Why Can’t We Just Get Along? Women Bullying Other Women
Don’t we have enough obstacles in the workplace without having to deal with other women sabotaging our efforts? Why can’t women just get along and support each other in their efforts to advance their careers?
The New York Times this week ran an article, “Backlash: Women Bullying Women at Work”, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/business/10women.html that presented statistics to support the fact that 40% of all workplace bullies are women and that women bully other women 70% of the time!
Bullying is categorized as behavior that can include spreading rumors to derail someone’s career, withholding important promotional information, pushing and shoving (yes, do you believe this one?), bad mouthing others, passive aggressive behavior and more.
So why does this type of sabotaging behavior occur in the workplace?
There are several theories:
- Women need to adopt aggressive behavior to get ahead and once they are in a leadership position they still maintain this behavior.
- Women see other women as potential threats and competitors.
- There is not much opportunity for advancement and so women are more competitive.
- Women are being stereotyped as “bullies” but this is not necessarily the case.
- Women are insecure in their leadership positions and feel the necessity to sabotage other women to maintain their position of power.
Here is a wonderful quote from the article,
As we get into the corporate world, we’re taught or we’re led to believe that we don’t get ahead because of men. But, we really don’t get ahead because of ourselves. Instead of building each other up and showcasing each other, we’re constantly tearing each other down.
Do you see evidence of women bullying other women in your workplace?
Have you experienced another woman sabotaging your efforts at work?
I would love to hear from you. Please send your comments!
8 Tips to Prepare for Your Performance Review
Performance reviews are a great opportunity to highlight your accomplishments and talk about your contribution to the organization. Always be prepared. The worst thing you can do is to walk into a performance review cold.
Here are some simple tips to set the stage for a great review that showcases your talent and value.
- Outline your progress over the last year. If you have been journaling about your accomplishments, you have already started an ongoing performance review. This journal gives you the hard data you need to show what you have done. Start a journal NOW, in preparation for your review.
- Don’t let your manager control the entire review and do all the talking. Make sure that you are prepared to tell your boss what you want him/her to hear. When you are prepared, you can present yourself in the most positive manner.
- Think of your review as an opportunity to speak about your value to the company and your unique talent.
- Create a conversational message that summarizes all your accomplishments and gives specific examples.
- Graciously accept compliments. Do NOT deflect any praise that comes your way. Do NOT put yourself down. Present yourself as a valuable person who deserves the credit for the good work you’ve done.
- Don’t be defensive if some negative comments come up. Just acknowledge and focus on your strengths.
- Practice your message beforehand.
- Smile. This is your opportunity to shine.
Need practice with your positive self-talk? Check out the Friday morning breakfast brag club or enroll now in the May teleclass.
The Power of Positive Self-Talk
In the fun interactive group class you will:
- Explore your limiting beliefs around positive self-talk
- Connect with your value and talent
- Practice positive self-talk to build your self-esteem.
3 one hour sessions consecutive Tuesday evenings 7-8pm EDT
May 5, May 12, May 19th
$125. Register before 4/30 for $99
May Group Teleclass
The Secret of New Marketing
I have always maintained that the best way to market is by word of mouth. Communicating with your network is the most powerful and important marketing vehicle you’ve got. I was so pleased to read Seth Godin’s blog this week,http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/04/first-ten-.html because he validated this marketing approach and labeled it, the secret of new marketing.
In his blog, Seth states:
Find ten people. Ten people who trust you/respect you/need you/listen to you.
Those ten people need what you have to sell, or want it. And if they love it, you win. If they love it, they’ll each find you ten more people (or a hundred or a thousand or, perhaps, just three). Repeat.
If they don’t love it, you need a new product. Start over.
Your idea spreads. Your business grows. Not as fast as you want, but faster than you could ever imagine.
This approach is so effective because you are communicating your message to people who know you and respect you. It is common knowledge that we buy products and services with brands that we trust. Your network contacts already trust you and believe in you and are more than willing to spread the word about your business and your brand.
Initially, it is not necessary to get your message out to the anonymous masses. There is a common belief that to jump start your business it is important to reach as many people as possible with expensive press releases and formal product launches. Seth calls this approach backwards. You spend a lot of money in the beginning and then it falls off when you should be doing the exact opposite. Save your marketing dollars until your business starts to grow and thrive.
