Shelley Bird on Catfights and Cliches

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Bird_HeadshotIn her recent Huffington Post article, Catfights and Cliches, Cardinal Health executive VP, Shelley Bird, explores a critical issue among women leaders and how society views their success.

It’s hard to get to the top, no matter what your gender and what your profession. You have to work hard and yes, step on a few toes. There’s usually rivalry and often some unpleasantness.

Yet, when it comes to women leaders, society focuses on this rivalry, the stepped upon toes and the ugliness. Instead of focusing on the incredible talent and perseverance of these highly successful women, we want to focus on the petty stuff.

But when we’re talking about a man? It’s a totally different story. Men are driven, ambitious, resourceful and savvy. Rivalry between men? Bor-ing.

Read Shelley’s insightful commentary here. Have you ever witnessed this phenomenon?

Marissa Mayer’s Doing Telecommuters a Favor

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Marissa Mayer’s decision to pull the plug on telecommuting at Yahoo! has sparked worldwide debate over its necessity and wisdom.

Obviously, Marissa is taking measures to turn around a floundering business. She said Yahoo! needs “all hands on deck” to get things going in the right direction again. And, earlier this week, the New York Times reported that the decision was made in part, to boost morale. With more than 200 employees working from home, and plenty of empty cubicles as a result, it’s easy to see how the energy of a workplace could be affected.

But what about the telecommuters themselves? Could this actually be a good thing for their careers? Could getting themselves out of their yoga pants and into the office for some networking and face time help them get ahead?

One of our community members, Tish Hevel, a communications consultant, believes that it could. As a work-at-homer herself, Tish shares her perspective in her post, “The Case for Showing up.”

Tish writes, “As a regular member of the no-commute club, I know there are definite advantages to staying in your own pajamas in your own home and petting your own big black dog while working. It saves time, money and wear and tear – on your car, wardrobe and psyche. For certain functions, it’s possible to be much more productive and focused. But over the long haul, and as a routine arrangement for full-time employees…there’s really no argument. It’s a bad idea.”

Tish continues to explain how valuable face time is to morale, relationships and work.

“Simply put,” Tish says, “the presence of people matters – no matter how imperfect, inconvenient and yes, insensitive they can be. I’m with Marissa. I remind myself of this on the days I grudgingly shower, get dressed, slap on some lipstick and scrape the snow from my car. Sales managers love to say it, and I believe they’re on to something. (Thank you John Potter.) You start differentiating yourself when you show up.”

To read Tish’s entire article, click here.

What do you think? Could this be a good career move for those who work from home? Share in the comments!

The Best Present…is Being Present

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By Chasity Kuttrus

How can it already be Thanksgiving?  If you’re like me, you feel like the Fourth of July was just yesterday!

But time marches on, doesn’t it? And try as we might, we can’t slow it down. But we can make better use of every moment we have. We can take some measures to be more present in our lives. When we’re present, we enjoy things, moments and people more. We take less for granted and we feel more fulfilled.

Here are some ideas to help you slow down a bit, to live in the “now” and enjoy your life just a bit more this holiday season.

Slow Down
That’s a tough one, especially during this time of the year! But sometimes by slowing down, you get more done. Rushing leads to mistakes, frenzy and frustration. Act more slowly, deliberately and thoughtfully. You’ll be surprised at the difference it will make.

Sit
Why do you have to be doing all the time? Just sit. When you have a moment between meetings or appointments, quit checking your email, scanning a magazine or making a quick call. Try just sitting.

Pay Attention
While you’re sitting, quit thinking about what’s going to happen next. Look around you and see what’s happening right now. If you’re so busy thinking about “what’s next” you’ll miss something really important, like the sweet smile on your daughter’s face, the sun bouncing off the clouds, or the very moment when the fragrance of your pumpkin pie starts to fill the house.

Observe
Be in a constant state of observation. Sit back and watch things unfold from where you sit. See how people act and interact. You’ll learn a lot about others – and the world – just by watching for a change.

Listen
When someone talks to you – put down the phone, look away from the computer or TV or from whatever you’re doing. Listen, really listen, to what they’re saying to you. Ask questions and repeat what they’ve said back to them so they know you’re truly engaged.

The next five weeks are going to be crazy ones. The irony is that the holidays are supposed to be about being together and spending time with loved ones, yet we spend so much time stressed out and frantic. This year, try something different. Be present. Because the only thing your family and friends really want from you….is you.

Perspective on: Assertiveness

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Unfortunately, most women confuse “being assertive” with “being aggressive.”  Assertive women express themselves without becoming defensive. Assertive women share their opinions without belittling those of others. Assertive women command respect.

Aggressive women, on the other hand, can be seen as defensive, bullying and disrespectful of others.

I think the difference is clear. Do you?

Perspective on: Creativity

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Creativity and problem solving skills are two of the biggest competitive advantages any associate can bring to an organization. If you want to add value to your organization, think about how to solve problems before situations even become problems!

Perspective on Confidence

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In my years of coaching, recruiting and training women, the biggest difference I’ve seen between women who get ahead and those who don’t is that the ones who get ahead possess confidence.

Among that elite group women, those who show confidence and kindness rise to the top.

On Service

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Service is the rent we pay for living.
-Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund

Perspective on….Community Engagement

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Hey, leaders: many of your highest performers want to be involved in the community.

Guess what? You need to encourage it AND reward it!  Some of the best organizations have this threaded into performance reviews.  How wonderful!