Diva tips to ramp up your professional poise!

Nooyi believes that leaders must balance their IQ with their EQ – or emotional intelligence to be effective. The EQ factor empowers women with an advantage to relate directly to their colleagues and customers because they can “…bring their whole selves to work,” according to Nooyi. This combination of empathy, active listening, strength, resilience, and ambition will serve women leaders well.

Sadly, only 12 women hold CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies at this time but the tide is turning and women stand poised to assume more leadership roles. Nooyi believes that women leaders have an advantage over their male counterparts because they can add humanity to a position and nurture without losing effectiveness.

At a recent conference, Nooyi shared her 5 C’s of Effective Leadership which we can all learn from.

Competency – stand out from the pack and be a lifelong learner. Remain ahead and stay abreast in your field.

Courage and Confidence – speak out. Establish your knowledge base and be confident as a leader.

Communication – over-invest in written and oral communication.  Leaders constantly need to motivate their troops.

Consistency – remaining steady, reliable, and determined allows for credibility and a baseline to measure your success and failures.

Compass – integrity is critical in leadership.

Kathleen Oliver, COO of Oliver Winery shared her 5 G’s of Effective Communication. These quick and easy tips will empower you to communicate more wisely with your colleagues in and out of your organization. May the communication force be with you!

I have seen people make career choices based on how much money they will be making but Aaker reminds us that few actually consider how they will be using their time “…whether they can control their time, who they will spend their time with, and what activities they will spend their time on.” Since we spend most of our waking hours at work – our time is something we should consider very seriously in our career decision making.

“Money itself (e.g., thinking about money) is misaligned with happiness-inducing behaviors, whereas thinking about time (e.g., how you are spending time, where you are spending your time) tends to foster these types of happiness-inducing behaviors. How you choose to spend your time significantly influences your happiness.” according to Aaker.

This goes beyond negotiating for flex time and work-from-home options – it’s about the relationship between the resource of time and happiness. While the majority of research to date has focused on how money can or cannot make individuals happy, the newer research about time and happiness is finally starting to get some attention.

Mogilner shared that people with meaningful social connections are happier than those without them. Spending time with individuals you like increases your happiness while time spent with those you dislike, or spending time alone, results in a drop in happiness levels. The three women, with input from additional researchers extracted 5 time-spending happiness principles:

Spend time with the right people. The greatest happiness is achieved when you interact with people you like. You have control over this in your personal life as well as your career life so consider this when making a career move, or re-frame collegial relationships at your existing job to make them more palatable.

Spend time on the right activities. Seek out activities that energize you and make you happy. You may still have to clean your closet or pay the bills but focus on the activities that bring you joy so you can relish that time with positive energy.

Enjoy experiences without spending time actually doing them. Research shows that daydreaming is a happiness inducing activity. When pondering your dream vacation or a special event, your brain sends out happy vibes that give you pleasure. Anticipation can be a very pleasurable act so dream-on!

Expand your time. We still only have 24 hours in each day so focusing on the here and now can increase happiness levels. Taking a deep breath can also have the same effect. Focusing on the future can induce anxiety in some who feel as if they are running out of time which wastes the precious moments of the present. So, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment you are in.

Be aware that happiness changes over time. We experience time differently as we age. Many younger people equate happiness with excitement while older individuals often equate happiness with peacefulness. So, go with the flow as your life changes over time and notice the shifts in your happiness and what you need to find meaning.

Bottom line – the researchers confirmed that spending time with the people you love and doing things you enjoy is the best road to happiness.

A business or personal card is your ticket to effective follow-up when networking. Learn why everybody should take advantage of this essential career tool.

The Power of a Personal Coach

Debbie utilized the expert resources of a personal and executive coach, Silver Rose, whom she first encountered when she brought in Silver as a consultant on a project while she was still working at the firm. Debbie hired Silver personally and began exploring an exit strategy and new options for her career future.

Her professional reinvention began with weekly 1:1 calls with Silver and detailed homework assignments on self assessment and personal tracking. She conducted informational interviews with business peers and joined a mastermind group that works as an advisory board of sorts to provide motivation and accountability – all under the tutelage of her coach. Debbie also joined Toastmasters and a few networking groups for outreach, education and the personal growth purposes.

Silver gave Debbie permission to explore and she realized that golf – her passion – was also an educational tool and a business opportunity ripe for developing. Her knowledge about how to generate business through golf empowered Debbie as a resource others wanted to learn from. She also saw a tremendous opportunity to build confidence in businesswomen through strategies incorporating golf.

Move Over Boys – Women Are Playing Golf, Too!

According to Debbie:

“It’s a known fact that women, as a group, don’t participate in the game of golf to the extent that men do. For the most part, they see the game of golf as a mystery to which only men hold the key. Yet, the message businesswomen hear today is that golf is a widely accepted playing field for conducting business and they are missing out on opportunities by not participating. The golf community has created women-only golf clinics targeting the female executive. Statistically, women are the largest new group coming to the game of golf today. Yet, often frustrated with their skill-set, they are also the largest group that leaves the game and does not return.”