Consciously nurture your network and be clear on your promotional message. What your network contacts say about you contributes to the value and reputational power of your brand.
April Teleclass on Self Promotion starts April 7th!
There is still time to register. 3 one hour sessions run consecutive Tuesday evenings 7-8pm EDT
Learn how to overcome your limiting beliefs around selling yourself and your business.
Create your own authentic and effective message to promote yourself.
Workbook included. $99 for 3 sessions!
register online: http://womenssuccesscoaching.com/services/group-coaching
Here are some testimonials:
“Thanks Bonnie! It was a great session and I found it very helpful. I am charged up and ready to go.”
“To anyone who hasn’t taken this workshop, I highly recommend it!! It’s excellent information.”
“Bonnie’s insight and approach regarding sales was transformational for me.”
Narrow Your Niche to Attract More Clients
We are all taught in Marketing 101 the importance of defining a niche and clarifying who we consider to be our target audience. I think we all understand this concept intellectually. It makes sense. When people have a clear understanding of what services and products you offer and who will benefit from those products and services, they can easily refer business. Yes, the concept completely makes sense.
Now, we are starting our own business. We have these wonderful products and/or services to bring to market. We don’t want to miss out on any opportunity to make a sale. So what do we do? Do we go back to Marketing 101 and choose a well-defined niche? Very often, we don’t. We ignore the marketing pundits and cast a really wide net in hopes of being wildly successful right out of the starting gate. We don’t want to turn down any opportunity that may come our way. The problem is that promoting ourselves without a specific target audience and niche can often backfire. We try to attract everyone, but we end up not attracting the clients we want and we limit our success because we haven’t defined our message so that others can refer business.
The hesitancy to narrow our niche is often fear based. We are fearful that if we limit ourselves we won’t be successful and that when we first start a business we need to take any clients/customers that we can. This approach can also be true, however, of more experienced entrepreneurs who are still holding on and patiently waiting for their businesses to grow.
The first step to attracting clients is to define your target audience. Who is your ideal client? Gender, age, income, educational background, occupation, geography, hobbies and interests, special needs are all important factors.
Once you clarify the target audience, you need to create a message to promote yourself and your business that will attract this type of customer/client. Your message should be very specific about what you provide for that target audience and how they will benefit. There should be an emotional component for them to latch on to. Make your message personal and tell your story and your own connection to this product or service.
I have assisted many clients through this process and the results are usually quite remarkable. Once you get over the fear of narrowing your niche and you send a clear message to your network, your business will literally take off. All of a sudden, the light bulb goes on and people get it. They will know someone who needs your services or product and they will refer business.
Your promotional message can be used in any form of media. Now you have the content for any successful promotion whether it’s face to face meetings, radio, print ads, web site, or brochures.
Narrow your niche and you WILL attract more clients.
April Teleclass: Self-Promotion for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
Learn what limiting beliefs hold you back from successfully promoting yourself and your business.
Create your own unique compelling message that will help you stand out in a crowd.
This stimulating interactive group class will help any business owner feel comfortable and confident promoting themselves. Workbook included.
NOW ONLY $99 for 3 one hour sessions!
Tuesday evenings, 7-8pm EST. April 7, April 14, April 21
Brand New! Starting in April. Weekly Success Group!
The Friday Breakfast Brag Club (T.G.I.F.)
Thank Goodness I‘m Fabulous!
End your week on a high note. Call in every Friday morning 8-8:30 am EDT and share your successes for the week in a safe and supportive environment. Practice a little bragging.
What went right this week? What does that say about you?
Celebrate YOU every week. What fun!
$29.99 per month. 3 month commitment. Space limited.
Click here for more information on both Group Classes. www.womenssuccesscoaching.com/services/group-coaching
How to Stay Marketable in a Down Economy
How do you stay marketable in a down economy? Promote your personal brand.
When it comes to selling yourself, you should follow the same guidelines that you use when selling any product or service. Take an objective point of view, do an assessment of the product (you), create an effective pitch, and develop a sales plan.
1. Know Your Product.
Do an assessment of yourself and get to know yourself as the “product”.
What are your strengths?
List 3-5 personality pluses and how these traits have helped you in your current and past positions.
