaign?

The Beautiful Me campaign and store is to inspire women to share their stories of how they were inspired to love themselves, what they love about themselves and the challenges they faced to get there.This campaign is to showcase how all shapes, sizes, ethnicity and ages are beautiful.

This campaign is to spread the word about women’s journeys to self-love. We have been traveling to a variety of states and cities for photo shoots of women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and ages for them to showcase how our shirts look beautiful on everyone and to have women share their story on what beautiful and self-love means to them.

What makes a good leader?

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 16:53:15 GMT

What makes a good leader?……Someone who….

Did you click on this link to see the top ten characteristics of a leader, to see if you feel like you have a few of them? Did you want to read a commentary to assure you that you are in a good leadership environment or affirm that you need to get out of a bad one? Maybe you thought that there was going to be an additional training on leadership…. well that one might be true……

Having asked this question of adults in various settings the answer always is a comprehensive list of characteristics of leadership……for example
• Communication
• Delegation
• Visionary
• Networking
• Commitment
• Trustworthy
• ……….

Pages and pages of easel paper could be filled with characteristics of a good leader. We could search this question and have an endless list of characteristics. Good, even great characteristics.

But what do these characteristics look like? How do they make people feel? What is the impact on the people around leaders?

It seems easy to list the characteristics, but it takes self – assessment and commitment to behave the characteristics. My actions, my presence in the characteristics, essentially the way I am is what has the impact on others around me.

This hit home for me when I asked this same question “what makes a good leader?” of youth. The answers were a little different.

• Someone who makes me feel important
• Someone who helps me learn new things
• Someone who teaches me to do my job
• Someone who is there if I have a question
• Someone who knows what they are doing
• Someone who leads a group to accomplish something together
• Someone who knows I am good at things

Most of my kids in class share openly and easily, yet there are always a few that you never really know if they are listening or if you are reaching them. If you could picture this day, a group of 12 and 13 year olds gathered around the easel paper, relaxed, sharing thoughts, and this quiet voice from the side of me says….

• ‘Someone who doesn’t yell at me when I make a mistake’

Even now as I reflect back it brings tears to my eyes. ‘Someone who doesn’t yell at me when I make a mistake’, there is a story there, a moment in this young person’s life where someone did something that impacted him.

We are all leaders. It is not just characteristics that make a good leader but more importantly the person who embodies them. Characteristics are qualities or values people have, qualities that inform actions or behaviors and define the person who behaves them. This is the core of ‘everybody is a leader’. We are all ‘someone’ for ‘someone’ else.

What kind of ‘someone’ do you want to be?

Contributor Writer: Sarah Weisbarth has been described as rooted in her faith and able to draw inspiration from a rock. As a life coach with Self Love Beauty helping others grow in themselves and connect with others on a deeper level is a natural niche for Sarah. A commitment to providing others with the internal resources they need to be successful in life has Sarah working and serving in programs related to youth and those that promote self-worth and personal value.

Counter Intuitive Leadership

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 14:21:53 GMT

By Darlene Myers

We had a great meeting on August 27^th! After the regular business of the meeting was handled Michael Rhodabarger presented “Counter Intuitive Leadership.” Michael’s engaging style started off by noting the three problems every business has…profit, people and process.

Michael stated that most companies only focus on profit and process and neglect their people. He suggested the percentage of time spent on people should be 90% and 10% of time on processes. He showed a picture of a house without a firm foundation and it was obviously not stable or sturdy. Then he showed a picture of the house with a great foundation. The house with a great foundation just looks like a great house. You don’t see the foundation – but the fact that the house is upright and altogether, and looks good, etc…indicates that there must be a solid foundation. A solid foundation in business is created by great leadership.

There are two kinds of leaders Personality Leaders and Counterintuitive Leaders.

Personality Leaders:

Personality leaders are split into introvert personalities and extrovert personalities. And those are broken down into 5 components: Transactional, Bureaucratic, Laissez Faire / Melancholy, Autocratic and Charismatic. These types are natural to human nature.

