From Conversations to Career GPS (YGT??58)

Hello and happy Sunday,

Welcome to another YOU GOT THIS! Newsletter.

As August begins, the school holidays usher in a season of relaxation and family adventures. Work may slow down, but the excitement of planning for the future keeps us energized. Balancing parents' limited holidays with their children's extended breaks can be challenging for many families, yet it offers a chance to create cherished memories. During this busy week, as we wrap up tasks and set up for our absences, the anticipation of our upcoming holidays fuels our motivation. Remember, the joy of knowing a break is just around the corner can make even the busiest days feel lighter.

In today’s edition of my newsletter, I′ll write about these three topics:

?? My latest learning: Speaking Up: Debunking Myths About Women's Conversations

?? Career Inspiration: Setting Your Career GPS

?? Female Leadership: The Danger of False Promises:

I am always happy to receive feedback, suggestions for improvement and ideas for new newsletters. What would you like to read about here? Hit reply or send me a DM.

On that note, have a nice weekend, preferably with blue skies and sunshine!

Stay courageous!

Best Regards, Katharina

?? My latest learning: Speaking Up - Debunking Myths About Women's Conversations

Small talk has never been my strong suit. I've even been told that I "speak relatively little for a woman." This week, I pondered what "for a woman" actually means. Do all women talk the same amount? And do women talk more than men?

Back in the 80s, Dr. Dale Spender found in "Learning to Lose: Sexism and Education" that in co-ed university classes, men always talked more than women. Students were asked to estimate who spoke more. Women accurately assessed their speaking time, while men perceived it as equal when women spoke only 15% of the time. When women spoke 30% of the time, men felt they dominated the conversation.

So, in essence: Men, especially in meetings, talk more than women and interrupt more frequently – a behavior known as manterrupting.

From this, I've learned the importance of questioning the phrase "for a woman." It turns out, I speak an average amount. Challenging the notion that women talk too much and appreciating our unique communication styles is essential. My learning: I celebrate the power of our words and the strength in our silence, knowing that both are vital in shaping a better world. I did become more vocal in meetings and this did provoke other comments, I will talk about this more next week.

?? Career Inspiration: Setting Your Career GPS

Do you know that feeling of knowing exactly what you don't want? The dreadful job, the annoying client, the cluttered desk. It's a familiar tune, isn't it? My daughters, for example, are very clear about not wanting to tidy their rooms or do another round of homework. "Our rooms are always messy, we can't manage it all, and homework just doesn't make sense," they say.

The more we focus on what we don't want, the more of it we seem to attract. It's like a life algorithm, similar to those of Facebook and Instagram: you get more of what you click on. This principle applies to our careers too. When we fixate on what we don't want, we remain stuck in negativity and attract more of the same.

The key to breaking this cycle is having a clear goal. It's like entering a precise address into your GPS. If you just say, "Anywhere but here," you could end up anywhere. The GPS doesn't know what you like.

However setting a clear goal can be challenging. Many of us, including myself, find it easier to focus on what we don't want rather than what we do. That's where an external perspective comes in handy. Working with a career coach can help clarify what you want to enter into your career GPS. They can help you make new decisions through new ways of thinking and bring your new identity into focus.

By doing so, we avoid getting stuck in the chaos of cluttered rooms, daunting tasks, dreadful jobs, and annoying clients. Instead, we can attract the ideal roles, favorite projects, and the perfect work environment we desire. So, let’s set those clear goals and steer our journey towards the destination we truly want. ????Here is a link to book a discovery session with me.

?? Female Leadership: The Danger of False Promises

"How much longer do you need for this task?" This question is ubiquitous in the workplace. Every leader has asked it, and every team member has heard it. It's understandable; being able to precisely track each project and task makes everything easier. But there's a problem: it's often impossible to answer this question accurately.

Every project, no matter how small, has two phases. The discovery phase: where much is unclear and new, previously unknown tasks emerge with each completed step. The execution phase: where everything is clear, and tasks just need to be completed. During the discovery phase, knowing when you'll be finished is impossible. Estimates are often way off.

"You said you'd need about two days. Why has it suddenly become five?" The worst-case scenario is that you make promises you can't keep, damaging your reputation. You might also misjudge your team's performance and form a negative view: "People are lazy."

Remember this the next time you hear or ask this question. Understanding the nuances of project phases can foster better communication and trust within your team, enhancing overall productivity and morale.

??Change starts with you

Nothing will change unless you change something! It's up to you!

The alternative: Keep doing what you're doing...

I wish you a great week; enjoy life, and remember to SHOW UP!

If you say what you want, you increase the chance of being heard! ??

Have a great day, and remember, it is the one who gives up and does not reach success.

And now I wish you all the best and talk soon!

Best Regards, Katharina

??How you can work with me:

Leadership Training: In my course MOVE UP! You can recognize and strengthen your leadership. Join the course ??here .

Amazing Career Coaching: Join the 16-week 1:1 AMAZING CAREER coaching program. Please reply to this mail that you want to join or book a call with me ?? here to learn more.

Not getting anywhere on your own? Then why not book a free virtual coffee break ?? with me, and we'll find out whether and how I can help you further. ???? Here is a link to book a discovery session with me

??Did you like this email? Do you have a friend who might like it too?

Then, could you forward this email to them? If you received this email from a friend, you can subscribe to the newsletter ????here . If you like my work, feel free to ???? buy me a coffee .

PS: This newsletter is written by a human. English is not my native language. So,?I'll make mistakes. And tech bugs ?? crawl in?once in a while.?So, if you see any of these, please let me know. I′m always happy to improve!