List 3-5 recent accomplishments. What do these accomplishments say about you?
2. What is your sales pitch for your product?
Create your own personal pitch.
Answer these questions:
What is my story? my history?
What differentiates me? What special qualities do I have and why are they marketable?
How have these qualities helped me be successful in the past?
What are my features and benefits?
i.e. I am tenacious and what that means to my employer is that they can count on me to stay focused and complete my assigned projects.
3. Create Your Sales Plan
What is your career goal for the next 6-12 months?
Create action items to help you reach your goal.
Identify people you need to be in front of consistently. How will you accomplish that? Set timeframes and identify resources needed if any.
What organizations should you join/attend? What committee should you volunteer for?
What special projects should you take on?
4. Go out there and sell yourself.
Always be prepared 24/7 to talk about your accomplishments.
Consistently work your sales plan and stay in front of your “web of influence”, your important contacts.
Stay visible. Stay positive. Stay focused.
Approach selling yourself and your own personal brand with the enthusiasm and confidence your “product” deserves. You are the best possible “product”. Go out there and let everyone know what you’ve got!
Want to practice your positive self-talk?
NEW Group staring in April
Friday morning Breakfast Brag Club (TGIF)
Thank Goodness I’m Fabulous!!!
8-8:30 am EDT every Friday morning
check it out: http://womenssuccesscoaching.com/services/group-coaching/
Network, Network, Network Now!
I think by now we have all accepted the fact that our economy is in crisis and there is not an immediate panacea to catapult us back to financial stability. Every day we hear of more businesses going bankrupt and laying off employees.
Perhaps you are lucky enough to be employed or own your own business. Even if you are currently unemployed, now is the time to get out there and network! If you are vigilant at networking, you can continue to build your business, keep your job, and land a new position.
What to do if you own a business? Network!
- Regularly stay in touch with your customers to ensure that they are pleased with your services.
- Consistently expand your referral network. Set appointments every week. Target specific numbers of new contacts per week.
- Look for new opportunities to showcase your business through your network. Write articles, blog, guest blog, go to networking meetings. Keep visible on your social media sites.
- Fine tune your pitch. Make sure that your message is compelling and memorable.
- Look for partner opportunities with complimentary businesses in your network. Tap your referral network for ideas.
- Entice new customers with special promotions. Brainstorm with your contacts. Collaborate.
What to do if you are employed? Network!
- Make sure you stay visible at work. Now is not the time to hide in the shadows.
- Regularly meet with your boss to discuss your progress and set new goals.
- Expand your referral network inside and outside the company. Keep in contact with your network contacts on a consistent basis.
- Use social media sites to network. Join industry related groups on sites such as LinkedIn to increase your network and visibility.
- Develop an action plan. Who is in your web of influence at work? Who do you need to stay in front of? What actions are necessary?
- Keep track of your accomplishments on a daily/weekly basis. Be prepared to speak about your successes.
- Prepare your personal pitch. Be ready 24/7 to talk about what you do with your internal and external contacts. Don’t miss out on a opportunity to promote yourself because you are not prepared.
What to do if you are looking for a job? Definitely network!
- Write out a list of your accomplishments. Review the list and write down what these successes say about you.
- Write 3-5 personality pluses and how they helped you in your past positions.
- Make contact with everyone in your network. Include family, friends, former colleagues, professional contacts (doctor, lawyer, chiropractor, dentist, accountant, etc.) and let them know what type of work you are seeking.
- Update your personal message to include your accomplishments. Your message should be upbeat and positive.
- Work the social media sites and industry related groups.
- Do your online searches daily and see the types of positions out there.
- Be clear what you want. Set your intentions in that direction. Let everyone know what type of position you are seeking.
- Prepare for each job interview. Research the company. Investigate to see if your network contacts have relationships in the company to help your efforts.
The challenge whether you are employed, unemployed, or a business owner is to stay focused on work and keep a positive attitude. Set your intentions on new opportunities through your network contacts. Your diligence in networking activities will lay the groundwork for your continued success.
New April Teleclass!
Self-Promotion for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
3 one hour sessions, Tuesday evenings 7-8pm EST, starting April 7th. $125
For more information: http://womenssuccesscoaching.com/services/group-coaching
Women On Business Roundtable
Here is a great opportunity for women business owners to get expert advice. This announcement was posted today on Women on Business.