Counter-Intuitive Leaders

Counter-Intuitive Leaders split their leadership styles between Transformational Leadership and Servant Leadership and that produces success! This process is “Un-Natural” to human nature but critical to effective leadership.

Michael then used the analogy of a construction project to illustrate the importance of starting with a good foundation in our leadership endeavors (which incidentally means improving our own leadership skills).

Finally he noted that we should never under-estimate the power of competition.

Michael provides something called a SKAN Skills Analysis. His website is www. execuspect.com and his email is info@execuspect.com.

What we learned - Vision and Values Masterclass

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 16:28:37 GMT

By Darlene Myers

If you were at the Vision and Values Masterclass Tuesday, January 19, 2019, you already know this but if you weren’t – here’s a quick recap…

It happened on a cold and dreary afternoon, with freezing rain. In spite of the poor weather, the room was filled with women of all ages looking for knowledge on how to write their personal vision statement. The room at Yeo and Yeo was warm and full of positive expectations for what lay ahead this afternoon.

The program started at 12 pm with a delicious boxed lunch sponsored by Thrive Social and Team One Credit Union. Kris Marsh was fantastic. She started with a brief introduction to the exercises we were about to begin. Without delay, we found a group close to us and jumped right into the process of finding our vision.

Kris provided handouts to help guide us through the process. As she moved through the crowd, she would share what other groups were doing to offer examples to the rest of us who may have struggled a bit with our vision. It turns out, this process is harder than it looks! Even though some of us didn’t complete our own vision statement – we got a good head start on it and had the opportunity to contemplate our future in a way we had not previously done. The process of working in groups with other people and asking specific questions of each other helped to clarify thoughts and desires. Additionally, the group work was an excellent way to make new acquaintances and start new friendships.

The program wrapped up at 4pm and we all bundled up to brave the drive home.

Remember we have another important program coming (Member’s Only) called “She Designed A Life She Loved” – Vision Board Party on Thursday, February 21, 2019 5:30 pm at ServPro, 470 N. Adams Saginaw, MI 48604.

Financial Dreams & Goals

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 14:36:21 GMT

Dreams & Goals

By Tammy Claramunt

While standing in line at a vacation resort recently, I began chatting with the woman in line next to me. We were out at the pool, waiting for the bartender to whip up a cocktail and she was friendly, nice and oh so fashionable. She was wearing a spectacular pair of Chanel sunglasses-round, gold and extremely sparkly!! She told me how she vacations here frequently, a place that was a-once in a lifetime-kind of place for me.

Cocktail in hand, I strolled back to my chaise, stared out at the beautiful scenery around me, google-searched her $500 pair of sunglasses then quickly wondered the possibilities. "I don't want to be her", I announced to myself, "I just want to be here".

This dream or goal or desire is not unlike any other. I pulled a pen from my bag, using the napkin from my cocktail, I quickly began working on a plan. A financial plan.

In the past when I've read other financial articles, it's easy for me to see how people get overwhelmed by the information or lost in the details. A long-term financial goal doesn't have to be overwhelming though. Think of it this way: when you are trying to accomplish a career goal do you consult a career coach? When you are facing a weight loss obstacle, might you consult a health coach? A financial goal needs the help of a financial coach. It all begins with the end in mind, yet action and accountability are critical components. For example:

1. Identify your desire or need? What is the end goal you are striving for? A vacation? An early retirement? A larger home? A better car?

2. Evaluate where you are now. What does my spending look like? What can I trim? What can I do to earn more? What can I do to save more? Invest differently?

3. Develop a plan to achieve your goal. How much, how long, etc.

4. Track. Stop, measure, re-evaluate but most importantly, have an accountability partner who will track & measure your progress with you.

Unfortunately, I have other financial goals that have a larger priority than the vacation spot; however, I'm making it a part of my plan. I WILL return there some day! In the meantime, I'll be more aware of my financial habits so that I can stay on track.

Tammy Claramunt pursued her life’s dreams by becoming a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. She spends her days in pursuit of others committed to their dreams as well!

