Leadership Companion Blog

As women leaders, we’re often expected to exhibit bravery in our professional and personal lives. GET MY VISION COMPANION We’re expected to be confident, decisive, and unafraid to take risks, or at least not tell people that we’re scared to act. What does it mean to be brave? And how can we find the courage to do what needs to be done, even when we’re afraid? What Does it Mean to Be Brave? Being brave is not the absence of fear; rather, it’s the ability to act despite it. It is the willingness to take risks, to face uncertainty and

Burnout is a common phenomenon that can affect anyone, but it disproportionately affects women leaders. GET MY GOAL COMPANION The constant juggling of responsibilities, dealing with high-pressure situations, and being held to unreasonably high expectations can all lead to us feeling overworked, exhausted, and burned out. Burnout is often seen as a rite of passage and we think it has to be the norm for us. Some of us feel that we need to push ourselves to the brink of exhaustion to prove our worth, yet this can be detrimental to us, our teams, and the organizations we lead. I

Losing your job, no matter what the reason, is never an easy experience. However, a job loss can also be an opportunity for growth and a catalyst to reassessing your career goals. Here are some tips on how to stay positive when faced with a layoff: GET MY VISION COMPANION Allow Yourself to Feel Your Emotions It is natural to feel sadness and frustration when dealing with job loss. It’s important to take the time to process these emotions and allow yourself to grieve over the loss of your job. This will help you clear your mind and focus on

In one of my group coaching sessions recently, one of the women asked how to have more productive days. GET MY GOAL COMPANION She said that there always is so much to do and she never feels like she’s making progress on anything, because she’s either in a meeting or responding to emails. I thought the steps that others shared were helpful, as did my client, so I thought I would share them with you. 1. Plan your day the night before At the end of each work day write out all the things you need to do the following

As a woman leader, it’s easy to get caught up in the expectations of others and lose sight of who you truly are. GET MY VISION COMPANION However, authenticity is key to building trust, inspiring others, and achieving success. Here are some strategies for showing up as your true self as a leader: Know Yourself The first step to leading authentically is knowing yourself. Take time to reflect on your values, strengths, and weaknesses. Consider taking a personality assessment (CliftonStrengths is my favorite!) or working with a coach to gain further insight into your leadership style. Embrace Your Unique Perspective

As a woman leader, finding work-life balance can be challenging. Whether you’re managing a team, running your own business, or working in a high-pressure corporate environment, it’s easy to get caught up in the demands of your career and neglect other areas of your life. However, achieving work-life balance is essential for both your personal and professional wellbeing. Here are some strategies that can help you find success in both areas: GET MY GOAL COMPANION Prioritize Your Health Your physical and mental health should always come first. Make time for regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and stress-reducing activities such as

Failure is inevitable in life. Whether it’s a failed relationship, a failed project, or a failed career move, we all experience setbacks at some point. The true test of our character lies not in avoiding failure, but in how we respond to it. Getting back up after falling down can be one of the most difficult things we do. It takes courage, perseverance, and resilience. With the right mindset and these strategies, you can overcome failure and keep moving forward. GET MY VISION COMPANION Acknowledge Your Emotions The first step in getting back up is acknowledging your emotions. It’s natural

This week, I heard many clients echo the power of their mastermind groups. They described the women in their groups as: empowering, uplifting, successful, supportive, understanding and amazing. I started wondering how many women are still missing out, because they describe the women around them as: selfish, controlling, backstabbing, game-playing, and even “bitchy”. GET MY GOAL COMPANION Women have made significant strides in leadership positions over the years, breaking through barriers and shattering glass ceilings. Despite these advancements, women are still struggling, often at the hands of other women. This is where the importance of women leaders helping each other

As women continue to break barriers and shatter glass ceilings in leadership roles, they are also facing a growing epidemic: burnout. Despite their success, many women leaders are struggling to balance the demands of work and personal life, leading to exhaustion, stress, and even physical illness. Research has shown that women leaders face unique challenges in the workplace that can contribute to burnout. From gender bias and discrimination to imposter syndrome and unrealistic expectations, these factors can take a toll on mental health and overall well-being. GET MY VISION COMPANION The “Double Shift” Phenomenon One major contributor to burnout among

Women leaders face a unique set of challenges in the workplace. Sadly, one of the most significant obstacles is navigating toxic work environments. These environments can be harmful to anyone; however, women often face additional barriers due to gender bias and discrimination. The other day, I was in a coaching room with a group of c-suite women discussing the topic of burnout. One woman said that burnout and toxic work environments go hand-in-hand for her. Just five months earlier, we saw her get fired from her c-suite job. The immediacy of her job loss came as a shock to her

I have a client who landed a vice president position with a fortune 100 company last spring. All year, she would tell us that she was excited for the Celebration of Failures. She had no idea what this would look like; however, so many employees shared excitement about it that she knew it was not to be missed. And, she was right. At our meeting in January, she told us that the celebration was an amazing event that lasted most of the day and truly created a culture that wasn’t afraid to fail. She told us that she identified a

Women leaders have been breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings for decades, paving the way for future generations of strong, capable women. GET MY GOAL COMPANION However, one trait that has been consistently overlooked is authenticity. Authenticity is often seen as a vulnerability, a weakness that can be exploited by others. In reality, it is a strength. Authenticity allows leaders to connect with their team on a deeper level, build trust and respect, and create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. When it comes to women leaders specifically, authenticity is even more important. Women have

As we celebrate Women’s History Month this month, it’s important to recognize the incredible contributions of women leaders throughout history. From political pioneers to groundbreaking scientists, women have made significant strides in every field imaginable. GET MY VISION COMPANION Political Leaders Women have been making waves in politics for centuries, from suffragettes fighting for the right to vote to modern-day politicians breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings. Some notable political leaders include: Kamala Harris: The first female Vice President of the United States and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks: An American activist in the

I’ve been coaching a woman for almost a year and about once a quarter we coach through her time management. GET MY GOAL COMPANION She always starts off strong after coaching on this topic and then tells me that she notices she starts to backslide and needs help getting back on track. So this post is for anyone looking to better manage their time. 1. Clarify your goals and strategy Be very clear about your aims and ambitions, both short and long term. Write them down. Once you know what you really want to achieve (and why) it’s easier to

It’s hard sometimes to be almost seven weeks into the new year and already feel like we’ll never accomplish anything this year. GET MY VISION COMPANION We’ve already given up on the goals we made at the start of the year or we were laid off and going after a goal seems so hard right now. I talked with a client recently who was laid off at the start of the year and she said she had to dust off her goal setting muscles again. These are her five easy ways to accomplish any goal: 1. Establish a definite date

Recently, I was struggling with how to achieve success with something I had agreed to do. Ultimately, I had to eliminate three beliefs and wanted to share them with you. To set the stage for you, here’s the background about my struggle. My daughter’s high school takes a break between semesters and all students do something different. Some go overseas and build homes in impoverished areas while others stay more local and serve communities in need. Still others take courses at school that they ordinarily wouldn’t have the opportunity to take. The goal is to develop students into lifelong servant

A boundary is not about telling another person what to do. It is about telling another person what YOU will do in the face of the other person’s continued unkind or undesirable behavior. While it is hard for most people to accept, we cannot control another’s behavior. What we can control is our own response when faced by someone’s behavior. Often when I talk about boundaries with others, I like to use a picture of a “No Trespassing” sign. We don’t walk around with a fence around us and a no trespassing sign on it. Instead, we need to use

Everyone I have ever talked to that is a leader has had to come face to face with their fears. I have had to as well. I want to share with you some of the techniques that I have used to face them. The first step is not to be in denial. You have fears even if you don’t readily acknowledge them. They sometimes take the form of that chatter in the back of your head that says you can’t do it. Fear is such a huge issue preventing people from becoming leaders. Here are some of the techniques I

I know a number of my clients have set the goal of being a better leader so they can be more successful. An important part of success in life is the ability to lead. It is important that we not only be able to lead others but be willing to lead ourselves. No one succeeds in life by simply following others. Sometimes we must strike a bold new path for ourselves. Being a good leader is more than being at the top of the organizational chart. Too often, we think that leadership means sounding and looking the part; however, the

Setting goals is one of the most commonly used training tools and even soft skill improvement tools. Goals can organize your focus and endeavors towards achieving a specific task. They also increase persistence and motivation for long-term training. Having a goal can help you find new learning strategies for developing your leadership prowess. Unfortunately, goals are all too often made incorrectly. If you are interested in setting some goals, or even reevaluating your current goals, follow these seven steps for proper goal setting. GET MY GOAL COMPANION 1. Define Your Goal Ask yourself these questions: What exactly do you want

The other day, I was scheduled for a meeting with an attorney who was interested in hiring me to coach her. She had sent me a note that she was overwhelmed by everything going on in her life and wanted my help. We picked a time that worked for both of us. When our scheduled time came, I logged in to zoom and she wasn’t there. Three minutes later, she logged on via phone and told me that she was late for a parent teacher association meeting at school and was waiting for her Uber to arrive. I suggested that