Top 5 Lessons Learned in 2023: A Year of Empowerment for Female Leaders
As we prepare for the new year, it’s a great time for reflection and introspection. The year 2023 has been a remarkable journey, not just in terms of the challenges we faced but, more importantly, in the lessons we learned and the growth we experienced. This year has been a testament to our strength, adaptability, leadership, and resilience, particularly in the face of unprecedented challenges. It was a year that not only tested us but also highlighted our unique capabilities as women in leadership roles.
These insights have shaped our approach, honed our skills, and prepared us to lead with more conviction and impact. Here are the top five lessons that have been particularly resonant, each shaping our path toward a more empowered and influential future.
- Embrace the Power of Dreams and Vision: This year has underscored the importance of dreaming big and aligning those dreams with our values and vision. As female leaders, we’ve seen the power of visualization and...
Taking the Leap from Leader to Advisor
Heidi Melin, a Strategic Marketing Leader, Board Director, and Go-To-Market Advisor, has navigated the complexities of the business world with unparalleled finesse. Her career has evolved from operational roles to advisory capacities, making her a go-to expert for those contemplating a similar transition.
This interview is a goldmine of practical advice and actionable insights. If you're an executive mulling over your next career move or an up-and-coming leader looking to expand your skill set, Heidi's experience offers a roadmap worth following. Don't miss the opportunity to glean wisdom from a leader who's been there, done that, and continues to redefine success.
TIMESTAMP:
- 2:54 - Be Open to Unexpected Opportunities
- 8:15 - Explore Unconventional Paths
- 12:44 - Deep Connections Open Doors
- 14:49 - Self-Assessment Guides Career Choices
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Be Open to Unexpected Opportunities
Being receptive to opportunities that come from unexpected places...
Having Influence when Emotions are Running High
So many times, whether in a professional setting or personal life, having influence or getting through to someone that you're in disagreement with can seem like an uphill battle. I know I've wrestled with it, and from my recent message to my client about these very challenges, it's clear many others do too. But since this is such an important topic, I didn't want to stop there. I wanted to share these insights with you as well.
When emotions are running high, conversations can quickly escalate into conflict, leaving both parties feeling frustrated and misunderstood. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are strategies we can all learn to communicate more effectively, even in the most emotionally charged situations. These strategies are not about manipulation but about understanding, empathy, and collaboration.
Whether you're trying to negotiate at work, talk to a family member about a sensitive topic, or have any crucial conversation that's potentially emotionally...
3 Steps to Build the Influence You Want and Deserve
There is a misconception about influence that it is reserved for the elite few or for those in positions of authority.
We all have ideas, feelings and wisdom that deserve to be heard AND that may have a profound impact on others. I almost look at it as an obligation. Whether you feel like you are influential or not, you can learn to become more influential, and it starts with gaining an influential mindset.
Keep in mind that you believe what you consistently tell yourself, so use your internal voice wisely! You may have to be an actor or actress in the beginning.
I DON'T mean "fake it until you MAKE it."
I DO mean, "fake it until you BECOME it."
The first step to gaining the influence at work OR at home, is to believe that what you desire is possible.
Fortunately, there's a great tool you can use to do just that! It's a positive affirmations app that myself and my 1:1 clients use called ThinkUp. Used...
The Cost of Worry and Uncertainty and (what you can do about it)
New leadership is often one of the biggest drivers of worry and uncertainty, both for the employees and the new leader themselves. This is because new leadership typically brings about changes and a shift in organizational culture, which can understandably lead to anxiety and stress for those involved.
While extremely normal, it’s not so great for innovative ability, productivity, or profitability, especially during disruptive or challenging times.
For employees, a new leader may bring uncertainty about their job security or the direction of the organization. They may worry about whether the new leader will have the same values and priorities as the previous leader, or whether they will be able to work effectively with the new leader.
Similarly, for the new leader, taking on a new role can be overwhelming and stressful. They may worry about whether they will be able to live up to the expectations of the organization, the board, and the employees, or whether they will be able...
Want More Influence with Your Leadership and/or Board?
