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What's the price of beauty as it relates to your career?

2011-11-10T15:11:43Z

From a professional standpoint, I often counsel women on the importance of executive presence which includes physical appearance, communication ability and authentic connection. When I talk about physical appearance, I'm typically referring to charisma and poise. Rarely do I talk about a person's clothing or physical beauty although clearly that is part of it.

If you assumed that being good-looking gives you a career edge, then guess what? You're right. Daniel Hamermesh, an economics professor at the University of Texas in Austin, talks about the benefits in his book, Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful.

Attractive people earn three to four percent more than someone with average looks. That's an estimated $230,000 more over the life of a career.

Why do good-looking people have this advantage? Like it or not, good-looking people are perceived to be more charming which means they get hired faster, make more sales and get more raises.

No matter what you look like physically there are things that you can do to enhance your physical appearance. If your goal is to move ahead in your career and make more money then it pays do whatever you can to look good at work.

The bottom line is that someone is going to make more money. At the end of the day, that someone could be you.

What's the price of beauty as it relates to your career? Share your comments here.

P.S. Join me next week and find out the how to embrace the spirit of abundance and put a holiday twist on networking. (Learn More)

What myths are holding your career back?

2011-11-04T16:25:00Z

There are a lot of myths that have been coming to light with regards to women's careers. Sometimes we need to take a step back, examine them and then put those myths to rest once and for all.

In the November issue of The WATT® Report, our email newsletter for WATT® Network members, I shared my thoughts on several career myths and ways to overcome them. (Contact info@theWATTnetwork.com to learn how to join, subscribe or receive a complimentary copy.)

I also shared information on how to make more money, what the chief executive of Dun & Bradstreet had to say about balance, and the results from our 2011 Women at the Top® Study.

What career myths have you bought into? Share your comments here.

P.S. Sign up for our upcoming programs! (Schedule of Events) You will gain practical skills and be inspired to reach for the top. Most programs are FR*EE for members or a small fee for guests!

What can you learn from these women at the top?

2011-10-28T20:46:12Z

Yesterday my company hosted our annual Women at the Top® Panel Program. Normally I’m the moderator but this year to switch things up a bit, and to provide me with some relief while dealing with a sick family member who later passed away, founding member, Cindy Haas took the helm and moderated our panel program.

In talking with those who listened in on the call, they told me they walked away with some great information, as our moderator guided the panelists (including me!) through some great questions.

Here are some of the nuggets of wisdom shared by our panelists on the call:

“Control what you can and don’t let the things you can’t control eat you up.”
– Laura Helumueller, Senior Vice President & Market Manager, Bremer Bank

“Do good work and people will see that so when you do take risks, you’ll have a foundation to work from.”
– Sona Mehring, Founder & CEO, CaringBridge

“Don’t be afraid to take risks.”
– Regina Barr, Founder & CEO, Red Ladder and Founder, Women at the Top® Network

I always appreciate hearing from other women what the keys to their success are. Maybe because I’ve come to learn that, despite what we may think, we don’t have to walk the road to success alone. We can learn and be inspired by the experiences – good, bad or otherwise – of other women who have walked a similar path.

These women graciously shared their revelations on how you can raise your profile, achieve career success and gain access to the executive suite. In today's fast-paced work environment we can all use a little wisdom now and then.

In the spirit of learning from each other, what advice do you have for other women who are aspiring to play at the top of their game? Share your comments here.
Regina

Regina Barr
Founder, Women at the Top® Network

P.S. Don't forget to register for my upcoming interview with Shaunti Feldhahn, author of The Male Factor: The Unwritten Rules, Misperceptions, and Secret Believes of Men in the Workplace on November 10^th, 12 noon CT! (Learn More or Register Here.)

2011 Women at the Top® Study Reveals Progress for Women in Banking

2011-10-28T20:45:18Z

Each year my company conducts our signature Women at the Top® Study. This year our efforts focused on women in banking and it was exciting to note that there has been some progress. Women held just one in five senior-level positions in the nation’s 50 largest banks, but more of them have reached the C-suite, according to our latest Women at the Top® study.

This year’s study included a broader number of positions – 940 – than in years past, but overall the results remained the same: 17.6 percent of women hold management jobs at big U.S. banks, compared with 17.4 percent in 2010 when just 540 positions were evaluated.

However, broadening the range of the study also yielded a noticeable finding: there were 40 women in top jobs. The results showed more women in senior management jobs – including three CEOs, an improvement from none in 2010, and nine CFOs, up from four last year. The number of women in other chief positions at the big banks – ranging in size from $12 billion to nearly $1.8 trillion – increased too.