Learning to Listen to my Body, and Love Myself

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 17:43:02 GMT

Learning to Listen to My Body and Love Myself

By Lisa Stockmeyer

I woke up this morning the same as always, sleepy and comfortable, needing to peel myself out of bed to avoid the regret of hitting snooze on my alarm. I walked into the living room and let the dogs outside, walked back through the kitchen to grab a glass of water, and then to the bathroom. Preparing to get in the shower I looked in the mirror and analyzed my growing belly. I look at how round and hard it feels. My skin is stretched, and I peek around to find any hints of stretch marks that may have grown over night. Although I use oils to avoid those pink stripes that peek out at this time in pregnancy, I still look for them, hoping to see one. Maybe I subconsciously see them as a trophy for carrying my daughter around on my front side for 9 to 10 months. Either way, it doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t bother me that I’m getting larger, that nothing fits, that my boobs are huge and sore and I have no idea what will happen to them after the baby, that I can’t shave my legs as well as before, and all of the other odd happenings to my body.

As a pregnant woman, people either act one of two ways; like I’m broken, or like I’m a superhero. Either way, everyone has their opinion whether they choose to admit it or not. If being judged in this way bothers us as pregnant women, curvy women, fitness woman, or nerdy women, however you may see yourself, then why, highly contrasted, as a woman, do we do this to ourselves? We treat our own bodies as if we are broken. We judge ourselves when we can’t fit into a body type, when we don’t work hard enough, or when we’re not perfect. When we don’t fit a mold, we subconsciously try to fix ourselves. But the truth is, you can’t listen to that societal mold of perfect, you have to listen to your body. What is your body telling you that you need to do for yourself? And how do we listen to our bodies?

A few years ago through a series of less than proud moments of insecurity and self destructive behavior, I had a revolutionary yet simple discovery that I alone, am the greatest friend I will ever have. I don’t mean in an “I avoid other humans way.” But reminding myself that I will be with my husband most of the time, I will see my friends here and there, I will talk to my mom on the phone, but I have been and will be with one person, 100% of everyday for the rest of my life; myself. With that, I knew I needed to love and take care of myself more than anyone else on this earth, and stop and listen to what this body I take everywhere with me is trying to tell me. I am the only one responsible for its safe keeping and care. When I started really listening to my body and what I needed, whoa baby, did my mindset change, and my self- confidence soar with gratitude! Talk about power! It took years to clear my mind of negative emotions and thoughts and make space to listen deeply and intentionally to myself. And here’s how I did it in 8 beautiful ways.

1. I began to ignore gossip of any kind.

Seems obvious, but we all know it’s not easy! I learned to disassociate myself with what was happening around me if it wasn’t productive. I TRY to not talk crudely about others. I TRY to not talk unkindly about myself. And I TRY to never talk unfavorably about my spouse. If we allow ourselves to be taken over by gossip and self destructive conversation of ourselves, we aren’t allowing room to listen to what our own body’s needs are. Consciously clearing gossip and hate from our souls is a good opportunity to ask yourself, how do I want to be treated? Make it clear to others what you need out of a relationship, whether family, friends, or a significant other. Knowing what you want will allow you to have empathy for other people's feelings and make you a better friend and companion.

2. I learned to be intentional about what is becoming one of our main forms of communication, and influence, Facebook.

Delete or “unfollow” all your “friends” on Facebook that aren’t building you up. Harsh, I know. I have “unfollowed” at least 50% of my Facebook friends for this reason. I do not read and respond to posts that will cause me distress. I’m talking about the “grinds your gears” and all it does is piss you off type of posts. We are too damn busy!

3. We tend to take on the personality of the 5 people we hang out with the most, so I told myself if I am spending most of my time with “downers,” or negative people, than I will have a hard time staying positive myself.

I learned to disassociate with those that aided in producing negative outcomes in my life. There is a difference between a friend that needs you during low times, and a friend that is doing everything they can to take you down with them. Give your whole heart generously, but not at the expense of your own wellbeing. You have to know when it’s the right time to let go of negative people because it’s what YOU need, and not feel bad about it.

