Career Tips for Women # 17

Drop the Bag!

This is a tip I picked up from reading ‘The Female Advantage‘ by Sally Helgesen.

If you are going to a work related social or networking event do not lug a huge bag around with you. It’ll get on your nerves as you try to juggle drinks, nibbles and handshakes and doesn’t contribute to an overall picture of being in control.

Instead, leave it in a safe place and glide serenely through the event unencumbered, looking as if you have no need of massive hand baggage: you’re confident enough not to need props and baggage.

Could you survive an event without your handbag?

Career Tips for Women # 16

Three Minutes Count!

Julia Goodman runs a consultancy helping women perform well at interview. Using the research from Professor Mehrabian (which I’ve written about before, click here) on the impact of the non verbal messages we give, she films all her clients giving mock interviews.  This has given her a wealth of material to draw on for research.

Keep Focussed

Ms Goodman reviewed over 1000 of these role play tapes and discovered an interesting fact. The first three minutes really count, when you make your initial impression and set the tone for the interview. No real surprises there as we all know the power of first impressions.

However, she also discovered that many interviewees lost focus in the closing stages of interview but those that maintained focus right to the end, gave more successful interviews (at least in the role play interviews). The final three minutes were as important as the first. It makes sense, people remember the first time they meet you, and the last!

Relief

So next time you have an interview, don’t let your relief at getting to the end show too much! Remain focussed and alert and don’t begin to relax until you have left the building!

If you have any interview tips or stories to share, please use the comments box and tell us!

Career Tips for Women # 15

Just occasionally when I’m coaching within a corporate contract,* I come across women unhappy with their career progress but seemingly unwilling to do anything about it. They are waiting for some mythical ‘them‘ to notice how good they are and offer them training, development and a better job!

If you are not progressing as you wish in your job the responsibility rests with you to do something about it. No one cares about it as much as you do, and no one will put as much genuine effort and investment in positive change as you.

Take Advantage

Step one, take a look around your organisation and see what it can offer you. Not everthing is advertised or well known to all staff. For example, if you can’t get funding from an employer to take more professional qualifications, perhaps you can negotiate study leave, or encourage the learning & development department to order the books you need. Ask Personnel/Human Resources what is actually on offer to help staff progress.

Step two, talk to your manager and make sure she/he knows of your aspirations. Ask to be considered for any projects which will help, volunteer to go to meetings representing your area, join professional associations which will help increase both your knowledge and profile, and network appropriately.

Step three, if there isn’t any training or courses being offered which will help you, find out who is offering this training and send the details to your training section or manager. Do the leg work for them; instead of complaining about lack of training you need be positive and proactive.

Take Control

And finally, if what your employer has to offer is not enough, do it yourself. I have met some amazing women through my courses who have funded their own qualification, or worked for free, or attended night school, or saved enough to do a full time course. I know about them because they are always the enthusiastic ones who stay around after the course has finished, extracting every last bit of value from their experience. They are the ones who invest time and effort in themselves and don’t expect anyone else to do it for them!

* ie The women I’m coaching are funded by their workplace. By definition, women who are investing in coaching themselves are the ones taking responsibility for their own development.

PS If you’re not sure what a great job is for you, but know you don’t like what you’re doing now, I have the perfect answer for you! Click here!

Career Tips for Women # 14

Take a Risk!

Where do you stand on risk taking? Teetering right on the brink or way back out of sight?

Getting the recognition you deserve in your career means taking a few risks now and again. In my experience women are often diffident about risk taking, particularly when it comes to giving their own opinions if they are contrary to others. Some of this can be put down to all that we know about how men and women communicate and differing styles, but it doesn’t have to stay like that!

What’s Your Risk Attitude?

Take a few moments to think about your attitude to risk. When you are stepping outside of your comfort levels at work how do you feel? All fired up and excited, if  a little scared? Or sweaty palmed, sleepless nights and sick to your stomach?

You’ll probably have areas where risk taking is easier than others. Like anything, the more you practise the easier it gets. Start with something relatively easy like offering an opinion that isn’t the same as the norm (assuming it is your opinion – you need to be genuine.)

Steps

Try following these steps:

• Remember that success often comes from failure. We learn from our mistakes only if we critique ourselves honestly. Take out your previous ‘failures’ for a fresh look and list what you would do differently in the light of your subsequent experiences.
• Calculate the risk. It doesn’t have to black and white, pass or fail. Give yourself a little room for manoeuvre. 70% successful can be enough.
• Is the end result of the risk you want to take in line with your company’s mission/vision/business or are you stretching the boundaries too far? If it’s not easy for colleagues and managers to see the benefit your chances of success are very limited.
• Don’t forget the basics. There are all sorts of fancy equations you can do to assess the risk but sometimes just a simple pros and cons list works well.

How do you manage risk?

Career Tips for Women # 13

Mind Your Language

Language is hugely powerful and without realising it we can weaken our impact simply by using the wrong words.

Powerful language enables us to take control.

Here are some communication styles that weaken your impact when speaking at work:

‘It’s my feeling that…‘ (It’s easy to dismiss comments as just her feelings.)

‘I’m sorry, but...’ (what are you apologising for? Have you done something wrong?)

‘I think that it might be better if…‘ (Too many justifications.)

‘I‘ve got a problem with…‘ (just state the problem, don’t make it your fault.)

If you believe something is wrong try just saying it straight. You don’t need to make people feel better about something by first putting yourself down.

And you certainly don’t need to apologise for having an opinion!

What are your personal dislikes when it comes to language at work?

Career Tips for Women # 12

When did you last go to a networking event connected with your work? If you can’t remember, read on!

Sometimes it really feels like too much of a stretch to get out to events, particularly if you have caring responsibilities.

And having the confidence to network is a common issue when I’m coaching, even with very senior women.

Be selective.

Decide which ones give you most exposure, are likely to connect you with people you find stimulating, will add to your knowledge, or will advance your career. Plan these into your diary.

Although it’s reassuring to attend with a colleague, the temptation to stand comfortably chatting with them may be too much to resist. If you do go with someone else, agree in advance that you will split up and only touch base again at the end. Otherwise you might as well pop into the nearest coffee shop!

But don’t stop going, just be selective. Putting yourself out there is an important part of getting ahead in your field. And you just never know what might happen. I was at a networking event recently thinking I was wasting my time when a director of a film company approached me to discuss a programme idea. That chance meeting has been really helpful to us both!