To learn more about this study, you can read the press release here or you can access the executive summary here.

Regardless of what industry you work in, I hope you are seeing progress too. I'd like to know either way. Share your comments here.

What impact does the media have on role models and your career?

2011-10-14T20:40:40Z

More than you might think. Once again I was reminded of how important the media and role models are to women in business after viewing a short film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom put out by MissRepresentation.org. (Watch the Trailer.)

The film Miss Representation exposes how American youth are being sold the concept that women and girls’ value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality. MissRepresentation.org seeks to break the cycle of mistruths.

Why is this important to you? Because we are inundated with media every day. As a society, we learn more from the media than any other source of information. And, while the studies have shown that what holds women back is the lack of role models, mentors, and sponsors, it all begins with role models.

Marie Wilson, Founding President of The White House Project, says it best: you can't be what you can't see. This is true for women just as much as girls.

Rachel Maddow (host, MSNBC ) disccussed the effort that was made by other powerful women in television to reach out to welcome her, to tell her how happy they were that she was there, and that they wanted to be a resource for her. If only more women provided this support to other aspiring women leaders. (Read my post on Tall Poppy Syndrome.)

Do you feel the media has an impact on role models and your career? Share your comments here.

P.S. Be inspired by women who have successfully risen through the ranks. Join us on 10/27 for our Annual Women at the Top® Panel program! (Learn More or Register Here)

Could this be why more women aren't "heard" at work?

2011-10-13T22:32:40Z

It happened again. What's that you ask? More men spoke up than women at an event where I was presenting.

Here's what happened. I was facilitating a workshop with almost 170 people. I had the participants do a table exercise. I asked each table to identify a spokesperson. After completing the exercise, I asked for several volunteers to share their results with the larger group. I only had time to have a few of the tables share results.

Of the four tables that volunteered to share information, I realized (too late), that all of the spokespersons were men. I didn't realize this until after I had asked for my final volunteer and of course, a man raised his hand. Had I realized this sooner, I would have made an attempt to get one of the women to share some comments.

Is this an anomaly? I don't think so.

I wrote earlier this year about attending a large event hosted by Financial Executives International. There were several hundred people in the audience, but only a handful of women including me. When they opened up the floor to questions, I realized that none of the women were raising their hands and asking questions. I raised my hand but again, it was too late. They took their final question (from a man) and then wrapped up the event.

Here's the bottom line. You have to speak up if you want to be heard at work. That means you need to offer your input during meetings, raise your hands and ask questions during presentations, and yes, volunteer to be the spokesperson during training. It's really that simple.

In this situation we have no one to blame but ourselves. Are you being heard at work? Share your comments here.

Do you know the #1 way to fast forward your career?

2011-10-10T17:30:00Z

This is a question that I often ask my clients. The answer? Build social capital.

To be honest, sometimes I even forget how important this is. With fourth quarter just kicking off, now is a great time to think about ways you can build and grow your social capital.

In the October issue of The WATT® Report, our email newsletter for WATT® Network members, I shared my thoughts on ways you can go about building social capital. (Contact info@theWATTnetwork.com to learn how to join, subscribe or receive a complimentary copy.)

What are you doing to build your social capital? Share your comments here.

Do you ever feel like you're juggling glass balls?

2011-09-29T22:43:58Z

I don't know about anyone else, but I've been operating at one speed these past two weeks, and that is overdrive. That has put me into one single mental state: overwhelm. Can you relate?

Since I seem to be perpetually doling out advice to clients, I find it important to at least attempt to practice what I preach. So having said that, I'll admit that juggling everything has been a wee bit of a challenge. Good thing that I'm so resilient said tongue-in-cheek.

Which reminded me of a passage that I read in a James Paterson book, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. (Shocker! It's not a business book.) In it the main character is talking about recovering from a heart attack at age 35. A doctor friend told her the story of five balls and, for a rather mindless fiction book, I thought the story was, and is, still relevant.

The story of the five balls goes like this. You imagine that life is a game in which you are required to juggle five balls. The balls are the usual suspects: work, family, health, friends and integrity. (Well, maybe the integrity ball surprised you but it's especially relevant now more than ever, given today's business environment.) Your job is to keep all the balls in the air, but then you realize that not all the balls are the same. Hmm...

The work ball is made of rubber. So guess what? If you drop that one, it will bounce right back. (Be careful that it doesn't hit you!) The other balls, however, are made of glass. That's right. If you drop your family, health, friends or integrity, they could become scuffed, nicked, and even damaged beyond repair. Not good, right?

