Dr. Rita's Blog |
 How to stand out and take charge of your career! Over 150 people have already signed up for tomorrow's FREE event, don't miss your chance to join us! We'll discuss 5 key strategies that successful women leaders in business use to make them stand out above the rest and uncover what you can do to activate them in your own life. Leadership Strategies For Women: How To Stand Out & Take Charge Of Your Career Tuesday, September 28th at 12:30 PM When you know about these strategies, you can...
Plus, hear from special guests, Bridget Hansen, VP Credit at Choice Bank, and Leah Baack-Lohman, Agency Relations Manager at Second Harvest Heartland, as they share their personal experiences about taking charge of their careers. I hope to see you there! Save Your Spot Today! Reminder: Registration is now open for the Fall 2021 Women Managers Leadership Cohort This is a curriculum-based leadership program designed for aspiring women at the manager and early director level in their organizations. The Women Managers Leadership Development Cohort is an interactive, virtual experience so women can participate from any location. The cohort program consists of six sessions. “I'm already getting amazing feedback from the Women's Leadership Cohort participants - boundaries pushed, insights gained, potential recognized after just one session. WOW! I'm so glad you're partnering with us!” ~ Emily A., International Technology Company Learn More: Fall Cohort Warm regards, 
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 Leadership Strategies For Women: How To Stand Out & Take Charge Of Your Career Join us for a FREE lunch and learn event as we discuss the 5 key strategies that successful women leaders in business use that make them stand out above the rest. When you know about these strategies you can...
Most importantly, you’ll be ready to take that next step in your career. In this free lunch and learn, we will uncover these 5 strategies and share tips on what you can do to activate them in your own life. Plus, hear from special guest, Bridget Hansen, VP Credit at Choice Bank, as she shares her personal experience taking charge of her career. *************************** Reminder: Registration is now open for the Fall 2021 Women Managers Leadership Cohort This is a curriculum-based leadership program designed for aspiring women at the manager and early director level in their organizations. The Women Managers Leadership Development Cohort is an interactive, virtual experience so women can participate from any location. The cohort program consists of six sessions. “I'm already getting amazing feedback from the Women's Leadership Cohort participants - boundaries pushed, insights gained, potential recognized after just one session. WOW! I'm so glad you're partnering with us!” ~ Emily A., International Technology Company Warm regards,  Has This Topic Already Been Top Of Mind? If you are pondering that question, consider looking into the Fall session of the Women Managers Leadership Cohort. Registration just opened! How Can It Help? In the first session, I start participants off with taking stock of where they are in their careers and then figuring out where they want to go. You’ll meet other women leaders who are taking charge of their careers, building their network, and developing new skills that will help them advance. Our Topics Include:
The sessions are interactive and include tools and processes you can use right away. The Fall Cohort Starts October 13 - Click here for details. Ask yourself, when was the last time I took time for myself to learn and grow, be with other women leaders I admire, and actively think about what I want next in my career? If you can’t remember, then it could very well be time to consider a leadership program designed for you. Women who have joined the cohort have gotten clarity about what they want in their careers, asked for and gotten promotions, and most importantly have banished the feeling of being alone. I hope you’ll consider joining us. This is a powerful program that makes a proven difference in the leadership careers of women who have gone before you. Hear What Others Have To Say (scroll to bottom of page to read testimonials) Warm regards,  One of my favorite parts of the Women Managers Leadership Cohorts is our wrap-up session where we have a panel of executive women share their personal stories of moving from their first manager role to the senior level roles they have today. When I call the Women Executives in my network to ask if they’d like to be part of the panel, I always get a resounding YES. These are busy, high-profile women who know the value of giving back. I’m grateful for their willingness to share and their commitment to advancing women leaders. The Executive panel session is conversational, intimate and a wonderful opportunity to learn the behind-the-scenes stories of challenge and success. I always learn something new about building a career and navigating change. I thought I’d share a few words of wisdom that stood out during our recent Executive Panel which included: Here are some of their encouraging insights. I hope you find these words to be helpful and inspiring reminders. Executive Panel Words Of Wisdom & Encouragement "Always be true to your authentic self. Your personal power resides with who you are." "Remember, as the leader you are not required to be the subject matter expert. Rely on your team." "Speak up—Your point of view matters and makes a difference." "Ask for help—People want to help you—Let them!" "Collect words and phrases from leaders you like and try those phrases out for yourself." "As a leader, you are successful when those around you are successful." "Don’t be afraid to try new things—It’s the fastest way to learn and grow!" "Take the leap into new opportunities." If you’d like to hear directly from our next Executive Panel, join the upcoming Women Managers Cohort that kicks off on October 13, 2021. You’ll enjoy learning and growing with like-minded women committed to taking charge of the next steps in their careers. It’s an easy way to build your professional network and know you are not alone. Warm regards,  Have you ever had a wake-up call like this? I was at Caribou Coffee doing a little journaling. My phone rang. It was my daughter. She said, “Mom, where are you?’ Her usual greeting. I said, “Caribou, why?” She said, “Do you know what you did?” I said, “No.” (Now she had my attention. She doesn’t usually start our conversations asking if I know what I did.) “You left your hairdryer running on high and put it back in the bathroom drawer. You are so lucky I was here and found it. (And that there wasn’t a tissue or Q-tip in the drawer! ) The drawer handle was so hot I couldn’t touch it.” Yikes! ..... My wake-up call. I’d been feeling a little ragged around the edges for the past few weeks and knew it was time for a break. I’d taken a few hours off on Friday afternoons, but it obviously wasn’t enough. I’m always reminding my coaching clients and the women in the Women Managers Cohorts that self-care is a top priority and taking time off is important. It was time to take my own advice. I’m realizing that even though things are starting to open up at this stage in the pandemic, we can’t ignore the toll the past few months have taken on us; especially as women who usually have the dual role of keeping home running smoothly in addition to achieving goals at work. Don’t wait for your “hairdryer in the drawer” moment. So I ask you...How is your "work-life balance"? One of the sessions in the Women Manager’s Cohort is all about Work-Life Balance. We shatter the myth that there is such a thing as work-life balance and learn a model that is more about creating work-life harmony. It’s a fascinating approach that makes a lot of sense. If you’d like the support of a powerful network of women managers, take a look at the next Cohort that kicks off on July 15. We still have a few spots left! We meet for six 90 minute sessions over the course of three months. Our topics include:
Q3 Women Managers Leadership Development Cohort It’s time you take care of yourself, and stay balanced and supported while navigating the upcoming summer activities. Warm regards,  Last week I was asked a question I don't think I answer often enough. During the interview I gave last week on Close-Up Radio (listen to the replay here), the host Doug Llewelyn, asked me what it takes to be a "Wise Leader". I answered that I think it boils down to these elements:
Importantly, wise leaders recognize they are leading in a complex world with near constant change. They schedule regular strategy time to look at the bigger organizational picture, a clearer vision for their team, and stay aware of both what to say yes to, and what to say no to. All of the work I do is centered on helping leaders become Wise Leaders through one-on-one executive coaching or the Women Managers Leadership Cohorts. Can anyone become a Wise Leader? In my experience, those with a sincere desire to do so have no problem given the right coaching and practice. If you want this, it is certainly something you can obtain. I have helped people become Wise Leaders through one-on-one coaching with me. And I've been excited to see the many women in my Women Managers Leadership Cohorts over the years on their ways to becoming Wise Leaders, too. The next Cohort begins on July 15th. If you've ever wanted to become a better, wiser leader, one who puts people before profits while excelling at supporting your organization's mission, there is no better way to learn than joining the Cohort. You can register here and be sure to email me back if you have any questions about it. Warm regards,  Hi there! My second interview with Close-Up Radio happens tomorrow (Thursday) from 11-11:30 am CT. (Listen here). I hope you can tune in. We’ll be discussing what it looks like to work for a Wise Leader, the importance of confidence for women leaders, and what men can do to help women make bigger contributions. No worries if you can’t listen live. There will be a recording. I’ll share it with you next week. Remember, If you’d like to test drive a complimentary confidential 20 min coaching session, click here rita@wiseleader.net and put “test drive” in the subject line. The next Women Manager’s Cohort starts on 7/15. Seats are filling up. To reserve your spot or a spot for a woman manager on your team, go to Woman Managers Leadership Cohort Registration. Warm regards,  I was a guest on Up Close Radio last week. If you are not familiar with Up Close, they interview top business thought leaders. Lots of positive comments are being received about the power of the ideas we discussed during the interview. My brother, who is a sales executive, even sent me an email, letting me know that he took notes! It was fun to share the insights I’ve gained about women leaders, executive coaching and wisdom. I’ve learned a lot over my almost 25 years of doing this incredible work. Take a listen here: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/closeupradio/2021/06/10/part-1-close-up-radio-spotlights-wise-leader-dr-rita-webster There is going to be a second interview on Thursday 6/17 from 11-11:30 am CT. Look for the link to the live 6/17 interview when a Wednesday edition of this newsletter lands in your inbox. If you are wondering about coaching. . . In appreciation for this interview opportunity, and as a way to help more managers experience leadership coaching, please email me for a 20 min complimentary and confidential coaching conversation. This is a $350 value. If you’ve ever wondered what coaching is like and if it could work for you, now is the time to get in touch with me, especially if you are a woman leader or if you are a manager of women leaders. Now is the time to take advantage of this free opportunity to test drive a coaching conversation with me. Click my email Rita@Wiseleader.net and put “test drive” in the subject line. I’ll get back to you with a time and date. For those of you waiting to sign up for the Women Managers Leadership Cohort, follow this link: Woman Managers Leadership Cohort Registration Warm regards,  This is a quick reminder that July 15th is approaching fast. That's when the next session of the Women's Leadership Cohort kicks off. (Learn more about the Cohort here.) The Cohort is custom designed for woman managers looking for the next step in their leadership development. I had the pleasure of chatting last week with the women currently in the Cohort. Here's what they enthusiastically said: * My confidence has increased 10 fold. * I don’t feel like I’m on an island alone any more. I don’t feel isolated. I have someone outside of work to talk to about the things I’m facing who understand and are facing similar issues. * I am using every tool Rita is teaching us to delegate more, prioritize and build the business case to get more of the resources I need. * The topics we discuss in the cohort always seem to be perfect timing for what I’m dealing with. * I now have delegation and a structure for how to delegate in a way that works for me and my team. * I asked for a promotion and I got it. Now I can do more and keep moving my career forward. I would not have asked nor gotten this promotion without the support of the Cohort. * We bring real life scenarios here and we get advice from the perspective of how we can handle things from the strengths of women leaders. * I’m much more confident in the decisions I’m making and I spend less time stressing about what to do. * I’m the only female in my part of the organization. Having the support of the women in the cohort really helps with my confidence. * I have access to an executive coach as well as women peers in roles like mine. * My manager said his peers are noticing me as a stronger leader. * I like learning from other women’s experiences. We have similar problems. I go back to work with new ideas and new ways to think. * This is a place to bounce ideas off of my peers and an executive coach. I feel much more confident afterwards. * Everyone struggles with accountability. In the cohort we take the time to focus on what matters and what is important. * I’m much better at strategic thinking now. I learned how to do it in the cohort. I have tools that help. * I used to be talked over in meetings. That doesn’t happen anymore. I know how to handle it now as a result of being in the cohort. * The cohort has made a profound positive difference in how I lead. * I learn much faster with the cohort than I do reading a book or learning online. * I know how to make a business case now so I’m getting more of the resources I need faster. That’s helping me and my team be more successful. * I can be totally honest and authentic here. Their enthusiasm and passion for the Cohort is humbling. I'm honored to be helping them grow, gain more confidence, and learn how to chart their path forward. If you are a woman manager who wants experiences like the women above are describing, go ahead and register for the Cohort here: >>> https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html Seats are filling up. Sometimes women hesitate to use training dollars for themselves. I guarantee you that the benefits you'll receive from being a part of the cohort will have a significant positive impact on your team as well as on yourself. It’s an investment well worth making. If you are a leader with women managers on your team, be sure to share this development opportunity with them and encourage them to enroll. For questions about the program, email me. I’m happy to chat with you. Looking forward to seeing you or women managers from your team in July!  The best leaders aren’t the people with the best numbers. They’re the people who constantly read and react to what their teams need at the time. Continued learning, continued talking with the team, and continued self-awareness and development are the cornerstones to being a strong leader, be it 2021 or 2035. -- David Rock, Leadership Strategist at Forbes. This quote was like a breath of fresh air when I read it recently! For far too long we’ve rewarded leaders with the best numbers without considering the cost on the people to get those numbers. In today’s world of constant change, complexity and ambiguity, we’re realizing that what matters are leaders who are connected to their teams. The best leaders:
No one person can know enough to make wise decisions. It takes the perspective of everyone and the willingness to listen to key stakeholders to understand the latest needs and changes in the marketplace. Diversity matters. Building the confidence and leadership skills of women matters. Almost every organization needs more women leaders at the top. One of the fastest ways to get women ready for advancement is learning with other like-minded women. I see it all the time during the Women Manager Leadership Development cohort. The excitement, the exchange of ideas, the building of new skills and confidence. Taking the time to determine their next career steps creates enthusiasm and determination that is invaluable. Our next Women Manager’s Leadership Cohort starts on July 15. If you’ve already participated in the Cohort you know how much it can boost your confidence and transform your career. If you haven’t yet participated, now is a golden opportunity. If you have women managers on your team who want to make a bigger contribution and advance, please encourage them to enroll. This is my favorite training program of all time, because it makes such a significant difference in the careers of the women who participate. For more information and to register for the July 15 Women Manager Leadership Cohort click here: https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html Rita Webster, Ph.D.
The Executive Coach for Women Leaders 612-598-6614 http://www.wiseleader.net/ PS: If you’d like to read more from the Forbes article, click here.  "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." --Eleanor Roosevelt I used to think leadership presence was nice to have, but real leadership was much more than presence. What I'm realizing from my work with women leaders is that leadership presence is a must have. Yes, there's more to leadership than presence but without solid leadership presence the other elements of leadership produce outcomes that are less than what is possible. What do I mean? Leadership presence matters when women want to be taken seriously at work and it impacts their ability to make their best contribution. How much power they have to influence critical stakeholders and whether or not their new ideas for leading change will be accepted and implemented is impacted by their leadership presence. Understanding and cultivating leadership presence is a big deal for women. As a woman leader, the presence you exhibit is the special sauce that gives your leadership its effectiveness and you your authority. It's true, part of leadership presence is physical; how you stand, walk, and present yourself. A much bigger part of leadership presence is about harnessing the power of your own authenticity, insights and passion. Understanding who you are as a person, who you want to be as a leader and then consciously surrounding yourself with people who support you and see what you are capable of contributing is what strengthens leadership presence from the inside out. On the surface this may seem obvious. But it does take some time and deliberation. Your direct manager may be planting seeds of confidence that support you in developing your leadership presence. However, many managers have jam packed calendars and don’t have the time it takes to guide you in developing your leadership presence. Leadership presence is too important to leave to chance. Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook says that "leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence." When you get up to give a presentation, do you command the room? When you lead a meeting, do you inspire others to action? When you have a new idea, can you get the attention of decision makers so they commit the resources you need? What I've seen, especially since starting the Women's Leadership Cohort, is that when women have access to the tools and resources for development, their leadership presence grows by leaps and bounds. They advocate for promotions and they get them. They build a business case for a significant change and it happens. If you'd like to fast track the development of your own authentic leadership presence, click here to join the next Women's Leadership Development Cohort https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html In the cohort we spend an entire session on the topic of leadership presence, visibility and the three biggest mistakes women leaders make. If you're a manager and you have up and coming women leaders on your team, let them know you have money in the budget and encourage them to enroll. You'll see amazing results in their confidence and level of contribution. Our next Cohort starts July 15th. Click here to enroll https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html If you have questions, be sure to email me back: Rita@wiseleader.net I look forward to seeing you or your women direct reports in July!  Do you consider yourself highly confident or confidence challenged? Confidence is an essential ingredient in everything we do from high profile presentations to standing up to unruly toddlers. But what is confidence? It can be described as a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities. In other words, you feel good when you believe in yourself. When you trust that you are on the right path with the right plan. But what happens when things change? Your plan is challenged. Your budget is cut. Your boss disagrees. At exactly the time when we need every ounce of confidence we can muster, our confidence can dip. Then what? For most of us, we grit our teeth, lose sleep, worry, wonder if we’re in the wrong job, feel overwhelmed and hope our confidence will magically return. There’s a better way. First of all remember, you are not alone. Everyone’s confidence is challenged, especially when significant changes are happening. And in today’s world, change is the name of the game. Then sit still. Get grounded. Take a long, deep breath, and then another and another. You’ll find that your energy will settle and you’ll immediately feel calmer. From that calmer place start making a plan of action. Decide what you need to do next. Think about where the challenges might be and prepare. Prepare for those challenges so they don’t take you by surprise. When you have a game plan, your confidence will immediately start to return. You’ll feel more in control. Good ideas will start to surface. Doing these things is a good start. However, there’s a whole lot more to keeping your confidence high. If you are a woman manager and need additional skills and tools to keep your confidence high, join the next Women Manager’s Leadership Cohort. It kicks off on July 15. Dates and other details are here: www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html If you have women managers on your team, invite them to enroll in the Cohort. The Women’s Leadership Cohort has been a powerful discovery for the women who've participated in it. Not only do they enjoy six sessions of powerful leadership training, but they find many kindred spirits among the other participants. Women in similar situations, all asking questions, sharing experiences, and supporting each other. At the Women’s Leadership Cohort, we spend time discussing overwhelm, self-talk, and the tools to help women become more confident. Our next session begins July 15th. Sign up here https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html. I promise, you’ll be glad you did. If you have any questions, be sure to email me. Rita@wiseleader.net Hope to see you or your direct reports in July!  Executives often make it difficult for mid-level managers to challenge them. For too long, we’ve been trained to implement whatever the most senior executive wants. Too often the implementation has negative ramifications on the organization. Frustration among employees, lost revenue and missed targets soon follow. And the executive team ends up scratching their heads wondering what happened. What is almost always missing is the opportunity for candid and sincere dialogue with the managers who see things from a different perspective. Problems that the executive had no way of knowing about can be averted. The confidence for mid-level managers can soar and their understanding of the organization’s strategic initiatives deepen. That’s good for everyone and the organization. How to be make more dialogue and collaboration happen? For executives, share your thoughts and ideas for new initiatives with your mid-level managers BEFORE you implement. Ask your mid-level managers what they think about the initiative. Ask them what could go wrong. Most of all be open and sincere about truly wanting to know their points of view. Be curious and listen to what they tell you. After all, they are closer to the day to day and have deep understanding of how the systems and processes work for their deliverables. For mid-level managers, be confident in what your concerns are. Think strategically about what the executive wants their initiative to accomplish. Then make note of where the problems could be and think about viable solutions to those problems. Next build the Business Case for the conversation with the executive. If you do the strategic thinking and prep work, the chances of having a meaningful and influential conversation with the executive go way up. For many executives, this means they need to let go of control and their pre-occupation with being right. For many mid-level managers, this means they need to be confident and prepared enough to initiate the conversation with the executive. It takes a while for engrained behaviors and beliefs to change. Executive coaching and the Women Managers Cohort are two approaches that can help. I’ve seen transformational change happen for both executives and women managers. It’s exciting to help them realize the possibilities for their organizations. And for them to adjust their behavior so they get more of the results they are looking for. The next Women Managers Cohort kicks off on July 15. Click here https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html for dates and topics. One on one Executive Coaching starts whenever you are ready. Click here www.WiseLeader.net to find the program that is right for you. Reach out and let’s chat about your goals and challenges. Then we can determine which leadership programming is right for you and the women on your direct report team. Let’s get more women ready for next level roles!  Hi there! I’m wondering, how has your 2021 been so far? Do you know what steps will help advance your career goals this year? And more importantly, are you confidently taking those steps? I had the most amazing experience last week working with the women currently in the Women Managers Cohort programs. They were in their fourth session with me and learning how to create a Business Case. They’d already been working on taking time for strategic thinking every week and linking their priorities directly to the strategy and vision of their organizations. When they started using the Business Case tool during the session, they quickly got to the heart of an issue that had been bogging them down for quite some time. Before the end of the session they had clarity and a plan for how they would influence senior leaders that needed to understand the need for a different approach to cost cutting and new revenue generation. It's so much fun to work with these bright, talented women and give them the tools for making a bigger difference in their organizations. By working together they gain the confidence to have the important conversations with executives. They solve problems at a faster rate and learn to lead change from a perspective that not only increases their own level of success, but the success of their organizations as well. If you are a woman manager wanting to learn and grow in a network of smart, capable women, and build your confidence, join us for the next Cohort that kicks off on July 15th. If you are a leader with women managers on your team, encourage them to join the next Cohort. I promise you it will propel you and your direct report managers to their next level of contribution. Cohort participants give high marks to the strength of the network of women they find in their cohorts. They have new colleagues with which to brainstorm and share with. And you aren't alone on this journey. I'm sharing my 20+ years of experience coaching women leaders and you're learning with other motivated, positive, strong women leaders looking for the same results you are. The Q3 Cohort kicks off on July 15th. To register and learn more follow this link: https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html You can also download a PDF flier about the Cohort here Please forward this to every woman in your organization and/or network who could benefit. We need more women managers ready to move up. The Cohort is the fastest way to make that happen! If you have questions about the Cohort, reach out. I'm always happy to chat with you.  "If you just communicate, you can get by. But if you communicate skillfully, you can work miracles." -- Jim Rohn It’s hard for women to get useful feedback. Many women hesitate to ask for feedback. Or when they do ask, they get feedback they can’t really use. Not getting the right feedback holds women back from making their full contribution to their organizations. And makes it a lot harder for them to get promoted. Research by both Korn Ferry and Stanford University found that 57% of women got vague-sounding praise on reviews while only 43% of men had vague praise. Only 40% of women had feedback tied to concrete business outcomes while 60% of men had their feedback directly tied to business outcomes. Both studies found that men get a much clearer picture of what they are doing well, what they need to improve upon, and what's needed to get to the next level. Recently, I saw first-hand the devastating impact not getting useful feedback has on women leaders. I’ve been coaching a bright, talented women leader who has been frustrated in more ways than I can count because no matter how hard she tried she could not get useful feedback from her direct manager. It was causing her to question her abilities as a leader. She was losing her confidence and sleep. She was spending time in the evenings and on the weekends away from her family because she was trying to guess and over compensate for not knowing what her manager truly wanted from her. One of the things I coached her to do was link everything she was doing to the big picture goals of the organization. Through our coaching work her confidence returned and now she is not only taking her part of the organization to the next level, she is also being tapped by the CEO to bring more of her ideas forward. She now has renewed energy, her eyes are sparkling, and most of all she has confidence in her