She Owns It

Celebrating, Connecting, and Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

The Power Of Women Leadership In Times Of Crisis By @AngelaKambouris

by Leave a Comment

by Angela Kambouris

The iconic song of the 1970’s feminist movement, ‘I am Woman’ has galvanized a generation of women to fight for change and today there is no better time for the fearless passion of women breaking through patriarchal norms. Despite women making up a fraction of global leaders, women can continue to lead the world in a sustainable direction.  Credit Suisse’s CS Gender 3000 reported that in 2019 the percentage of women on boards globally increased to 20.6% and in the US the figure climbed to 24.1% from 22%.

Today, women comprise 25% of parliament around the world, 20 women hold the position as head of a state or government out of 193 nations and 32 (6.4%) of CEO positions at Fortune 500 Companies in the United States. Having more women in leadership positions can make a difference in improving outcomes, especially at times of crisis.

Women bring vision, collaboration, and empathy to the table. They turn closing doors into opportunities and forge new and better ways and are far more powerful than they think. Despite setbacks, sitting as the only female at the table, and working twice as hard for half the pay, they continue to fight a male-dominated system and forge their path to think beyond today and of the future.

When women stand in a position of power, you hold the door open for other women to step through. As we uplift other women, we strengthen our position. Here is how you get started.

Embody feminine leadership

Amid times of uncertainty, female leaders have paved the way with smart, compassionate, empathetic and kind leadership. Jacinda Ardern welcomed her first child in the world while in power, covered the costs of victims’ funerals after the Christchurch attack on two mosques and hosted live streams in her pyjamas discussing the difficulties ahead. She used her social media platform to create a path forward for other women to follow. The Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg hosted press conferences for children letting them know it’s okay to experience fear. Authenticity, compassion, and clarity have proved far better indicators of trust than command, control, and bravado.

Drive business beyond profits

Purpose-led women leaders are committed to making an impact within their communities. Since 2014, Serena Williams, a global sports icon, invested in women and minority-owned businesses. Greta Thunberg, a climate change activist, informed world leaders at the UN National Assembly of how they had stolen her dreams and childhood with their empty words. She led the world’s largest climate change march and sailed across the Atlantic to get her message across.

Oprah Winfrey has been open about her traumatic childhood, turbulent relationship with her mother and her struggle to enter the journalism industry. Her experiences propelled her to rise above events and live her life by turning her wounds into wisdom. She has provided millions of dollars to charity, building schools for children in developing countries and established her foundations.

Together we rise

Empathy is the key to leadership. Empathetic and compassionate leaders perform better and inspire more loyalty, engagement, and productivity. Female leaders acknowledge the emotions and concerns of their people while supporting them to address them. Leaders must be present, engage in active listening and allow people the space to process their feelings. By implementing frequent check-ins with people, and beginning each coaching session by aligning a focus for the meeting, will serve as a north star for the discussion and enable you to redirect the conversation back to the focus topic. Linking employees to additional resources such as employee assistance hotlines can assist people when they are in emotional distress and require professional support.

Do not let the naysayers hold you back

The former First Lady, Michelle Obama has been a tremendous influence for women maintaining integrity and perseverance through racial bias and hurtful comments about her in the media. Despite the attacks, she addressed the childhood obesity epidemic, advocated for women’s rights, and provided support to military veterans and their families. Rather than investing her energy into malicious attacks, she demonstrated dignity by rising above the pettiness. People who invest in demoralizing and shaming people, their behaviour says more about them than the person on the receiving end as Michelle Obama responded “when someone acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level. No, our motto is when they go low, we go high.”

Show me the love

Female leaders are more open to inspiring others through gratitude by celebrating their people as much as they care about the business. Appreciating the contributions of individuals and teams collectively encourages people and inspires excellence. Leaders send personal notes to acknowledge client results, to highlighting through social media how they made a difference within the group. When leaders identify and celebrate people’s contributions, sharing how they precisely executed the company values, it inspires employees to strive for excellence.

Psychological resilience

Women can tap into their emotional intelligence to recognize and focus on what is essential. Rather than settling on the negative, they look for what they can control. Female leaders adapt to change while demonstrating empathy for others. By exercising various communication styles and being behaviorally flexible, women can build strong, emotional connections for long term sustainable partnerships.

Do not command, empathize. 

Today’s leadership demands leaders establish an emotional connection with their people. We have humans at work that crave appreciation, recognition, and empathy. As talent agents, women leaders use feedback and direction to grow people. They invest in hiring people who are better than themselves, unlock other’s people potential and promote practical cooperation on their teams.

