Circles of Change: Conversations with Dr. Zara Larsen
on Change Leadership and Career Fulfillment
March 8, 2009
“Destiny beneath Your Own Feet, Rise off The Sticky Floors”
Guest: Becky Shambaugh
Author of It’s Not the Glass Ceiling, It’s the Sticky Floor
Anchoring Points:
- More than one-third of Fortune 500 managers are women, yet they represent barely five percent of the top earners among executives. Usually the blame is placed on the “glass ceiling”, the “old boy” networks or “the club” that prevents access to opportunities. I believe the real obstacles to women’s advancement are self-imposed career blacks that prevent upward mobility, “sticky floors”.
- It all begins with our needing to create our own roadmaps to a chosen destination, based on values, beliefs and strengths – knowing your heart, mind and dreams.
- The Seven Sticky Floors are:
· Balancing Your Work and Life – contending with the multitasking, martyr, self-critic and perfectionist syndromes; learning to say NO
· Embracing “Good Enough” in Your Work – let go of the pressure to be perfect, and recalibrate your work standards to fit the environment
· Making the Break – do not stay in one place too long, or be too loyal; what worked in the past may not provide for the future
· Forming Your Own Board of Directors – operational, personal and strategic relationships matter
· Capitalizing on Your Political Savvy – emotion intelligence, self marketing, informal interactions
· Making Your Words Count – verbal and non-verbal, active listening, plan your message, stay on message, leverage questions, adapt your style, facilitate
· Asking for What You Want – collaboration and negotiation
- These are very challenging times and individuals and organizations need to do more than just tweak. We need to reset the dial and dramatically reframe for the future – including addressing the impediments to peak performance, and thus take charge of our own career advancement.
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