4. I stopped letting others take advantage of my kindness.

When people take advantage of us, it’s our fault. We allowed them to do that by not speaking up for ourselves, or not being perfectly clear of our intentions and expectations. Tell the world what you want and need. Hints do not work. If you come off too blunt or stern at times, you can always apologize.

5. I started to not let things that scare me, stop me.

I know my body... and the awful symptoms I feel when I’m scared, shaking hands, racing heart, body aches and complete exhaustion, has never killed me, and it sure has never outweighed the amazing benefits I have felt afterwards, of putting myself out there. When I step outside of my comfort zone, I can tell myself that I am now one step closer to my goal, whether the outcome was desired or not. If the experience was horrible- like a disastrous meeting, or an embarrassing speech, I just gave myself the most valuable information to work with to improve upon!

6. My absolute #1. I learned to eat well, workout, relax, and spend time doing what I want to do.

I have lunch by myself at a quiet café if I want to, I treat myself to a snack when I want one, I don’t deprive myself just because I am “healthy.” There is a huge difference between treating yourself to what you want, like a cookie or a bowl of ice cream, and overdoing it. I got in the mindset that I am taking care of this beautiful body and my body does not want to be pumped with sugar and grease every day, and certainly not in the amounts that my brain told me I needed. I learned that by listening to my body I could discern what those cravings were, not just what my taste buds told me. And I could discern what the foods were that my body needed the most to sustain. I do not have a health degree, but I listen to what my body says I need, and I am the master of what keeps me healthy and feeling amazing! Your story may be that you’ve embraced Keto and power walking. Great! Or Weight Watchers and weight lifting works for you! Also great! Gluten free diet has helped you the most? That’s perfect! We are not required to follow anyone else’s plan. I learned to stop “dieting” all together, and just started simply listening to my bodies needs which allowed me to feel amazing. Health is now a LIFESTYLE and not a burden or a plan with an expiration date.

7. And with all of this, remembering, my outward appearance is important to me, and only me.

I still point out and cover up my flaws like everyone else, because I am a human on this judgmental, social media driven, “filter” obsessed planet. However, there was a point where I chose to look at myself in the mirror, and say to myself, “I look perfect.” Yes, people judge, people point out your flaws, that’s life. Get over it! I am the boss of what’s in front of me. I take action over everything that comes up, everything interruption, every irritation, I handle and manage it like a boss.

8. My final action was embodying the idea that confidence is what makes you sexy, not your looks.

Taking the best care of yourself and loving yourself is not one size fits all. It’s about truly listening to your body, your mind, and your soul and figuring out what is best for YOU. How do we know that we’re “too curvy” or “not pretty enough?” From all the people out there pointing out what we shouldn’t look like! Ignore this! Let your confidence and love for your body radiate! Your body does amazing things for you. Thank your body for that. Love yourself ladies! We take time to listen to our best friends issues at work, and our kids day at school, and we spend time remembering to listen and care for our spouse’s needs, and yet we won’t sit down and listen to the most important person in our lives; ourselves.

Lisa Stockmeyer is the owner of Face Kicked Apparel, a family owned business right here in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Lisa established the business with her husband Sean after learning that his professional wrestling career could turn into a lucrative sales opportunity. What started out as making their own t-shirts to sell at wrestling shows, turned into making other wrestler’s t-shirts, which grew to what is now a full-time custom screen printing and vinyl work business, serving individuals and businesses nationwide. Lisa’s passion for marketing, design, and all things creative, makes Face Kicked Apparel the perfect career for her to live her passion of being an artist, working with her husband, and being a mom.

Empowered Girls Become Empowered Women

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:17:37 GMT

Empowered Girls Become Empowered Women

By: Neena Hogle

The other day I saw a woman wearing a t-shirt that read: “Girls compete with each other, women empower one another.” As an advocate for empowering women, and a collector of inspiring t-shirts, I was immediately attracted to the quote. However, the more I thought about it, the less I liked it. Eventually, I even became indignant over it.

