Moments & Mindshifts

Throughout my journey, I regularly encounter interesting people and provocative ideas. As a leader, lifelong learner, lifestyle aficionado, and a mother of three, I am grateful to collect and share those moments that make me stop, look, listen, and (re)think.?See below for this week’s collection of shareable moments, in hopes that they will resonate with you.

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I hope everyone had a relaxing Thanksgiving break as we move toward the year-end sprint. This installment of Moments & Mindshifts is a little different from most. Since we’re basking in the afterglow of the 24th? Linkage Women in Leadership TM (WIL) Institute (held mid-November), I want to do a quick round-up of compelling ideas and mindshifts I heard from our fabulous lineup of speakers. (Quick disclaimer: These are paraphrases, not direct quotes.)

Johnny Taylor, CEO of SHRM

We tend to overprogram diversity and inclusion. Make no mistake: The training is important. But the way you know you’ve created a truly inclusive environment is when you can honestly say that EVERYONE thinks they can be successful.

He nailed it! Everyone loved this explanation of what inclusion really looks like. Also, it’s simple and easy to remember!

Yours Truly, Jennifer McCollum, CEO of Linkage

In Her Own Voice: Overcoming Hurdles to Change the Face of Leadership

One of the things I got the most feedback on was the declaration that women don’t need to be “fixed.” The fact is, our leadership database surfaces that women are rated higher on the primary leadership qualities that matter in our complex and changing world:?vulnerability, transparency, empathy, and inclusion. Women love hearing that we’re doing great, just the way we are.

Shannon Bayer, JD, Vice President of Revenue at Linkage

Be AWARE: Master Your “Inner Critic” to Rid Yourself of Internal Bias and Realize Your Confidence?

We need to learn to be aware of when we’re “One Up” (in judgment of others) or “One Down” (in judgment of ourselves). A couple of red flags: When we’re One Up, we find ourselves using the word “should” a lot. (NOTE: I love when Shannon says we have to catch ourselves when we’re “shoulding” all over someone else!) When we’re One Down, we feel we aren’t good enough, we stop talking, and we make ourselves small. When we see these red flags, it’s time to push pause so we can move back to the Compassionate Center, where we realize there’s?enough to go around—enough roles, recognition, resources, or money. EASY TRICK FOR PAUSING: Drop a pencil in the meeting or?go on mute and stop sharing your screen for a moment. It will help you reset.

Carla Harris, Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley?

Be INFLUENTIAL: Tap into Your Influence to Successfully “Make the Ask”?

Your authenticity is your distinct competitive advantage, so be yourself. She talked about having the courage to be Carla. (A funny disclaimer was that there are different versions of Carla. Sometimes people get “Full-Frontal Carla,” and other times they get “Carla Lite.”) She used to think, If I could just learn to present like Alan…. But then she realized, I can’t out-Alan Alan!

She learned to trust that she was enough and was selected to be in that position for a reason. The lesson? Own every exchange in a proprietary way and think about why you were chosen to be where you are.

Reshma Saujani,?Founder and CEO of Moms First; Founder and Former CEO of Girls Who Code

Be INSPIRING: Move Beyond “Proving Your Value” to Multiply Your Impact and Embrace Your Full Leadership Potential?

Women tend to come from a place of “perfection or bust.” We need to unlearn perfectionism, and the?antidote is bravery. We’re always waiting to be perfect to live and lead, but as long as we do, we will never close the leadership gap. We need to push through our fear and act, so building our bravery muscle is critical.

Anne Chow,?First Woman of Color CEO in AT&T’s 140-Plus-Year History?

Be CONNECTED: Embrace “Networking” to Unlock New Possibilities

It’s so important to focus and prioritize and to make sure your actions are aligned with your ambitions. A big piece of this is making sure you have room to expand the important relationships in your life. The best way to do that is to look at your calendar. It will tell you everything about how—and with whom—you’re choosing to spend your precious and limited time.

Magie Cook,?Founder of Maggie’s Salsa, LLC?

Be CLEAR: Create Your Future Leadership Vision with “Clarity”?

In her speech, Magie shared a neat trick for finding instant power. When you’re scared or nervous and need to do or be something bigger than yourself, use a “totem” (an object with some kind of significance) to slip into a character. She gave an example of a national rodeo champion who would put on his rodeo glove to remind himself of his success. Even Martin Luther King, Jr., used this technique: He would put on his glasses when he wrote speeches to make him feel more prestigious and powerful.??

Molly Fletcher, Keynote Speaker, Author, Podcaster…a.k.a., the “female Jerry McGuire”

Be BOLD: Discover the Power of “Branding & Presence”

We always think being bold is about one big giant act or declaration. Actually, it’s the little moments of boldness that ladder up to big success. We have to step into these moments of discomfort. Ask yourself: What’s at risk if I go for it? And what’s at risk if I don’t? I also loved that one of her master negotiation skills is to learn how to view “no” as feedback. Get curious as to WHY they might have said no. OR decide it’s time to eject and move on! ?

Every speaker at WIL 2023 was incredible, and I’m grateful I could share a stage with them. Even after hosting six years of WIL, it remains my all-time favorite annual professional development experience—and I’m already looking forward to the 2024 WIL conference, which will be back in Orlando, November 11-14!