Carve out your path

As writer and philosopher, Ayn Rand wrote: “The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” Women can elevate their careers by letting go of passive attitudes and illuminating their pathway. When it comes to career development, carve out your path towards success rather than waiting for the lucky break or the damsel-in-distress story.

Fall seven times, get up eight

No one is immune to personal failure. Jacinda Ardern once said, “you can be empathetic and have steel”. You can have moments of weakness, warmth, nerve, and strength. Acknowledging that it is okay to trip and fall, feel hurt and vulnerable, expose your flaws and imperfections, and then draw knowledge from the feedback and try again. You can break the glass ceiling without sacrificing warmth, kindness, and compassion.

 

5 Things to Implement In The Journey Called Success by @DeniseDamijo

by Leave a Comment

by Denise Damijo | Featured Contributor 

When you first make the decision to want to be successful you enter into your own personalized journey uniquely made for you. After your intentions are sent out into the atmosphere, you will be targeted, have obstacles, have doubts, and have everything that you couldn’t even imagine for yourself come against you to challenge your belief in your success.

Before it is said and done, many people fall back and go running back to their comfortable and safe places and never return back to the journey called success again. They give up on their dreams and what was possible for them to do things that are safe and easy to do. At the end of their road, they are usually filled with many regrets.

While you still have breath, your dreams are possible for you to obtain. It will not be easy, quick, or without you having to take risks, nevertheless; it will be worth every bit of it. To really truly prepare for the success that you are looking for, there are 5 main things that you should do every day.

1.Visualize yourself where you want to be

Many people are visual. They really grasp concepts and ideas from actually seeing something explained versus just hearing it or reading it. Many times visualizing things also helps to imprint it in our memories. Take the time every day, 2-3 times daily to visualize what you want to achieve. If you would like to increase your money, close your eyes and think about money pouring on you. Visualize money overflowing out of the drawers in your house and piling up inside your home and bank account. If you want to have more authentic relationships, visualize you being surrounded by and appreciated by people who really care about your well being and success and you being able to reciprocate that. Place pictures that represent the things that you desire to have all around you so that you can see them throughout your day on top of your visualizing exercise.

2. Vocalize your ideal situation

It’s one thing to think about something and it is a completely different thing to say it. For some, the only reason why they haven’t said certain things out loud is because of their lack of belief in it. Your dreams and success will never become real if you can’t say them out loud with confidence. Start vocalizing what you want several times a day. If you want to be a major positive influencer in society, say I am a positive influencer who transforms lives for the better around the world. If you want to be a celebrity cook, be bold enough to say that you cook for celebrities even BEFORE it becomes your reality. No one is ever going to believe that you will become successful until you do.

3. Play a stimulating audible while you’re sleep

When we go to sleep, our mind is not sleeping, it is still going. Why not put it to use? Start playing stimulating audible books, motivational videos, or even classical music while you are asleep. It would be perfect if you have hours of audio playing or are able to put a particular audio that you like on repeat to play for the whole time you are asleep. Even though you weren’t consciously awoke while your audio was playing, your brain subconsciously will pick it up and will not forget it.

4. Think of what it would be like to be where you want to be

This one can be very tricky because it will cause you to really dig deeper than you have ever dug before to get a complete and honest understanding of what you really desire. It is not just about thinking or believing that your life will be better, you would have stress because you have more money, or you may feel validated and affirmed. Ask yourself questions like what would your the things around you smell like? What kind of people would you be around? What kind of conversation would you have? Ask those things daily. Over time, some of those things will change as you change, grow, and develop.

5. Work with what you have in your hands

This is huge for a lot of people because it is so easy to worry and remind yourself of what you don’t have or what isn’t going right. It has become almost natural. It is time for you to develop a new natural. Start thinking about what you can do right now with what you have in your hands. Even if you feel as if you are lacking in a few areas, start working with what you are not lacking in and build from there. Work on obtaining or developing the areas that you are lacking in parallel to the things that you are not lacking in. Eventually, an opportunity will present itself and you want to make sure that you are ready.

Your time is your most precious commodity. Where you spend it is even more important. Where you spend most of your time is what you will eventually see become your reality. Make sure, every day you’re working hard to obtain your goals and you’re also implementing these 5 things so that you can reach your goals a lot quicker.

