See Why The Time Is Right For Women In Business

I’m sure you’ve observed that women are not treated equal to men in business. But have you observed that we’re at the Tipping Point for a major change? Did you know there are only 2 things you need to do to help yourself and to help other women?

In this Working In Heels episode, I explain what the 2 things are and I set up the format for the following weeks. Each week I’ll give you a success strategy to discuss with other working women. If you discuss it over lunch, it’ll be even more fun!

 Episode 1 - Listen To This First [8:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Successful Women Use Power Differently Than Men
 
 
I believe women see power differently from the way men do. Women see power in terms of influence, rather than rank. Successful companies today are going into the relationship mode. They’re focused on customer relations, and joint ventures with partners and suppliers. The winner-take-all form of negotiations does not sit well with companies you might want to partner with next year. It’s all about relationships now—and women are comfortable forming relationships.

 Power For Women [5:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

A Study Shows Women are Harming Women!   

We’ve all encountered a Queen Bee. We know of that woman who wants to be the only female working with men. That’s one rationale. The other one I suspect is that she’s thinking, “I had to work twice as hard as a man to get here . . . so I’m making sure you don’t get it any easier!” If you’re working for a Queen Bee, that’s tough, really tough. She’s a gatekeeper to the glass ceiling—she demands a higher performance from a woman than from a man.   

 The Queen Bee: Is A Woman Holding You Back? [5:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Collaboration For Good Leadership
 
 
I’ve been receiving requests for more information on leadership styles for women. Of course, the same leadership style will work no matter if you’re a man or a woman, but the questions have been phrased to indicate many women are not comfortable with the autocratic style of leadership, where the leader dominates the team with a one-sided approach to reach an objective.
 
If you’re not comfortable with that style, there are other choices. Collaboration is one that many women tend toward—what I mean is they can be really, really good at it!

 Leadership Using Collaboration [6:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Mars-Venus Stereotypes Are Barriers To Women’s Advancement?
 
“Men and women aren’t planets apart, but their stereotypes sure are!”
                                                                        —Nancy Clark
 
 
In the recent past you could attract a lot of attention by saying women are different, very different, from men. It was a quick jump to assume that women are nurturing, and that maybe men are not—or that women show empathy, and men do not. It has become a sad state of affairs. As with all trends, this one went too far and now it’s time to reconsider.

 Mars-Venus Stereotypes Are Barriers To Women’s Advancement?: Play Now | Play in Popup

Can Television Change Stereotypes?

In the US there are two weekly shows competing for the popular television audience: Cashmere Mafia and Lipstick Jungle. They have a bit of something for everyone—which is what, I guess, is needed to catch people’s attention in the television market. They also have something in common—they both show executives who are women—women who can take charge.   

 Should We Thank Cashmere Mafia & Lipstick Jungle? [4:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Do We Still Have A Glass Ceiling Because of Stereotypes?   

I think we have a problem at work, but just in case I’m exaggerating, I’ll give you the statistics and let you decide.  In the beginning, or at least for a very long time, women have been 51% of the population. In 1950 women made up only 29% of the workforce. Today women are half our workforce (46.5% to be exact). Half of our midlevel managers are women—that sounds fair to me. But, and here’s the big but, women are only 15% of the top two tiers in the Fortune 500. So let’s do the math: Men are 85% and women are 15%. That’s a huge difference—discrepancy—handicap. At least in my mind it is. How do you feel about this? (Your comments are important to me.)  What do you surmise is the reason for the 85-15 Handicap? 

 How Bad Is The Gender Gap At Work? [7:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

How To Decide What You Really Want In The Future   

One component of a good leader is having a vision for the future of the company. On a personal level, each of you needs a vision. What do you want to achieve? What will make you happy? Your choices on both levels, the corporate and the personal, are very important and very easy to botch. 

 A Vision For Your Future [7:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

How To Make The Jump From Manager To Leader   

What do you think it takes to move from a manager to a leader in your field? Conventional wisdom lets us believe that working hard at our assigned tasks is what’s required, but there’s a difference between being a manager and being a leader.     

 Leadership For Women [6:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Learn To Ask And Appreciate   

The saying “Nice girls don’t ask!” is yesterday’s advice for business. 
Today’s advice is “Women ask, and ask, and appreciate what they get.” 
—Nancy Clark

 Women Need To Ask At 3 Levels [5:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup