Progress’ Post

Do you feel invisible at work? As if neither the effort you put in nor the results you produce are noticed? This is a long term issue for women in the workplace and more so for women of color. It sometimes feels like we blend into the background no matter what we do or how well we perform. This phenomenon is the result of a combination of unconscious bias and the difficulty we have in breaking through a person’s internal preoccupation. There are a few ways to overcome this combination, but none of them involve keeping your nose to the grindstone and hoping somebody notices. Carol Frohlinger and Deborah Kolb of Negotiating Women, Inc, call this “Tiara Syndrome” and while I believe casual use of the term negates the real cultural challenges many women face, we *do* need to overcome our internal barriers if we want to be recognized for our abilities and accomplishments. Here are three actionable ideas that can help you rise above the noise and be noticed - and one equally actionable “Don’t” that will sink you right back into the background. Be Present - Every person is the star of their own story, so find a way to make personal connections when you interact, people will remember you before they think of someone with whom they don’t have a connection. Speak Up - Do you have a good idea? Is the current proposal that’s got a lot of buzz short-sighted and you have a better one? Quietly passing your thoughts to someone who might get more attention isn’t going to help you stand out. Being able to make your point and explain yourself in a clear, concise manner will go a long way to having your name and face come to mind, even if you don’t win the day in your first few attempts. Reinforce Others. I’m going to share a gift link to a 2016 Washington Post article because it spoke to me deeply when it was first published and it’s still a reference I make when I’m working with women trying to break out. When a woman in a meeting, made a key point, the others would repeat the point and give credit to the speaker. - it’s a tremendous example of team work, situational awareness, and presents a tactic that allows women to speak up without venturing into the cultural minefield that we deal with when promoting ourselves. https://wapo.st/4doCOFq Details Kill. Do not overload your presentations or comments with detail. If you are tentative about speaking out, you may feel like you need to show your work, sharing as much detail as you can. This generally doesn’t draw in your audience - they may tune out or cut you short. It’s less about the “What” and more about the “So what” when you have limited time and space. If you’d like to have someone along to help you navigate your journey in the workforce, you can find me here https://lnkd.in/ei_2yVRJ

I understand firsthand the challenges female professionals face in achieving success and recognition in male-dominated and high-pressure environments. Here are some concrete tips that I've learned along the way: 1. Be Confident in Your Abilities. Don't hesitate to speak up and share your ideas. When you start to doubt yourself, think about all the times when you did succeed and remind yourself you’ve got this. 2. Ask Questions & Speak Up: After many years, I learned to trust my gut and say what was on my mind. Ultimately, this helped me add more value—remember your insights are based on years of experience, so share them! 3. Know Your Worth: Research the standards in your industry. Identify what others are charging/salaries in your industry and know the market. Don’t devalue your worth or undersell yourself. You’ve earned it! We all have moments of not feeling confident, so I am sharing how I’ve overcome these challenges. These great reminders have helped me along the way.

Have you ever met someone who just exudes confidence and charisma?  It is the differentiator that can separate you from the rest of your peers, identify you as a leader, and most importantly allow you to show up as your authentic self. But only if you understand the nuances as a Black or Brown woman, that are associated with the following 3 things: 📌 Appearance. Not necessarily physical beauty, but how you present yourself to the world. 📌 Communication skills: Essential for building relationships and conveying your ideas effectively. 📌 Gravitas: An intangible quality that makes people take you seriously and respect your opinions. By focusing on these three areas, you can project confidence and competence in your work and interactions with others. During the Being Conference, the nuances will be explained accompanied by the tools and actionable steps to implement and drive towards success. What is The Being Conference? It's a 3-day hands-on, intimate, and in-person experience, catered to uncovering and applying Emotional Intelligence and Executive Presence, with a focus on the nuances for Black and Brown women. October 20-22, in Royal Oak, Michigan If you're ready to launch your career forward, reserve your seat at The Being Conference today - but move quickly. There are only a few spots left! ➡️

this may be enlightening for you… if it is, i would encourage you to do two things: 1. LISTEN & BELIEVE. WE have been telling you this for DECADES, if not CENTURIES. now it’s in research. perhaps you’ll hear us, and know WE ain’t just making it up. 2. DO BETTER. fix it. now. do things differently. do them better. stop acting like you can’t see it. because it’s right here in print for you to read. WE aren’t free until ALL of us are free. full stop.

As we grow or change, our identity transitions are often invisible — unless we do the work to help others see our changes. This can be particularly true for people who have worked at a company for a long time. If you’re feeling like your colleagues aren’t recognizing your growth, the authors recommend 3 strategies: https://lnkd.in/gmpZMgQi

We knew we were in great company with Michelle Edelman, but we didn't know we were in Fast Company. Check out the latest and greatest article from our one and only CEO, Michelle Edelman. #womanownedbusiness

This article reasoned with me as terrific advice for anyone, regardless of where you are in your career journey. I was speaking with a young woman earlier this week looking for her first job and she expressed concern about being “given an opportunity” because it was coming from someone she knew. Let me be clear, if an opportunity is presented to you, don’t spend time questioning whether it is “deserved” or not, run with it and demonstrate why you are the best person for the role. Some additional takeaways: (1) help people advocate for you by telling them the support that you need and report back so that they can share in your success, (2) have your elevator pitch ready to go and use it to establish your credibility upfront so people know who you are, what you bring to the table and what makes you stand out and (3) develop your “brag sheet” so you are able to clearly articulate and quantify your achievements, including how you made them happen. Read on for more insights…

Interesting article.

Navigating the professional realm, it's essential to recognize the impact of unbiased judgment. Let's challenge ourselves to see beyond surface impressions, acknowledging the diverse strengths each individual brings to the table. By fostering a culture of open-mindedness, we create an environment where everyone's potential can flourish. Embrace the power of fair judgment and contribute to a workplace that thrives on the richness of its people. What steps do you take to promote fair judgment in your professional interactions? #FairJudgment #DiversityandInclusion #ProfessionalDevelopment"

"I try to remind myself that I was chosen to speak for a reason… other people believed that I would do a great job, so why wouldn’t I believe it too?" Our guest interviewer Iosetta Santini recently sat down with Nepa's Andrea Goeres to discuss public speaking, keeping an audience entertained, and everything in between for our newest edition of 'Centre Stage' — a blog series dedicated to empowering #WomeninResearch to take the stage. Read the whole post at https://lnkd.in/gSnBg-aZ. #MRX #MarketResearch