The idea is that once you begin to understand the lesson of the five balls, then you will finally have balance in your life. (Or, if you're a slow learner, a lot of shattered balls!)

I don't believe in balance per se, I believe in integration. But the message of the five balls still resonated with me because, on occasion, even I have dropped a few balls, often the non-work variety. Enough said.

Have you ever dropped a few balls? Share your comments here.

Has this career crossroad ever derailed your career?

2011-09-20T11:27:46Z

We all face crossroads in our careers but there are at least two that are unique to women:

1. Off-ramping to have a baby or take care of children.
2. Re-entry after maternity leave or the kids have gone back to school.

Many women find these crossroads to be particularly challenging. What's the biggest obstacle?

Fear.

Will I have a job when I go back? Will my skills be obsolete? Will I fit in since so much has changed since I left? The list goes on and on.

Last week I asked author Karen Kodzik about this while interviewing her, and she said the best way to move past the fear is to know that you always have options. The next best thing? Know yourself, make a choice and develop a roadmap.

The reality is this. Women have babies and are typically the caregivers for family members in society. Off-ramping and on-ramping are normal crossroads for women. The sooner we all recognize that - particularly the companies we work for - the better off we'll all be.

Have you ever been derailed for taking time off for family? Share your comments here.

Do you think a corporate revolution is coming?

2011-09-19T16:43:58Z

It's not usually my style, but I have to admit when I read this article, Social Power and the Coming Corporate Revolution, skepticism broke out all over me.

Don't get me wrong. I love the idea that employees and customers will call the shots. If you think about the fact that women control 80% of the buying decisions, and make up over half the work force, this thought makes my head just spin with possibility.

Why? Because all I can think of will be all those great opportunities for women that will be just around the corner up ahead. That's when the skepticism sets in.

Not to be a Debbie-downer (as my friend Cindy would say) but here's the current reality. Most people I know employed by large companies are not calling the shots. In fact, most corporate employees I know are hanging on for dear life as they try to manage workloads and keep their jobs.

As for customers, service across the board has taken such a hit that I think most of us, by default, stay where we're at (regardless of how poorly we're served) because of the unknown: the next company could be worse!

Am I the only skeptic in the crowd? Share your comments here.

Are you a victim of hidden bias at work?

2011-09-15T10:56:34Z

I've been in business long enough to know that there are more opportunities for women than ever before. Unfortunately, I've also been in business long enough to know that bias still exists but in subtle ways that may be more difficult to uncover.

In the September issue of the WATT® Report, our email newsletter for WATT® Network members, I shared my thoughts on How to Combat Hidden Bias if Your Goal is the Top Job. (Contact info@theWATTnetwork.com to learn how to join, subscribe or receive a complimentary copy.)

Have you been a victim of hidden bias? Share your comments here.

Do you think it's okay to cry at work?

2011-09-15T00:53:39Z

I was recently asked this question: when it comes to crying at work is it okay or not? My response: No! Unless of course you’ve just received word that a family member or your dog died. Doesn’t matter who you are but especially for women.

I know. That’s all well and good, right? But the reality is sometimes we do reach a breaking point. That's when the tears well up from out of nowhere and when you least expect them, typically, at the most inopportune time. Like when you’re meeting with your boss.

What to do? Break the action of whatever is going on that is causing you to want to cry. In a meeting? Say let’s take a quick break and grab some coffee. (Then run to the restroom and compose yourself.)

On the phone with an irate customer? Tell them you need to do some research and will get back to them. Then go on a quick ‘walk about.’ Come back when your emotions have settled down.

Just had a disagreement with a co-worker or your boss? Take a break and down a glass of ice water and do whatever it takes to squelch the need to cry.

If you absolutely must cry, do it in private and bring whatever you are going to need to freshen up. Remember, you can cry all you want on your own time and in private, but in the work place tears are still a sign of weakness.

What are your views on crying at work? Share your comments here.

Is this a blow to aspiring women leaders?

2011-09-13T11:26:41Z

As a woman in business, I hate anything that labels me or other women as victims. I recently read an article on the Wall Street Journal website, FINS.com, that raised a question as to whether the dismissal of a recent lawsuit against Bloomberg, LP, was a blow to women. (Read the Article)

In her ruling, the judge quoted former General Electric Chief Executive Jack Welch, who said, "there's no such thing as work-life balance. There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences."

You may be surprised to know that I agree with Jack Welch. For me, it's not about balance but how we integrate our work and our lives. Because we are all individuals, how we choose to do this will be different for each of us. Sure, there are things that companies can do to make this integration easier for women, but at the end of the day, it's up to us to negotiate what works best in our particular situation.