I’m very happy to announce the new Women On Business Roundtable, which will provide a great opportunity for business women to increase their online profiles, access expert advice and guidance, and encourage business growth.
The team of Women On Business authors (including myself), who are all experts in various fields such as marketing, coaching, finance, management, and technology, are launching a “roundtable” discussion to focus on our readers.
Here is how it works:
1. Women On Business readers are asked to submit a profile of their companies and list any specific issues they might be having with their business (submission instructions are included at the end of this post). Are you wondering how to market your business on the social web, having trouble with an employee, struggling during the economic downturn? Submit your profile and issues in order to be considered as the subject for the Women On Business Roundtable discussion.
2. Each month, one profile will be chosen to be featured on Women On Business as the subject of the Women On Business Roundtable discussion.
3. The Women On Business writing team, using our collective brainpower and experience — a combined 150+ years worth! — will provide targeted analysis, valuable advice, and next steps to grow the business and meet the challenges it faces.
4. Women On Business readers are also encouraged to join the conversation and offer their own experiences and expertise. We look forward to tapping into the advice of our team of experts and into the minds and hearts of our readers to help our participants.
5. Throughout the month, the goal is for the conversation to continue and grow, and for the profiled business woman to ask additional questions, clarify suggestions and end up with actionable, useful advice and guidance, which should benefit many other readers as well.
Please join us! It’s a great way to gain some hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of consulting from a group with deep knowledge in their respective fields — for free!
Submit a one-page description of your business, and three issues you’d like the team to address here, and we’ll choose each month from the available submissions. You can send an email directly to susan[AT]womenonbusiness.com (replacing the [AT] with @) or use the contact form. Note that anonymous submissions will be accepted but identifiable business submissions will be given highest priority.
Please spread the word – email, Digg, Stumble, Tweet and so on! Let’s get the conversation going and start helping each other!
Why is to “sell” a four letter word?
I am always amazed at how many people are traumatized when it comes to selling. When I looked up “to sell” in the dictionary, I found these definitions.
- to transfer services to another in exchange for money. (OK. I can live with this one.)
- to persuade or induce someone to buy something. (Used car salesman approach?)
- to convince (hmmm. Still a bit negative.)
- informal definition: to cheat, betray,or hoax. (OMG!)
Yikes! No wonder those of us in sales often fight the negative public perception of sales people and NO WONDER no one likes to sell. It’s because they don’t like being SOLD TO.
There are many negative beliefs about sales. For those of you who think that you need to be born as a salesperson or need to be a certain personality type, I challenge you. You are hiding behind this limiting belief and assuming that only certain people can sell well. It’s too easy to take on this belief and the consequences are far reaching if you have your own business. After all, who can sell your business with more passion than you?
Sales does not have to be a daunting task. It’s about having basic conversations and dialogues with people. I emphasize dialogue because good selling is more about asking good open ended questions and listening. Don’t be intimidated into believing that you need to make spectacular slick presentations. Sales is more about building rapport and relationships, gaining trust, and educating others about your product or service. Even sales professionals know that these are the basic skills they need to be successful.
You can have the best business concept in the world, but if you don’t get out there and acquaint people with your product/services, you will not be successful. Talk with people about what you do. Connect with the passion you had when you first started your business. Make your message personal and interesting and just get out and sell!
Women’s Success Coaching is offering a teleclass on Self-Promotion in February. Four one hour sessions for $199. Check out Group Coaching to access more information or to register. First class is Tuesday evening, February 3rd from 7-8pm EST.
Good Selling is Good Service. Good Service is Good Selling
What does good selling have in common with good customer service? EVERYTHING.
Exceptional selling and exceptional customer service require a focus on the customer. Focusing on the customer makes the customer feel important and valued and when they feel important and valued, they are more likely to become a customer and remain a customer.
How do you stay focused on the customer’s needs rather than your own agenda?
Grow Your Business: No Cold Calls Necessary
Many of my clients who are small business owners and entrepreneurs are paralyzed by the thought of making cold calls. They frequently ask me for advice on the best technique to use for cold calling and they often relay their fears about the process. They are so fearful of making cold calls that it often inhibits them from doing other simple activities to grow their business.
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