ideas, is thinking strategically and making a much bigger impact on her organization, which she is very happy about. The transformation was remarkable. This woman went from questioning her abilities to using all of her key strengths to lead change and transform her organization. Without the coaching work, she would have answered the recruiter’s calls, and left the organization. Her organization would have lost one of their star performers. This is one powerful example of what happens to women when they don’t get useful feedback. Now that you know this, what can you do? If you are a woman leader, ask for specific feedback that is linked to the strategy and goals of your organization. If your work isn’t linked to the big picture, you’ll be wasting time doing things that aren’t important long term. If you are a direct manager to women, be sure you are talking to them about the strategy and big picture goals of the organization. And then help them link their work directly to those goals. Let the women know which projects are priorities and have the biggest impact. To both women leaders and their managers, if you want help, reach out to me to talk about one on one coaching or enrolling your female direct reports in the next Women Managers Cohort to learn about feedback and other issues important for women to succeed. Don’t risk losing your star female performers by falling into the trap of giving vague feedback. There are lots of other organizations out there willing to snatch up high potential women. The next Women Manager’s Cohort kicks off on July 15. For more information or to enroll go to https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html Erica, one of the participants, had this to say about why the Cohort was valuable to her: "Having the ability to confirm or reflect on what I am strong at and what I need to work on based on the materials that are being provided. Being able to connect and learn more about the other women from my department that are going through this as well. Also learning more about how to be confident as a Leader." You can talk to me about coaching or the cohort any time at 612-598-6614. Warm regards,  I used to rush around like a typical Type-A personality. After all, I was good at getting things done efficiently and fast. Whenever I really got wound up, my good friend Allan Milham loved to make the comment: "Maybe you need to go slow to go fast." At the time I trusted his judgement, but I never really "got it". In time, I began taking more time to think and reflect. Best-selling author Kevin Cashman calls this "pausing". This was a big change for me with surprising results. Pausing quieted my inner chatter and helped me reconnect with my deeper thoughts. It allowed me to hear my inner voice. When I paused, I began to listen more genuinely to others and contribute more generously in conversations and meetings. If you find you often race around, consider some ways you can bring "pausing" into your work and life.
Do you want to have more well-being, productivity, and creativity? As counter intuitive as it may seem, stopping is the first step. Taking 5-10 minutes to stop and sit quietly can help you relax, lower your stress level and gain clarity that will be amazingly useful. Don’t be surprised if the first couple times you stop to pause and reflect, your mind goes crazy trying to convince you to get up and do something. That is normal for most people. As you continue to practice, your mind will eventually settle down. You’ll feel less overwhelm and more in control. That will be well worth the 5-10 minute investment of your time! Learning how to pause and reap the benefits of slowing down for a few minutes is something we work on in one on one coaching, team coaching and the Women Managers Leadership group. If you are curious about how this technique can make a big difference for you, reply to this email. Warm regards,  "What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other." -- Roger Bannister This quote makes me think about how the process of coaching helps make life less difficult. Here are a few examples: Coaching helps build confidence. No matter how accomplished we are, any big change such as new leadership or a major new initiative that we've never done before will challenge our confidence. It gets us out of our own heads. If we are a leader, we are smart and we know how to think. But when our thinking goes into overtime, it creates a hamster wheel in our minds that can tie us up in knots. We become more anxious and less effective than we need to be. Coaching validates that what we're feeling is normal. When a coach listens in a calm, matter of fact way and says “This is very common” we can relax and climb back up out of our rabbit hole of distress. It helps us take the time to think. A client I was recently working with said "You asked me questions that made me think, even when I didn't want to. This forced me to get to a point of view that was useful." The fast pace of change puts most of us on auto-pilot, and that prevents us from the thinking required to get to the heart of what matters. I just love every part of being an executive coach! Being able to help my clients find easier ways to live and work and find more satisfaction in their lives. To learn more about how one on one coaching or the Women Managers Leadership Development Cohort can help you feel more confident and less stressed reach out to me. I’d love to chat with you. Or sign up for the next session beginning July 15 at www.WiseLeader.net. Warm regards,  I learned something new about confidence, that I want you to know about. You know that confidence influences effective leadership. We have confidence in leaders when we know they have confidence in themselves. What I learned last week is how vulnerable our confidence can become when we take on stretch assignments in a new role. When you get promoted due to your talent in your last role, your confidence is very high. In your new role, however, everything changes: you have more projects to manage, more direct reports to lead, and bigger strategic issues to deal with. In your new role, you inevitably run into challenges which put dings in your confidence. You knew how to do your old role. Now, you start to doubt your abilities, to overuse your strengths to the point where they become weaknesses. The harder you strive, the more frustrated you end up. Whether you are the person beginning a new role or the direct manager of someone taking on a new role, if your (or their) performance isn't what it used to be, ask yourself "Could this be a confidence issue?" And if it is, how do I get clear on the new definition of success and apply my key strengths and talents in just the right way