Despite the implication here, ‘girl’ is not a derogative. Therefore, the suggestion that you should be a ‘woman’, and empower other females, not a ‘girl’ and compete with other females is defamatory. Furthermore, this quote creates a gender stereotype that it’s ‘what girls do’, and that it’s socially acceptable, even expected behavior, that girls compete and tear each other down. It further insinuates, that when they do become grown women they should begin to support and empower one another. Most of our behaviors are shaped in early childhood, not adulthood, so why advocate girls competing with each other in their pre-teen and teen years, then expect them to know how to build each other up when they become adults? We should be teaching girls to empower one another from a young age, so that when they become women they already know what it feels like to be empowered by other women, and they know how to empower other women.

Teach girls that they don’t need to compete with each other, they are ENOUGH. Teach girls to love and honor themselves, and to support and empower each other. Empowered girls become empowered women.

Gearing Up for a Healthy 2017 with Sarah Fechter

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:25:22 GMT

Guest post by Beth Bryce, Career Strategist, Bold Catalyst & Transformation Coach with Girls2Women Coaching.

Incredibly inspiring luncheon with Women in Leadership Great Lakes Bay and the amazing Sarah Fechter, SF Fitness on January 17th, 2017! Wow, I feel like I could lift 1,000 lbs. I also walked away with 1,000 lbs lifted off my shoulders (if that makes sense) from Sarah's advice. I took copious notes. Sarah's nuggets for you:

If all you have is 30 minutes to work out, lift weights. 1 hour after lifting weights your fat burn is tripled - not so with cardio.
Best advice for menopausal women fighting the weight battle: be active and you MUST see a dietician.
If all you give at the gym is 60%, you're already beating everyone on the couch!!!!
Every single one of us wants to improve and has insecurities. Don't compare your journey. There may be 2 really fit people at the gym; everybody else is just like you, trying to get better.
Don't put a time constraint on yourself, take it one step at a time rather than all at once.
You deserve to be healthy and fit too. Why not you?
...And when in doubt use Kim Philips 2017 mantra, when I asked her what it was, she said without hesitation, "No Fear!"

Get healthy peeps, mind, body, and spirit. Can't do it alone? Get a support team. Your time is now!

Vision Board Party with Kathleen McGraw

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:24:12 GMT

On January 26th, 2017, Kathleen McGraw lead us through creating a vision board. A vision board is a visual representation of what you envision for your life. Getting clarity on what you really want out of life and then living with focused intentions can result in nothing short of miracles! This simple step of beginning to harness the power of your subconscious mind can help you get focused and accomplish your goals.

Here are some comments from the event:

Kathlee McGraw

"THANK YOU for sharing your dreams tonight and allowing me to challenge you to uncover your greatness! Powerful, vibrant, authentic women changing lives! Breakthroughs ... tears ... awareness ... accepting worthiness ... holding each other accountable ....taking action! BOOM! Love you all

Dawn Luptowski

"Love this amazing group of women who I can laugh and cry with! Would have never uncovered what I need to focus on without this night."

Jenny Gaudreau-Dumont

"My soul was fed!!! Thank you ladies for trusting in the vision of WIL!"

Krista Moon

"Thanks for introducing me to Vision Boards. It was a great experience! It's interesting when you put a time limit on it, because you have to get it done. You can't think too much. My first one turned out to be a word cloud of some of my core values (at least I think that's what all those words are leaning towards!). We'll see where it ends up! I think it's a work in progress."

Suzanne Sharp

"Healthy, inspiring energy in that room tonight! Thanks for letting me be part of it and for the wonderful lead Kathleen!"

The Power of Mentoring and Being Mentored

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:22:38 GMT

The first ever Junior Achievement (JA) Mentor Circle took place on February 21, 2017, at Saginaw Valley State University in partnership with Women in Leadership.

At this event, 126 high school young ladies participated in roundtable discussions with professional women in a variety of industries. The mission was to offer support and guidance to the next generation of women leaders. When they succeed, we all succeed!

The day wrapped up with networking, lunch with ladies from Women in Leadership, and an inspiring presentation by Barbara Littles, Leadership Coach and CEO of Purpose by Design on The Power of Mentoring and Being Mentored.

JA Mentor Circle

Click to watch the WNEM news story.