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to negotiate when lives are on the line, in deadly hostage stand-offs, with ISIS, or with an armed man with sniper weapons on the National Mall in Washington DC? Sounds terrifying, highly emotional, and exhausting, right?
Grant it that negotiations with your leadership and/or board may not be life or death, but they can be no less exhausting or frustrating when you’re not heard, valued, and respected for your ideas and initiatives.
I’ll be joining FBI and NYPD International Hostage Negotiator Chris Voss again (the first training was in October 2022 in NYC), so I can help you stand in your power even more for yourself, your company, and those leaders coming after you.
As we know all too well when women are not heard or don’t have a big enough voice at the table, it’s costly.
Consider that productivity has taken its biggest dip since 1947, and it’s costing U.S. companies north of 600 billion dollars a year,...
The First Step to Defuse an Emotionally Charged Conversation
“When the pressure is on, you don’t rise to the occasion —
you fall to your highest level of preparation.”
- Chris Voss
I recently spent time with Chris Voss and a few of his Black Swan NYPD and FBI hostage negotiators in New York City. It was slightly terrifying (I’m half joking), but the quote above sums up why most emotionally charged conversations escalate and ultimately fail to be productive.
Lack of preparation.
This is the first part of a live SOLD OUT masterclass series presented to the @theWITNetwork and the topic for an upcoming live event for @Coco Brown's amazing @the-athena-alliance, so I hope you find it helpful as well!
Most of us catastrophize about a potentially emotionally charged conversation which is understandable. Who wants to have an uncomfortable conversation? But, if the conversation is potentially emotional, it's likely an important one.
The first step to defuse an emotionally charged conversation is to make sure you...
Isn’t It Time for Real Change? Let’s Do This!
Isn't It Time for Real Change? Let's Do This!
The world seems to be in a precarious place, and I believe wholeheartedly that the course correction that we need to see right now will be led by women (and fueled by some incredible allies). Do you agree?
As part of the Limitless Leader community, you’re undoubtedly committed to being a heard, valued, respected, and energized agent of change, with your family, peers, subordinates, and with your leadership while empowering others to do the same.
In addition to being lit up by what’s possible, sometimes leaning into our highest sense of contribution, can sometimes be challenging, frustrating, and downright exhausting!
Believe me, I hear you 100%.
Where our passion meets our expertise is our Olympics, our legacy, and what the world so desperately needs to see right now.
Like the work put in by Olympians, the thousands of hours and days leading up to competition, sometimes in solitude, and with no fanfare or recognition, we keep...
Two Ways to Get Clear on What Really Matters in 2022
Two Ways to Get Clear on What Really Matters in 2022
Do you ever get distracted or veer from what’s most important? Maybe you’re too overwhelmed to think about it, or you’re not even clear on what it is anymore! If so, you’re definitely not alone. Maybe it’s time to course-correct and get more strategic about the year you want to have and the impact you’re going to create in 2022…
This has certainly been a year of reflection, and it’s the perfect time to get clear on what matters most to you, how you’d like to achieve it, and how you’d like to feel in the process.
Maybe you’re so busy that you don’t have time to make a shift, or you are not sure where to start. As we wind up the year, here are a couple of things that might help create the impact you want and deserve on your terms.
Consider that goals are not just about your career, such as meeting/exceeding projections, having more influence with leadership,...
Top 4 Ways NOT to Bomb in the Boardroom
(Scroll below to view the video)
Top 4 Ways NOT to Bomb in the Boardroom
Have you ever had a meeting, presentation or any important interaction go sideways? Most of us have. Along with being a missed opportunity to gain the influence, recognition or respect we want and deserve, what stings the most is usually our disappointment in ourselves. Let’s make sure it never happens again.
Here are the top 4 ways that amazing leaders and emerging leaders make mistakes AND how to convert the bomb to being a boss in the boardroom (or in any other crucial interaction):
1.) Lack of Preparation
Since you and your colleagues are likely Zoomed out, this is more important now more than ever. Plan key points/asks/needs/outcomes. Think through how you want the interaction to turn out, and how you want to feel once it’s over. Make it as vivid and visceral as possible, then visualize it until you believe it’s possible.
2.) Lack of Empathy
When it comes to crucial...
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