In classical Greek and Roman history oratory was by definition a male pursuit and the deeper male voice a prerequisite. A woman who spoke publicly, if it happened at all, was, by definition, not a woman. A friend loaned me this book, “Women and Power” by Professor Mary Beard. Writing about the very long historyContinue reading "The History of ‘Silencing’ Women and Ideas for Redefining Power"
A Great Way to Kick Off Giving Feedback
In an earlier blog I wrote about the importance of seeking feedback for your development. It’s also helpful to know how best to give feedback to those you lead. The feedback sandwich, in which the area for development is sandwiched in between praise doesn’t work so well. You can seem disingenuous. Or people can dismissContinue reading "A Great Way to Kick Off Giving Feedback"
Māori Women Leadership Styles
I presented earlier in September with a Māori clinical psychologist and colleague of mine, Dr Pikihuia Pomare, at the New Zealand Psychological Society’s Jubilee conference in Auckland (NZPsS). We presented some ideas on navigating race and gender in the workplace particularly considering the experience of Māori women leaders. I wanted to share one of theContinue reading "Māori Women Leadership Styles"
How to Get More Feedback. And Yes… You Really Do Want It
Women can sometimes miss out on development opportunities because they are less likely to be offered feedback due to an assumption or fear that women will get emotional or upset about constructive feedback or criticism. (Tips on how best to give feedback, an important skill to develop, is a different blog post!) This means thatContinue reading "How to Get More Feedback. And Yes… You Really Do Want It"
7 Ways to Make Networking More Enjoyable
The idea of networking prompts anxiety for many of us. And yet it is so important. You have to build relationships no matter what industry you are in. Lois Frankel author of Nice Girls Still Don’t Get the Corner Office says that by the time you need a relationship it’s too late to build one.Continue reading "7 Ways to Make Networking More Enjoyable"
Why Work? Part 3: Its Good For You!
Working is good for you too. I left this to last, to Part 3 of 3. Do you do that? Think of others first? Leave yourself to last? That’s what nice girls do. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t notice until now. This is one unconscious bias that regularly trips me up. Kindness, generosity, andContinue reading "Why Work? Part 3: Its Good For You!"
Why Work? Why 50:50?… It is Good For Your Relationship
Last week I wrote about how, when it gets tough blending both work and family, we need to connect with the reasons why we are working. The reasons for working are different and personal and ideally, values-based, but it can help to also know that you are doing a good thing for you, your partnerContinue reading "Why Work? Why 50:50?… It is Good For Your Relationship"
Why Work? Why 50:50? … It’s Good For Your Kids
Often mornings before work are a pressure point, where the tensions between home and work are front and centre. On those morning when we rush to get ourselves presentable and our kids ready and delivered to childcare or school our best laid plans can get derailed; kids are sick, there are no clean socks, hairContinue reading "Why Work? Why 50:50? … It’s Good For Your Kids"
The ‘Best’ Leadership Books are Written By…?
You may have already noticed that relatively few books on leadership are written by women. And not just books for women but leadership books for everyone written by women. I was searching Blinkist (a great app which provides bite-sized summaries in text or in audio of over 2000 non-fiction books and used by over 6Continue reading "The ‘Best’ Leadership Books are Written By…?"
Fantastic Podcasts for Women, Work, and Leadership
One of the keys to sustaining ourselves while navigating through our days carrying the added baggage of gender bias at work and in our wider lives, is to get active support from our women friends and peers and wider village. My ‘Village’ includes diverse groups of friends, family members, other school-parents, professional bodies, networks, andContinue reading "Fantastic Podcasts for Women, Work, and Leadership"
BREAKGLASS COACHING 