So Debbie capitalized on demystifying this critical business skill that can be used successfully on the golf course. Her business – Golf for Cause teaches women (and men) how to use golf as business tool, to create opportunities, to forward relationships because it’s more than just about going out and hitting golf balls. Golf for Cause provides the keys and the tools to demystify the game.

In her new role, Debbie enjoys being 100% responsible for the success and failure of each strategic decision in her company. She has control over her schedule and her work product matches her integrity and is a more accurate and rewarding reflection of who she is and what she wants out of a career. Debbie also appreciates the opportunity to set a positive example for her children by doing something that makes a difference and by giving back to her community.

Making Money Playing Golf

While the new career sounds too good to be true, Debbie has learned a lot over the years. Her initial business plan was not realistic and included programming that does not fit her business model today. That took some tweaking and adjusting over time. With a small staff of only two (including Debbie) she doesn’t have a large team to rely on as she did back at the firm. Debbie has learned that she can only control so much and that delegation is not always an option. A perfectionist by nature, Debbie also learned that delivering the perfect program was unrealistic. “At some point you need to step up to the ball and hit it off the tee!”

Since golf is now her livelihood, another important lesson learned was to identify which programs work well and which generate meaningful revenue. The economy has also been a challenge and the meeting & events industry has taken a particularly hard hit. Many companies have cut training and professional development budgets entirely. Debbie learned quickly that she needed to stay flexible and open to new ideas and partnerships in order to grow her business.

A personal goal for Debbie was to keep her schedule free enough to travel with her daughter, a student athlete to national tournaments and college recruiting trips. This was a liberty she gave herself with the new business that would not have been possible at the firm. She also set up administrative systems to enable the business to run smoothly in her absence.

“I set up systems such that I have an assistant who works remotely and maintains my database, follows up on various tasks as needed, brings forward ideas, keeps me on task, etc. Finding the right person was an incredible challenge as I spent a lot of time and money getting systems in place and then checking, redoing, and re-educating.  With the right person in place – I’m free to work “on” the business and not “in” the business.”

Mission Accomplished

The mission of Golf for Cause as an organization is to develop and deliver products and services that move others to use golf as a dynamic strategy to achieve their objectives, focusing primarily on business professionals new to the game, especially women.

While Debbie benefited from the expert counsel of her coach, Silver Rose, she also suggests that women seeking a career change develop a support network to help stay properly focused on goals and to provide a level of accountability.

She suggests that new entrepreneurs work with a good accountant from the start to better understand which strategies are effective and meaningful tax-wise for the business.

Birdies, Bogeys, and Business

Debbie’s repertoire of golf educational opportunities provides a myriad of topics such as:

• The secrets even successful business owners and managers don’t know
• Create an even more rewarding business environment
• See how your business success and your golf game are a reflection of who you are
• How to improve both your business and your golf score

Participants usually spend half the day in the classroom using golf as a metaphor to learn what differentiates being an entrepreneur, manager, or technician and the how this applies to the business world. After the classroom session, participants hit the course and play 9 holes of golf in a strategic format. All levels can participate, even never-played-before beginners. The day ends with a facilitated de-brief session, awards, and refreshments. An ideal group size is 6-40 participants and Debbie customizes programs to fit an organization or individual’s needs.

The reviews are in and Debbie consistently scores big with her clients!  The programs are experiential and golf anchors the learning. Debbie’s repertoire of golf educational opportunities provides a myriad of topics such as:

Mental Mulligans: A fun and enlightening team-building workshop for your group that reveals how you show up in and out of the office, on and off the golf course. Learn to understand different behavior styles on the golf course and how they impact your game and your success in business!

Get in the Game – Business Golf with On-Course Mentoring: A great way for business professionals to add golf to their business tool boxes.

Tee Off Program: A half-day outing designed to prepare the newer (or non-golfer) who wants to make a positive impression when playing in a charity or industry golf tournament.

Nine and Wine: A golf mentoring program offering a casual golf experience, designed especially for new golfers (men and women) to help them feel at ease on the tees. Golf up to nine holes with a mentor with facilitated debrief, networking and hosted happy hour after golf (“wine” not “whine!”)

Birdies, Bogeys & Business – Success On & Off the Course: a program that Debbie co-created and delivers with Joyce Friel from Peak Performance Consulting (www.peakperformancecorp.com).  This half-day program uses golf as a metaphor to learn what differentiates being an entrepreneur, manager and technician – and the implications for you and your business.  Explore your ownership mentality and create an even more successful business environment.

All Golf for Cause programs are designed so that participants at any golf skill level can participate, even never-played-before beginners.  Ideal group sizes range from 6 to 40 participants and Debbie customizes programs to fit an organization’s or individual’s needs.

