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HOW WOMEN CAN EMPOWER THEMSELVES AS LEADERS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Empowering Women as Leaders

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HOW WOMEN CAN EMPOWER

THEMSELVES AS LEADERS

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

In addition to being a leadership expert, author and keynote speaker, Becky is the president of SHAMBAUGH,

a global leadership-development organization, and the founder of Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL), one of the first executive leadership-development programs in

the country. She is also the author of three books, including It’s Not A Glass Ceiling, It’s A Sticky Floor and Make Room For Her: Why Companies Need An Integrated Leadership

Model To Achieve Extraordinary Results.

MEET BECKY SHAMBAUGH!

Becky answered questions about women and leadership from

members of Connect: Professional Women’s Network. Here’s some of

her most popular advice.

EMPOWER YOURSELF:���BUILD YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Seek out key influencers and senior-level leaders who can be your mentors and

sponsors. These should be people who respect and trust you and care about your

success—people who will advocate for you when you’re not in the room.

A good network is not about numbers, it’s about having quality, trusted people

who support you.

What is the biggest roadblock women face on the path to leadership? So much of our success lies within ourselves, so the first potential roadblock is our own voice that impacts how we show up every day. I often hear, "I am not 100% qualified for this new opportunity, so I will wait until the next opportunity,” or “I am not as senior as the others in the room, so I won’t speak up and share my view.” These narratives hinder our growth and success.

What advice do you have for how we can get out of our own way when it comes to succeeding? Women need to start looking at their own internal beliefs and ask themselves if these are working for them anymore. When we have the courage to reframe our beliefs, it enables us to speak up, ask for what we want and go for those stretch opportunities.

I have the necessary qualifications, skills and experience, but I find myself unable to move past a certain rank in my profession. How do I demonstrate that I’m ready? Find a mentor who has taken a similar path. Ask her what steps she took, what mistakes she made and what experience and skills you need for this role. Also, create your board of directors—people who will provide feedback and advance you along the way. Finally, take new opportunities that enhance your visibility.

EMPOWER YOURSELF:���USE THE 4x4x4 PLAN

•  Ask 4 people you know for their advice on your career.

•  Ask them to introduce you to 4 people you don’t know who can help you identify opportunities.

•  Do this within 4 weeks.

How can I move from management to a leadership role? Know that leadership is less about doing and more about being. It's about developing and coaching others and delegating the day-to-day to your team. Leadership is about flexing different styles to effectively inspire and influence others. So be intentional about how you show up. Be cautious of leading with the style that got you to a level of success as a manager, as this approach will be limiting.

I’m new at my company, but I hope to work up to a leadership role one day. What should I do to make this happen? Look at leaders who are successful within your field. What is their leadership profile? What behaviors and qualities do they exhibit? Remember, leadership is also about following your passions and your beliefs, so lead from within versus from the outside in!

What advice do you have for attaining a leadership role after changing industries? Do your homework and find out how your strengths and brand can align with the business objectives of the new organization. What's their pain point and how can you be a solution? Also, make sure you have a broad and influential network that can open doors and create introductions for you in the new industry.

EMPOWER YOURSELF:���GET OUT OF THE OFFICE.

Get involved in activities outside of your day-to-day job and

volunteer to provide value and support. This is a great way to

learn new skills sets, gain a broader perspective of the

organization and enhance your visibility and brand.

I’ve been a leader for several years, but I still don’t feel like a central part of the organization. How can I break through? Make sure you have developed and are pushing out your own leadership campaign and brand. Your results won’t get noticed until you let the right people know. Demonstrate how your value impacts the bottom line or key business objectives. Also, know what drives your top execs. What keeps them up at night? What are their top priorities? Be part of their solution, and you can bet they’ll notice you.

Beyond my experience and skills, what else should I highlight when interviewing for a leadership position? Businesses look for people who have a vision for themselves, who know their strengths and have a sense of where they want to go and how they’ll get there. Take time to create that vision for yourself. Let others know what you can bring to the table now and what your plan is for reaching your goals and leadership aspirations.

What can organizations do to make sure they’re recognizing and fostering future women leaders? The first step is to establish a business imperative for gender-balanced teams. Next, develop a women's leadership strategy that includes the following: targeted programs and coaching to further the development and advancement of your top female talent; sponsorship for your high-performing female leaders; and measurement to track progress.

EMPOWER YOURSELF:���TAKE THE LEAP.

When a growth opportunity comes your way and it's something you are looking to do but you’re not totally qualified yet, GO FOR IT.

Believe in yourself, lead with your strengths and have the right

support system to mentor and coach you along the way.

©2015 LinkedIn Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION! LinkedIn and Citi’s Connect: Professional Women’s Network is an online community with more than 465,000 members that helps women achieve the careers they want and discuss issues relevant to their success. Visit linkedin.com/womenconnect for more information and to join the group for free! For more great insights on networking, check out Becky Shambaugh’s discussion in Connect. PHOTO CREDIT: 1: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

CONNECT: PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S NETWORK ©2014 LinkedIn Corporation. All Rights Reserved. 18