I think Amy Siskind, a former department head of distressed debt trading at Morgan Stanley, got it right. She said she "built up her franchise" with team members and powerful colleagues and as a result, was able to run her department while pregnant, leaving at 5:30 pm each day.

I liken it to making deposits into a bank account. The more deposits you make (i.e. investing in your franchise) then the more assets you will have available for withdrawal when you need them.

My point in all of this is that I don't think the dismissal of one lawsuit is a blow to aspiring women leaders, particularly those who refuse to accept victim status and focus on building their franchise.

What do you think? Post your comments here.

Did these articles get your attention? They got mine.

2011-09-09T12:26:14Z

Yesterday I wrote about facing a career crossroads. This morning I've been doing some online reading and was struck by a few articles in the news that tie back to this topic in ways both large and small. I list them here with the nuggets gleaned from them.

1. Making Partner, Sponsorship & Gender Bias: having a strong sponsor is key if you want to move beyond gender bias, and be mindful of the "frames" from which you are viewed.
2. Carol Bartz Exclusive: Yahoo F - - ed Me Over: did you just cringe at the title? In the words of Carol Frohlinger, co-author of Nice Girls Just Don't Get It, "quit being a nice girl." Sometimes you need to just say it how it is.
3. When You Hit a Wall, Move Around It: the title says it all. Need I say more?

Have you faced a career crossroads? Tell me how you approached it here.

Are you facing a career crossroads?

2011-09-07T13:04:54Z

Does this sound familiar? You wake up tired. You push yourself to get your butt in gear to get dressed and get yourself off to work. Once there, you feel bored, anxious or frustrated, and you struggle to get focused. You wish you could be anywhere else but where you are. Boy, it's gonna be a long day.

Think you're depressed? Maybe, but think again. You may simply be at a career crossroads. Here are some of the signs that you may be at a crossroads: feeling unstimulated, unsatisfied, unfulfilled or under utilized. If you've been operating on auto-pilot and find yourself saying that you could do your job in your sleep, then it's likely you're at a career crossroads but may not know it.

It's hard to take action when you're feeling this way, isn't it? It just feels like too much work. When I experiened a career crossroads, I found that to figure out where I wanted to go next, I had to take a step back and get to know myself all over again. This included a lot of reflection time looking at not only what I've done, what I can do but more importantly, what I want to do.

My process involved a lot of personal self-reflection as well as more formal evaluation of my personal interests, attitudes, and values, among other things, and of course, my skills, strengths and motivators. To do this I used various assessments (too many to list here!) and other tools to help me clarify and get focused. I also worked with a coach.

Unfortunately, when many of us experience a career crossroads we want to skip this important step because, let's face it, it's some of the hardest work you'll ever do. Regardless of what approach you decide to take, the first step is recognizing the symptoms. The second, taking action.

Are you facing a craeer crossroads? Only you can know for sure, and what you ultimately decide to do about it is entirely up to you.

P.S. Join me for my interview with Karen Kodzik, author of Navigating Through "Now What?", The Various Career Crossroads in Our Lives, on September 15th at 12 noon CT. (Learn More)

Is "out" the new "in"?

2011-09-01T14:24:02Z

I recently read an article by Bob Brody, guest blogger for CNBC. His recent article, I'm Out of the Office, But Please Feel Free to Bother Me, made me laugh right out loud. Anyone that has ever taken a vacation and tried to unplug should read this article!

On a more serious note, his comments on being accessible at all times are disconcerting at best. While said with tongue in cheek, Mr. Brody states, "So just between us, I’m actually at your service. I may be out, but I’m never out out, if you catch my drift, because out is technically the new in. In fact, consider me the very embodiment of round-the-clock availability. Right now I’m checking my BlackBerry while water skiing."

Clearly this is not healthy and he alludes to the impact this has had on his personal relationships. It brought to mind a story one of my colleagues told me. When she was having her baby she told me that she was closing a deal while in the delivery room. Really? I'm all about customer service but this was even a bit out there for me.

A few years ago I served as the President of an international professional association. I was passionate beyond words about this organization but it was like having a second full time job. I knew I had problems disconnecting when I was reviewing bylaws and other operational policies on the boat while on vacation. Needless to say my husband was not happy (and that's putting it nicely).

When I returned from vacation my new mantra became "no bylaws on the boat." It was a rally cry of sorts for me to remember that it's not healthy to work around the clock and that it's important to have downtime each and every day.

So, next time you're tempted to put your family and your personal life last, remember my rallying cry: no bylaws on the boat!

Is your job putting your health at risk?

2011-08-31T11:30:26Z

According to a recent study, women who sit all day are putting their health at risk.

Women who sit for more than six hours a day (Is there any woman that doesn't?) have a 37% increased risk of premature death, compared to 18% for men. And guess what? The results don't change even when you factor in such things as your diet, your physical activity or whether or not you smoke. (Learn More Here)

Dr. Alpa Patel, senior epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society, lead author of the study, indicated that females who sat the longest and exercised the least had twice the risk of death compared with women who recorded more activity and less sitting. If that's not enough to motivate you to get up and move, I don't know what is!

In a recent post I talked about the "all or nothing" syndrome. Don't let this stand in the way of your health. When you're six feet under it's very difficult to fulfill your dreams and live up to your potential as a leader. Never mind leaving a legacy.

I hope you'll find a way to stand up for your health (literally) and perhaps when you do, you may find it's also easier to take a stand for other things that you find important too.

P.S. Join me September 15th for my interview with Karen Kodzik, author of Navigating Through "Now What:?" The Various Career Crossroads in Our Lives. (Learn More or Register)

Which comes first: the leaky pipeline or the glass ceiling?

2011-08-12T15:25:49Z

My post today was inspired by the age-old question: which comes first the chicken or the egg? Here's why.

I'm alway astonished by the lack of women at the top of organizations and the lack of female representation on boards, That made me think of this question. Which comes first: the leaky pipeline or the glass ceiling?

Marla Nelson, founder of WomEnterprise, says the pipeline continues to be a problem for women working in middle as well as senior management positions. “We still have a glass ceiling effect where it is difficult for women, firstly, to be paid on par with their male counterparts and, also, to achieve quite senior level positions,” she explained. “Now, without the women in those [roles], how on earth are we going to feed these women into board positions?”

According to Christina Ioannidis and Nicola Walther, co-authors of Your Loss: How to Win Back Your Female Talent, top performing business women are turning on their well-heeled shoes and walking out the door of some of the world’s best known companies. This in turn causes not only a shortage of women at senior level positions in organizations but a shortage of women who can be fed into the pipeline for board positions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010 women comprised 46.7% of the labor force. Further, 58.6% of all women 16 years and over were in the labor force, compared to 71.2% of all men. And finally, women comprised 51.5% of management, professional and related positions.

So that brings me back to my original question. Which comes first: the leaky pipeline or the glass ceiling?
What do you think? Please post your comments here!

Who negotiates better: men or women?

2011-08-11T13:14:22Z

I recently participated in an online discuss on this question and found there wasn't an easy answer because so many variables play into the question. One woman said, "For a skilled negotiator, the least salient characteristic about them is their gender."

My response was this, "While I agree with you in theory, the reality is that women negotiate far less than men do. Further, the studies show that both men and women excpect that women won't negotiate. That's why gender plays into the conversation. The more women are comfortable with negotiating, the more they will do it, and the less that gender will play an issue. Until then, there's some work to be done and gender will remain relevant to this conversation."

Who do you think negotiates better and why? Share your comments here.

Are you guilty of the "all or nothing" syndrome?

2011-08-10T19:28:10Z

If I had a dollar for every time a coaching client told me, "I don't have time to <fill in the blank>," well, I'd be a millionaire. I find that this lack of time seems to be particularly pervasive with my women clients, particularly when the subject of exercise comes up.

I will tell yout that while it's frequently a matter of priority, more often than not, it's a matter of an "all or nothing mentailty." For example, I hear things like, "I feel lethargic and my clothes feel tight but I don't have an hour to workout," or "I know I'd feel better if I exercised but I don't have time to drive to the gym." Sound familiar?

This is the problem with an "all or nothing" mentality where we think in terms of doing things but only in big chunks of time. We either do it all or we do nothing. How sad is that?

Instead, replace that mentality with a "yes and .... mentality." It goes something like this. "Yes, I need to work out and I can start by walking 10 minutes a day on my lunch hour." I mean really. Can't we all carve out 10 minutes for better health particularly if it will make us feel more energized and our clothes fit better? I think so. Don't you?

Obviously this "yes and..." mentality can apply to a broad range of activities we know we should undertake but which we are forever burying under an "all or nothing" attitude. Think about how you can apply this to your personal or professional life.

Next time I talk to one of my coaching clients (or perhaps even one of you!) I hope instead of hearing the ever popular refrain, "I don't have time," that just one of them will tell me, "Yes Regina, I need to <fill in the blank> and I will <insert action to be taken>." If that happens, I'll be clicking my heels all day.