7 Power Moves For Entrepreneurial Success by @XLConsultingGro

by 1 Comment

by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

Entrepreneurial success can happen if you follow our key 7 power moves.  A successful business is a series of building blocks.  Once you have these fundamentals in place, all you need to do is rinse and repeat.  Here are our power moves.  They form an important foundation for entrepreneurial success.

1)  Find A Mentor

Why a mentor?  Think of a mentor as your business advisory board.  A great mentor will listen to you, guide you, open up doors for you, help you overcome roadblocks and keep you accountable.  Find the right mentor that fits where you are on your business journey.  Are you a startup, a mid-size company or something else. What do you need help with?

Not sure where to find a mentor?  Ask your entrepreneurial friends, check out your contacts on LinkedIn or contact entrepreneurial organizations such as your local Chamber of Commerce to see who offers mentorship programs.

Connecting with and asking experienced entrepreneurs in your field whom you admire to mentor you is priceless.  You will be rubbing shoulders with people who have achieved the success you are looking for. Be specific when asking for help.  Exactly what do you need?

2)  Network

Business networking can be scary for some people, but it doesn’t have to be.  Networking is key to building your tribe.  Finding like-minded entrepreneurs with whom you can develop a long-term relationship with is golden.  Not everyone is an extrovert but that shouldn’t stop you from going out and meeting people face to face or connecting online.

If you are still anxious about how to network effectively, listen to our podcast with featured guest, Darcy Roberts, a certified business coach.  Her helpful tips will help you to relax and enjoy meeting new people and building a vibrant group of entrepreneurs.

Networking also helps you build your team and a community among potential clients.  It will become your referral base.

3)  Create A Professional Presence

Are you true to your brand?  How you present yourself to the world is so important.  On all your social platforms (even your personal ones) make sure you are always professional.  From your bio, to your posts, to your photo, how you present yourself in person… all of it is critical to your success.

Yes, celebrities and politicians can get away with less than professional postings and behaviors, but in the long-term, even they will lose fans and support.  Don’t let that be you.

4)  Become An Expert

Are you known as a reliable, go-to expert in your field?  If not, keep working on getting the best training in your field and then presenting your expert advice in a book, workshops, special events, as a speaker or on platforms such She Owns It.  Over time, with consistent exposure, you will become that sought after person in your field.

5)  Market Your Business Effectively

Target the client base that can afford you.  Offer a taste of your services with an irresistible offer, but make it limited, and time sensitive, so it is exclusive.   Don’t forget to address these key points in your offer,

Why people need it

What problem will it solve

How you will solve it and why you are the best person to solve it

Where will you deliver this offer (online, in person, at an event)

Automate your sales funnel and remember that you will need at least five touch points to get people’s attention in this busy connected world.

Don’t forget to charge what you are worth. Your price points will determine the kind of clients you will attract.

6)  Leverage Other Experts To Enhance Your Product/Service

How do you do this?  One of the easiest ways is to interview people for your videos/podcast/books.  How do you get people to say ‘yes’? Just ask, you will be surprised at the results.  I’ve asked dozens of people to offer their expertise for my entrepreneurial startup book, Fabulous Fempreneurship and for a new book I’m researching. I’ve only had one person turn me down.  Why did I get 99.9% of people to say ‘yes’, even though I haven’t even personally met most of them?   It’s easy, people like to be recognized for their expertise and want to share their knowledge.  And don’t forget your experts all have business friends too who will help promote your product/service.

7)  Follow-up

The secret sauce to every business is to exceed your customer’s expectations.  Give them superior service by meeting your deadlines and communicating well. This means having a great follow-up system. Nothing should fall through the cracks, ever.  If you can’t fulfill your promises due to unexpected circumstances, communicate this news, too and have a rescue plan.

These 7 power moves will help you build a lasting, sustainable and successful business that you can be proud of.

Save

Four Things to Remember When You Feel Like Quitting on Your Dreams by @karen_doniere

by 5 Comments

quitting business dreams, giving up on dreams, positive thinking

by Karen Doniere | Featured Contributor

Whether you’re a career woman, stay-at-home mom, freelancer, or an entrepreneur, trying to achieve the next level of success or a new dream can be challenging. It may be frustrating and time-consuming, and even affect your overall attitude. Instead of holding on to your frustration, think about your initial reasons for wanting to achieve your dream. What was your motivation? Hang on to that feeling because it’s one thing that will help pull you through the frustration, and help you avoid quitting on your dreams.

