 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
     |
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Frequently Asked Questions page will attempt to provide you with answers to the most commonly asked questions as collected from our research and other users of our website. If your question is not answered here, please contact us with your question, and we will respond within 2 business days. Simply select any question to which you would like to read the answer.
Q: What's the main difference between The Executive and Leading Up Programs? The Executive Program is for senior-level women executives who have new or expanded responsibilities within their company, or have recently been promoted to a senior position. The titles of those who take The Executive Program usually include, but are not limited to: President, Senior or Executive Vice President, CFO, CIO, General Manager, General Counsel, Executive and Managing Director, and Partner. Leading Up is for management or director-level women who want to learn the leadership and communication skills necessary to become effective senior-level leaders. You can learn more about these programs in Our Coaching Process. The Executive Program and Leading Up are both corporate-sponsored programs. You can either contact us by email or phone at (610) 660-6684 today to request the information you need to discuss within your organization. A consultant will contact you to discuss how to present The Leader's Edge and its benefits to the appropriate people in your organization. Or you may have your organization contact us directly. Q: Why should my company want to pay for this? Because enrolling your women executives and your management or director-level women with The Leader's Edge provides very strong benefits for your company. By showcasing your concern for, and dedication to promoting women, recruitment of the best and brightest becomes far easier. Likewise, your most talented women employees will be more easily retained, since they know that your company supports their long-term career goals. Additionally, The Leader's Edge helps women become more focused and productive leaders, allowing them to manage more efficiently and more strategically. We would encourage you to see How Your Company Benefits for more information on this important topic. Q: What experience do your coaches have? All of The Leader's Edge coaches have held high-ranking senior-level positions in a variety of industries. They all hold advanced degrees, and were specifically chosen because of their knowledge of the issues facing women executives in the business world today. For more on this, see Our Biographies located in the About Us section. Q: What has happened to the glass ceiling? Recent statistics from the government note that women now represent almost 52% of the nation's workforce and yet hold less than 12% of the top corporate officer positions and only 3.8% of the top wage earning jobs (Catalyst, 1999). These statistics would indicate that if there is not still a glass ceiling in corporate America, there certainly is a significant shortage of women holding the most strategic roles in business. These statistics have not improved dramatically over the last five years the facts suggest that American business is not fully utilizing women's talent. The Leader's Edge Research indicates that women are in need of stronger professional and industry networks, a greater understanding of their competencies and leadership style (especially as it relates to the cultures of their organizations), more effective training in communications, negotiations and self-promoting, and greater confidence in their skills and experience in order to compete for higher positions. Q: What communication strategies can you share that have been effective for today's most successful women leaders? Listening is a wonderful skill and not as easy as it seems. If you truly listen to what is being said in meetings, in one on ones, and in informal gatherings, instead of pushing your own agenda, you will learn what is really going on in your company and what the real issues are. Communicating effectively is also an important skill. In addition to being prepared on a subject before you speak, you want to demonstrate confidence and competence. Think first about whether the idea you are about to present triggers an emotional note in you. Be sure that if you are excited or angry that you keep your voice steady and modulated. Too often, women's voices will rise when they are excited about a topic and they come off as sounding shrill or worse "overly emotional". If you learn what triggers your emotions, you will be more in control of your response. Most importantly, don't forget to speak up! Your ideas may be excellent and you don't want someone else to beat you to the punch because you were shy. Q: How can a woman be assertive without being thought of negatively? The difference between being assertive and being aggressive is often a matter of presentation. An assertive person presents her arguments and ideas in a clear, firm and always respectful way. Modulate your voice when you get excited so you don't sound shrill. Identify and observe an executive with an assertive style who is not aggressive. Q: How can I stay networked when all my time seems to be dedicated to my job and family? A strong network of gurus in your field, industry leaders, peers doing the same job as you for different companies can only add value to the performance of your job. Networking should become part of your day to day responsibilities. Put together a list of people inside and outside your company who could increase your knowledge base and expand your thinking about how you do your work. It is important that you stay on the cutting edge of your field, that you know what your competition is doing and that they know you. If you share this objective with your boss and your intention to bring back to the workplace new ways of doing things and the latest ideas in your field, your networking activities could become part of your job description. At the end of the day, if you have a strong internal network, you won't be standing alone and unprotected, if times change. If you do need to find a new position, you will find that your search goes much more quickly and successfully if you are already known externally. Look for opportunities to speak at conferences and seminars and go to those that are highly recommended. Explore joining a Board which has a related mission to your company's and figure out how to get nominated onto it. This can provide not only contacts but useful information. And from time to time, buy yourself a little time and have an early breakfast or an after work drink with a contact.
Don't see an answer to your question? Use the form below to get a personalized answer to your question within 48 hours.
|
|