The girls and their mentors gathered at SVSU Curtiss Hall for the first session of the JA Mentor Circle Educational Program. Women from various industries including law, business, education, engineering, politics and more shared experiences, answered questions, and showed solidarity with the young ladies.

Here's what some of them had to say about their experience:

“I loved everything about the day. It was personal, yet empowering. I’ve realized how important it is to have a mentor. Today I am going home with more confidence and a better outlook on life. Thank you. I am proud to be a woman.”

“I would love to attend this event again. It was a great experience.”

“Thank you to both of my mentors. You really helped me to see a new point of view of life. I am not going to run away from fear, and to stay prepared for whatever comes my way.”

Women in Leadership and JA Mentor Circle Luncheon

After the morning discussion, the girls and their mentors joined the Women in Leadership luncheon.

Presentation: The Power of Mentoring and Being Mentored

During lunch, Barbara Littles shared how mentoring relationships can promote career and personal growth for everyone involved. Here's what Beth Bryce, Career Strategist and Women in Leadership member had to say about her presentation:

"Barbara is what everyone would hope to have in a mentor, truly. She inspires me to see bigger, dream bigger and do bigger, she asks tough questions and challenges me.

Homework from Barbara:

What type of mentor do you need? Academic, career, personal, business

Name 3 people who you would consider asking to mentor you

What would you want to learn from each of those persons?

Write how you will make those requests and when

I hope you have an awesome mentor, make that mentors, plural. And that you have the opportunity to pay it forward mentoring others, which is an honor and gift...both ways.

Women supporting women, always. "

Special Event: Ladies Night Out Wine Tasting

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:21:54 GMT

A night of wine took place on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Twenty-six fabulous women gathered at U Me Paint Experience in Saginaw to enjoy some delicious red and white wines from Wines for Humanity. Darlene Anderson, a WIL member, presented each wine telling us what kind it was and where it comes from. Wine was available for purchase that night with a percentage of the proceeds going to Women in Leadership.

Here are a few wine tips we learned from Darlene.

Serve red at 65 degrees, white at 55 degrees, and sparkling/champagne at 45 degrees
When serving reds, put them in the refrigerator for 20 mins beforehand. Whites are typically stored in the refrigerator and need to be pulled out 20 minutes before serving.
How to taste wine: Sight-swirl-sniff-sip-swallow
Serve mild wine with mild food and Strong wine with strong food serve
Match the origin of the wine with the origin of the food

A birthday cake was enjoyed for co-chair member, Dawn Luptowski along with a wonderful spread of crackers, cheese, and fruit. It was a fun filled night of strong women, delicious wine, great conversation, and lots of laughter.

Luncheon: Fight Like a Woman, Crush Heart Disease

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:20:50 GMT

Our April 18, 2017 luncheon focused on women’s health, specifically heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death for women. Our guest speaker, Jamie Richardson – a fitness trainer and Go Red for Women supporter – shared her moving story on how she dealt with an unexpected heart problem at a

Having experienced a bout of fatigue in her late 20’s, Jamie attributed it to the demands of being a new mother and her career. When she suddenly fainted one morning and ended up in the emergency room twice that day after a fainting a second time, she was shocked to learn she was diagnosed with a heart condition that would cause her to need a pacemaker.

Having been healthy throughout her life, and with no history of heart problems in her family, the event caused Jamie to take a new look at her health. Without any major physical symptoms or health issues, we as women can often take our health for granted. Jamie decided to make fitness a consistent part of her life, trying various exercise classes and taking up running. Throughout the past 10 years she has made changes in her diet, and now runs marathons and teaches kick boxing classes at her local gym. Reaching out to the community and increasing awareness of heart disease is Jamie’s passion, and she is living proof you can be in control of your health and feel the empowerment that comes with healthy lifestyle changes!

Our April luncheon also marked our One Year Anniversary! Throughout the past year we have developed a dynamic group of strong supportive women, eager to connect and inspire each other. We continue to grow and look forward to more exciting years to come!

Luncheon: You’ve got the Look! Image Consultant Tips

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:19:41 GMT

Our May 16, 2017 luncheon was an event above all else! The event was centered on helping women look and feel their best, and therefore included two pre-event options, makeup and headshots. Makeup touchups were provided by Leslie Perry, owner of Leslie Perry Cosmetics. Leslie used her expertise to emphasize facial features, creating the perfect camera ready look. If you’re interested in ordering directly from Leslie Perry Cosmetics, please click here.

Members also had an opportunity to update their professional headshot with Kaitlyn Cole, owner of Kaitlyn’s Creations. Kaitlyn is a professional photographer, videographer, and graphic designer located in the Tri-Cities area. Kaitlyn is passionate about making people feel confidant, and her skill and passion shined through during her photoshoots.

During the Luncheon Leslie shared with members and guests her personal tips for organizing. She talked about the three steps she recommends to keeping a closet clean, organized, and easy to navigate in the morning. She also shared a quick morning makeup look and a time line to change your basics.

Check out Leslie's presentation below!

Luncheon: Beyond Ordinary Massage with Barb Boxwell

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:19:09 GMT

In September Women in Leadership welcomed Barb Boxwell, licensed massage therapist and owner of Midland Myofascial Release & Therapeutic Massage. Barb spoke with us on the benefits of therapeutic massage for pain relief, specifically Craniosacral and Myofascial Release therapies.

Many people are not aware that these specific types of massage therapies are an excellent alternative to traditional pain treatments. Patients who have had little success with pain management or have experienced unwelcomed side effects from medication have found relief through Barb’s services. She gave examples of her success with patients who are recovering from painful knee and shoulder surgeries, and those who wish to avoid surgeries in the future.

Barb informed us about how glial cells work in the brain and the function of the glymphatic system. This system creates a path for the brain to eliminate waste, when this path fails, over time the results can cause brain conditions and diseases such as Alszheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It was interesting to learn that these specific therapies can not only help people with physical conditions, but also those who suffer from migraines, fibromyalgia, fatigue, and even children and adults with ADD and ADHD.

Through these specific therapeutic treatments, her clients have found the pain to be significantly diminished or eliminated completely and without side effects. If you or someone you know could benefit from her services, please contact Barb Boxell for a free consultation. She can be reached at 989-859-3998.

Luncheon: Women in the World - Leading, Working With and for Men

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:18:20 GMT

We had an exceptional attendance at our October WIL luncheon! Featured speaker Tammy Bernier, CEO of Duperon Corporation, attracted a one of our largest crowds with her thoughtful insights on women and men working together in the workplace.

One aspect Tammy discussed was how women and men process tasks differently while working. Men tend to approach a task list in a linear manner, while women tend to multitask. Tammy spoke not only of the differences in men and women’s work styles, but how we can embrace each other’s strengths in our diverse work culture. Tammy’s interactive presentation also asked attendees to team up in pairs and discuss their beliefs on how they view the “typical” personality traits of the opposite sex. It was an interesting and engaging afternoon!

Women in Leadership hosts luncheon’s and events every month. We invite you to join us! Check out what’s coming next on our events page.

12 Questions to Gain Clarity in 2018

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:17:41 GMT

Beth Bryce, a former WIL member who recently moved out of state to pursue her dream, award-winning Career Strategist & Transformation Coach, and Founder of her own career coaching company and Daring Circle Ranch, commented on our blog post about last year's Vision Board party. It was such a great comment that I wanted to share it with you! Here's what she said:

"It was an incredible evening that set the intention for my 2017 goals that all came true! I am now living in my new home in New Mexico! Wishing you all a fabulous 2018 kick off. Here are 12 questions to help you honor 2017 first (journal away) and possibly gain clarity on your theme for the New Year:

What did you enjoy doing this year?

What are you grateful for?

Who are you grateful for?

What is your biggest win this year?

What did you read, watch and listen to that made the most impact for you?

What did you worry about most and how did it turn out?

What was your biggest regret and why?

What is one thing that changed about yourself?

What most surprised you this year?

If you can go back to January 1 what suggestion would you give your past self?

What makes this year unforgettable?

What new thing did you learn and do this year?"