Surprisingly, there are so many reasons why you may want to quit pursuing your dreams. Maybe it’s too expensive, mentally draining, doesn’t fulfill you any longer, or it’s taking too long.

Instead of quitting, consider taking a mini-break to clear your thoughts and get a fresh new perspective. Take a weekend or day trip to enjoy different scenery. Or if possible, enjoy a few days of solitude and peace at home without electronic distractions. Even if you can only spare a few hours, plan an evening out with friends or alone to take comfort in a mental time out.

Here are four things to remember when you feel like quitting on your dreams.

1). Be patient with yourself.

New ideas and projects take time, and a lot of trial and error before coming to fruition. Thus, you have to be patient with the situation even if it’s unpleasant. In other words, trust your talent, dedication, and process. You also deserve extra patience because you’re likely doing your best to initiate change, and make things happen. Also, remember that sometimes plans can take longer than we originally expected. So again, be patient with yourself.

2). Avoid becoming discouraged.

I know it‘s easier said than done, but try not to feel overly discouraged about the slow progress of your dream. It’s okay to have a moment where you acknowledge your feelings and think things through. It’s even okay to get angry, or cry about it. But it’s not okay to degrade yourself, or anyone else because things aren’t going well. If you decide to have a moment, aka pity party, it’s fine. That moment should have healthy boundaries to help you to feel much lighter and better than when you started it.

Try this: set a timer for 15 minutes. Next, write down or say aloud everything you feel is wrong with the situation. Then, do something physical such as rip the paper up, punch the air, or go for a walk to get rid of those negative thoughts. Finally, do something positive to officially purge, and return to positivity. Do something like send a thoughtful text or an email to someone you haven’t heard from in a while, enjoy a fresh cup of tea or coffee, turn the music on and dance, draw a picture, or sing your favorite song. You should be smiling again soon!

3). Comparison is a thief.

When our plans don’t materialize, it’s easy to compare ourselves to someone else who seems to be doing well, or even slightly better than we are. If you’re not feeling inspired after thinking about someone successful, you’re allowing comparison to steal your joy and undermine your talents. Of course it’s fine to appreciate another woman’s journey, but you have to use it as genuine motivation. Comparison is very deceitful. Please be careful!

If you’re tempted to compare apples to oranges try this: look yourself in the eye in the mirror and say, ‘you’re not playing fair because you don’t know her journey. You’re very smart and talented. And, your time is coming.’ I do it all the time, and it works beautifully!

4). You did your best.

One of the most important things we should remember when we feel like quitting is that we did our best. And, who knows? You may want to try again in a few years. There’s nothing wrong with putting a dream such as a new business venture or completing a degree on hold until another time. Hopefully, by then you will have processed what contributed to things not working out, and what to do differently. Despite what happens, you owe it to yourself to remember that you’re successful and courageous because you tried, and did your best.

If you’re currently frustrated or anxious about something not coming to fruition, understand that you were talented and successful before you began, and you will still be talented and successful whether it materializes or not.

How do you manage your feelings when you feel like quitting?

———————————————————————

 Karen DoniereKaren Doniere is an author, blogger, and speaker with a passion to inspire women, moms, and mompreneurs to take better care of themselves. She is the chief curator of the KD Collection, where she shares her heart in every article. Karen is the author of the new Baby Bear children’s book series, and the creator of The Forgiveness Project: a positive and healing conversation where women feel safe to share their journeys. Through her mentorship program, she helps women turn their ideas into achievements, one plan at a time. Karen’s inspirational articles have been featured on websites such as She Owns It and She is Fierce.

Karen enjoys volunteering at her local domestic violence shelter, where she assists clients with polishing their resume and job interview skills. Her favorite titles are wife, and mom to three amazing young adults.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook

How to Resolve Workplace Conflict Like a Boss by @karen_doniere

by 5 Comments

Workplace Conflict, problems at work, arguing at work, don't like coworkers, don't like workmates

by Karen Doniere | Featured Contributor

Let’s face it: as much as we try to be a team player and work toward our team’s success, conflicts will arise. Those conflicts may be the result of personality clashes, differences of opinion, and more. What can you and I do to make certain that we maintain a high level of professionalism while making sure that we’re respected? Here are four steps to take to help you quickly resolve workplace conflict like a boss.