to be successful. Here is your first answer: Take the time to think and plan. When you do, that confidence destroying overwhelm disappears and your confidence returns. Both you and your direct manager will be on your way to the successful outcomes you both envisioned. Never underestimate the power and impact of your own confidence or the confidence of someone on your team who is struggling with the demands of a new role. Lastly, having a supportive network you can tap into or a leadership coach you can call on is invaluable when it comes to keeping your confidence high. How have you adapted to a new role? What have you done to boost your own confidence? Now let me share some opportunities with you: If you are a manager, check out the next Women Managers Cohort kicking off on April 15 at https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html Are you a woman executive at the VP or Director level? Check out the Executive Womens Change Leadership Roundtable. The 2021 membership year kicks off on April 22. Reach out to me directly for availability and an interview. And if you a leader who would prefer one on one coaching, reach out to me about a variety of coaching programs that can be customized for your specific outcomes. Warm regards,  Speaking with woman managers, there is one thing I hear over and over. They feel lonely. It isn't that they lack friends or a social network. More that they feel isolated. There is so much more responsibility and they don't feel like they have anyone they can turn to. Managing can be lonely. The buck now stops with you. Where do you go for advice or to bounce ideas around after a difficult week? Who are your mentors and sponsors? Building a successful network is something you have to carefully cultivate. You can't just start asking your connections on LinkedIn. It takes time and conversation. A pleasant surprise has been the stories I've heard from my Women Managers Cohort. They report over and over that they have found such a network in the Cohort itself. While it was never designed as a networking group, that may be the secret to what makes it work. The women find it's a safe space to ask questions. There is no judgement. They can share their expeirences and hear perspectives from other women in the same situations they are in. I often hear quotes about the Women Managers Cohort like these: "A female leader that participates in the cohort [has] the opportunity to build relationships with other like-minded women and [has] the opportunity to bounce off ideas, feelings and overall just build that connection." -- Erica "Getting to meet other like-minded women and have a safe space to talk about our career goals. Building a good support system." -- Qamar Our next Women Managers Cohort starts April 15th. If you would like to learn more about it and register, follow this link: >>> https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html And if you have any questions about it, please email me and I'd be happy to find a time to speak with you about it and answer any questions you may have. Warm regards,  Last week I had the pleasure of hosting an Executive Panel for the Q1 Women Managers Cohort. As I took notes, there was golden nugget upon golden nugget. One of my favorites, for those of us who run into fear and anxiety from time to time, is from Erin Rapallini: Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision. The panel participants, all experienced executives, shared with vulnerability and candor, both the successes they enjoyed and the challenges they overcame from the beginning of their careers to where they are today. Here are some highlights and good reminders: Go after what you want
The Women Managers Leadership Development Cohort is a uniquely powerful opportunity to learn and grow with amazing women facing similar challenges on their way to the next steps in their career. Join us for the Q2 Cohort kicking off on April 15. Seats are filling fast. Follow the link to register below.(And there is a discount if three or more women from your organization sign up together): >>> https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html Email me today to enroll so you can also attend our next executive women's panel in June. Warm regards,  As Q2 rises on the horizon, how is your 2021 so far? Are you on track to reach your goals? Do you know what steps to take to advance your career this year? With the world continuing to be uncertain, I expect you are still having some bumps in the road. Maybe you could use a confidence boost? Related to that, I want you to circle April 15th on the calendar. That's when you'll have an opportunity to really take control over your career. That's when the next session of the Womens Leadership Development Cohort begins. When you join the Cohort, you're going to receive:
Best of all, you aren't alone on this journey. I'm sharing my 20+ years of experience coaching women leaders and you're in the room with other motivated positive strong women leaders looking for the same results you are. The Q2 Cohort kicks off on April 15th. To register and learn more follow this link: >>> https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html I look forward to seeing YOU on April 15th! If you have questions or want to talk further, reach out. I'm happy to chat with you. Warm regards,  I was facilitating a book club conversation recently for the Womens Health Leadership Trust. We were discussing key messages from Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In. One of the themes was careers are jungle gyms, not ladders. The point being that we all make twists and turns on our way to a career we enjoy. Even when we “make it” to the position we’ve dreamed of, we continue to look for that next step. At some point you’ll be asking yourself questions like: “What’s my next step?” “What do I want now?” “Is it time to pivot? When you ask yourself those questions, the most important thing to remember is that you get to decide. There’s no right way to do your career. You will be happiest when you do your career YOUR way. Don’t wait to be tapped on the shoulder or for someone to ask you to take on a next step role. This story from a woman at the Book Club broke my heart: The executives at her company were making a decision about who to hire for a significant next level role. When the woman asked why they were not considering a talented woman in the organization, their response was “She didn’t ask.” If you’re wondering what’s next in your career or there’s a woman on your team who you see has leadership potential, sign up for the next Women Managers Leadership Development Cohort. The entire focus of the Cohort is on getting ready for the next step in your career. We talk about how to build confidence, control the direction of your career, develop leadership presence and navigate work life balance. You’ll also end up with a network of women to learn with and grow together. I’m a firm believer that learning is more fun and effective when you’re not doing it alone. Registration is now open! The Q2 cohort kicks off on April 15. For more information and to register reach out to Rita@WiseLeader.net, and go online to https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html I hope to see you on April 15! Warm regards,   Are you listening to what you say to yourself?What you say to yourself when no one’s around matters. This internal chatter has a big impact on your confidence, even if you are aren't actively listening to it. When you take on a new role or project, your initial excitement and confidence are reflected in the positive nature of your self talk. But what happens when you run into unexpected challenges? Maybe the project is taking longer than you thought it would, or there aren't as many resources as you were promised, or your best team member left for a new job. The chatter in your head starts to say things to you like: “You never should have taken on this project in the first place.” “You are in over your head now!” “Your reputation is going to take a big hit if you don’t figure this out soon.“ Unfortunately, confidence is usually built on accomplishment, getting things done and achieving big and small goals. When challenges set in, accomplishments and achieving goals aren’t happening. What to do? First be aware of what’s going on. We talk about this in Session 4 of the Women Managers Leadership Cohort. And remind ourselves that confidence is “a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities and qualities.” When challenges occur, which they almost always will, our sense of accomplishment gets threatened. And when that happens, negative self-talk kicks in fast and furious. I love the quote from Lisa M. Hayes: Be careful how you are talking to yourself because you are listening. This is when talking to yourself kindly and with encouragement matters. Taking time (especially when you’re sure you don’t have the time!) to reflect and think is imperative. Being curious and asking yourself questions will help you sort things out and set priorities. Take a look at what’s happening in your environment that’s not supporting you. It could be a toxic boss or colleague or push back from a work group, etc. Then, make a conscious decision to sort out what you have control over and what is out of your control. Only spend energy on what you can control. Take good care of yourself. Make it a top priority. Eating well, getting good sleep, walking in nature will help you bring the best of yourself to the table. Besides, if you don’t take good care of you, who will? Most of all DON’T assume you are not good enough or that you did something wrong. And don’t let the chatter in your head become nasty and negative! Want to learn more about confidence, self-talk and tools that help? Enroll in the Q2 Womens Leadership Cohort that kicks off on April 15. It’s a great group of up and coming women managers committed to learning and growing together. More info and to enroll https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html Would love to see you there! Many thanks!!! Warm regards,   Hi there!
I’m thrilled to announce a curriculum-based leadership program designed for aspiring women at the manager and early director level in their organizations. Topics include:
The Womens Leadership Development Cohort is an interactive, virtual experience so women can participate from any location. The cohort program consists of six sessions. What's the Investment? $995 per person. Save $100 per person when you enroll 3 or more managers from the same organization. That’s only $895 per manager! Space is limited and seats fill quickly. What are Leaders saying? “I'm already getting amazing feedback from the Women's Leadership Cohort participants - boundaries pushed, insights gained, potential recognized after just one session. WOW! I'm so glad you're partnering with us!” ~ Emily A., International Technology Company To reserve your seat or seats for women who report to you, or for yourself, reach out to me via cell 612-598-6614 or at Rita@WiseLeader.net Or register online https://www.wiseleader.net/women-managers-cohort.html I’m happy to answer questions & help you decide how to best take advantage of this new opportunity! Until next time, Dr. Rita 612-598-6614 Rita@wiseleader.net www.WiseLeader.net  Today I was pondering what to write about for this newsletter. Then I looked up to see my bouquet of flowers on the corner of my desk and immediately smiled. I heard myself sigh with a big ahhhh and I realized, those flowers keep me happy at work. I’ll write about finding little things that spark our happiness during these days of zoom and few interactions. Last summer I made a point of picking a few fresh flowers every couple of days from my backyard flower gardens and putting them in a small vase on my desk. Then I noticed that throughout the day I look at that little vase of flowers countless times. It always makes smile and brings a positive lift to whatever mood I’m feeling. When I’m thinking about what to write, like I’m doing right now, I look up to collect my thoughts, and I see my flowers. When I’m listening to a zoom webinar, I look over at my flowers…and smile. When I get up from my desk to take a break, I see my flowers…and feel gratitude for their beauty. So simple yet so powerful. Now that we’re in the thick of winter and it’s cold and snowy outside, I don’t have the luxury of selecting flowers from my garden. But I do have Trader Joe’s! I make a weekly trip to choose my flowers from the Trader Joe’s buckets of bouquets. Truth be told, sometimes I go twice in a week just because it’s so much fun to search the buckets for just the right bouquet. This week I bought a hyacinth bulb in a vase of water. Watching it grow a tiny bit every day, turning the vase so my hyacinth grows straight and waiting for it to bloom is as close to my own flower garden as I can get right now. What do you have in your work space that brings a smile of joy to your face when you look at it? If your answer to that question is nothing, it’s time to find something. The days are too long and so is the winter to not have something you love, easily within your site. And a quick, guaranteed mood boost really is a lovely thing. Let me know what little thing makes you consistently happy at work! Until next time, Dr. Rita 612-598-6614 Rita@wiseleader.net www.WiseLeader.net  |
AuthorDr. Rita Webster 
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