By discovering new fairways and approach shots for defining business objectives, relationship development, and marketing strategies, Debbie Waitkus has turned golf into gold.

Favorite Quote:

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is that you’re the pilot.”

Michael Althsuler

Advice and Action Steps:

• For all the perfectionists – let go already and just do it!
• Consider a professional career coach and/or a resource team to assist you.
• Find a good accountant early on if you begin a new business.
• Really think about what you are passionate about doing – your next career may be right under your nose.

Resources:

Golf for Cause www.golfforcause.com

Silver Rose, Coach  www.silverspeaks.com

Learn to demystify networking and use it to your best advantage in your job search or career management. Check out my new video and consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel for regular new video posts. http://www.youtube.com/user/cdowdhig?feature=mhee#p/u

Kevin Eikenberry wrote a great piece for Superperformance.com illustrating how to nurture your network to keep your connections current and make sure they are feeling your professional love.

Commit – make the decision to retain the relationships that matter and nurture your network.

Call Them – instead of sending an email, pick up the phone and call someone. No need to have an agenda or a reason. Just call to say hello and that you are thinking of them. It’s refreshing to call just to touch base instead of always having a request.

Send a Card – the written note is a dying art so you can distinguish yourself with this technique. A brief note of thanks, encouragement, or just to say hello can be a huge opportunity to nurture a relationship.

Learn About Their Interests – know what people are interested in and send them things related to it like, articles, programs, etc. You don’t have to share the same interests to be on the lookout for something they may find useful. It doesn’t have to be professional – finding information about your colleague’s antique model train collection is a great way to touch base and show that you care.

Learn About Their Goals – when you know what other people are working to achieve you are in a better position to assist. Ask them what they need, then listen and look for ways to help.

Offer to Help and then Help – Be a connector, share ideas and information and offer to help when you can. Be sure to follow-up and keep your promises because the connector relationship can be very powerful.

Follow-up – be consistent about following up on all commitments you make. Period.

Don’t Worry About You – keep your focus on helping, aiding, and assisting the other person. The seeds you plant by assisting another will grow into great things for you.

Do it Now – start now and commit to nurturing your network on a regular basis. If your contact list is large then do this incrementally and systematically so the task is enjoyable and feasible. But the sooner the better so get to it!

When interviewing for a job or meeting someone for the first time in a networking scenario, using appropriate eye contact can make or break your first impression. Jack Junier writes for Helium online and shared some great food for thought about why eye contact can help you make a fantastic first impression as a well-rounded and socially adept candidate.

Confidence – looking down in a conversation is a classic sign of submission and indicates a lack of confidence about the subject matter at hand. If you spend your time looking at the table during your interview, your recruiter will wonder how you will react in front of clients or when asked to be accountable for a project.

Competence – watch out for the side-to-side tennis match syndrome as well as the downward eye focus as this may indicate that you are not trustworthy. Body language speaks volumes and bouncing your gaze around the room will indicate that you are flighty and unable to focus.

Focus and Drive – if you have ever experienced a conversation with someone whose gaze was fixed on some point off in the distance you know the awkward feeling of not being taken seriously in a discussion. This lack of visual focus is a major red flag and indicates that you might not have the clarity to concentrate enough to get the job done.

Aggression – while eye contact is important you don’t want to stalk your interviewer or invade their personal space. Staring can create mistrust and indicate that you are interested in dominating the conversation.

Conversation and Tone – the best interview or networking scenario is one that is conversational in tone and natural enough to feel like a conversation with family or friends. Make eye contact initially, always when someone begins speaking, and again when you give your answer. If you look away, do so sparingly and turn your head slightly to the side keeping a serious and thoughtful expression so you send the signal that you are still engaged in the conversation.

Natural eye contact takes practice so be observant of others who do it well and practice in a mirror to see what your facial expressions depict. If possible, have a mock interview recorded to really see what message your eye contact and body language is conveying.

1.      Ask questions. Since you are new it’s better to do something right the first time around than have to do it over.

2.      Smile and be friendly – get to know your colleagues and their interests.

3.      Use your lunch hour to gather with new colleagues on occasion, even if it is tempting to connect with your former co-workers and stay in your comfort zone.

4.      Figure out who really has authority to give you work so you can avoid crafty co-workers trying to delegate to you inappropriately.

5.      Pay attention to the grapevine but don’t add to it. You don’t want to establish a reputation as a gossip.

6.      Don’t complain about your boss, your job, or your colleagues – period.

7.      Arrive early and enthusiastically and don’t rush out the door at quitting time during your transition period.

8.      Volunteer for projects that help you get noticed but don’t neglect any assigned work.

9.      Keep a positive attitude and an open mind. Your career world has changed and it will take some getting used to.

10.  Don’t offer ways to fix and improve office policies and work practices that aren’t broken. Take the time to absorb the culture and get the lay of the land before you start making suggestions.