1). Define the Problem
Ask yourself these questions: what is the actual problem? Are there cultural or generational differences involved? Or, is it simply an issue of miscommunication or general dislike? Be honest with yourself in order to determine if you have directly or indirectly contributed to the problem. Then, be mature enough to accept responsibility for your contribution if any, and apologize. Apologies can be given via email, but I think they’re more personal when given in person or via telephone.

What if the other person involved in the conflict refuses to acknowledge any actions that led up to the disagreement? It doesn’t matter what they say or do from this point forward, because your intention is to take the high and gracious road to restore a measure of peace to your work environment, also known as your home away from home.

What if the issue is that they just don’t like you, and the feeling is mutual? Despite how they may feel about you or vice versa, you both are at work to perform a job that you were hired to do. And, although you’re not required to be best friends with your colleagues, you should want to give them the same respect you demand. Additionally, you want to maintain a stellar workplace reputation as a leader and team player so you’ll be in a better position to manage more exciting projects, and possibly secure a raise in the future.

2). Brainstorm Reasonable Solutions
Now that you’ve identified the problem and its initial cause, start brainstorming to think of reasonable solutions. What needs to happen? And, who do you need to converse with to make it happen? According to the American Time Use survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employed persons worked an average of 7.8 hours on the days they worked.” And, a similar 2013 survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that “U.S. workers ages 25 to 54, who lived with children under 18 spent 8.7 hours working each day.” Therefore, we spend more of our awake hours at work with our colleagues, than with our family and friends. This is why it’s important to quickly resolve any new or lingering issues so everyone can move on, and return to their work projects.

3). Compromise and Resolve
After you’ve thought about practical solutions to the conflict, reach out to your immediate supervisor to make him or her aware of what you’d like to happen, your role in that scenario, and schedule a meeting with everyone involved. Additionally, set one or two goals for the meeting during your preparation to ensure that you stay focused. Think about your intention, and the outcome that will make you happy.

Please understand that I’m not saying to go into this meeting with the goal of being disrespected, slandered, or spoken to in a condescending tone. But, I am saying to be very specific about the desired outcome, and what your next actions will be. If you approach the meeting as an opportunity to listen, be heard, and compromise, it will be a win-win situation for everyone.

Ask yourself what am I willing to compromise on? Maybe you could switch team meetings to mid-week instead of having them on Friday mornings. Or, maybe you could implement a monthly potluck lunch to promote a team spirit and get to know your colleagues better. Be willing to give in order to get back to your projects and your peace of mind.

4). Agree to Disagree
Dr. Beverly Flaxington stated in a Psychology Today article entitled “The Cost of Conflict in the Workplace,” that “we waste a lot of time ruminating over people who aren’t really doing anything to us; we just don’t like them. Don’t expend energy unless it matters.” Sometimes, no matter how much thought, preparation, and compromise occurs, the conflict may not get resolved in one session, or at all, and tensions may further escalate. In this situation I like to listen, speak my truth, agree to disagree, and keep it moving. I refuse to waste valuable time, energy, and mental space trying to appease others. But, I’m willing to yield and make concessions when possible. I’m also willing to treat anyone I’ve had a disagreement with cordially and respectfully, because it will ultimately make my work-life more pleasant.

The Silver Lining
Although workplace conflict isn’t nice for most, it becomes even more awkward when it’s left unresolved. I think brainstorming, effective communication, and a willingness to compromise are the most important keys to finding a reasonable resolution. Because we spend most of our awake hours at work, the culture should be one that promotes individuality, while encouraging a collaborative spirit that allows everyone to feel comfortable sharing their opinions and talents. Let’s pledge to do our part to contribute to that amazing atmosphere by quickly resolving conflict so that we can enjoy our work life even more.

References Used:
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2015). American time use survey summary.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2013). American time use survey.
Flaxington, B. (2012). The cost of conflict in the workplace. Psychology Today.

————————————————————-

 Karen DoniereKaren Doniere is an author, blogger, and speaker with a passion to inspire women, moms, and mompreneurs to take better care of themselves. She is the chief curator of the KD Collection, where she shares her heart in every article. Karen is the author of the new Baby Bear children’s book series, and the creator of The Forgiveness Project: a positive and healing conversation where women feel safe to share their journeys. Through her mentorship program, she helps women turn their ideas into achievements, one plan at a time. Karen’s inspirational articles have been featured on websites such as She Owns It and She is Fierce.

Karen enjoys volunteering at her local domestic violence shelter, where she assists clients with polishing their resume and job interview skills. Her favorite titles are wife, and mom to three amazing young adults.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook