Powerful Women Pave the Way and Pay Back

I'm on a mission to propel more women lawyers to power positions where they can have more control over their careers, compensation, and courage. Today, we talk about how powerful women pave the way.

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In the 2002 version of Spider-Man, Uncle Ben tells Peter: With great power comes great responsibility. Powerful women are grateful for their earned positions and want to pave the way for those behind them.

Here are ways to pay it forward and express your gratitude toward others.?

Celebrate Successes and Contributions. Powerful women know that it often takes a team to make success happen.?

They take the time to celebrate success and acknowledge individuals' contributions. It does not need to be a special day to show appreciation for people, their effort, and their work. It is best to be specific when discussing someone's contribution—as well – as the impact of that contribution.

Mentor and Sponsor Others. Powerful women know that many corporate America and law firms' rules are unwritten. So the only way people understand what they need to do to reach their goals is through mentorship and sponsorship.?

They invest their time in people—not only because it is the right thing to do but also because it creates a more engaged and effective workforce, improves the diversity of ideas, and enhances the talent pipeline.?

Promote and Champion Others.?Powerful women know that your "brand" is critical to having management tap you on the shoulder, and they help people out but being their "brag buddy or manager."?

They ensure that critical decision-makers know the value others bring to the organization, and they do this year-round, not just at review time.?

Exercise Empathy.?Generally, powerful women have EQ and notice when people seem "off" or upset. They reach out, display empathy, and help people navigate tough times. These women recognize the human aspects of the people who work with them. And they will continue to check-in. One person I worked with said the most powerful thing someone ever did for them in the office was check in on them and let them know they cared during a difficult period.

Provide Opportunities. Powerful women appreciate that they reached their heights not only because of their talents but because someone saw something in them and gave them a chance to show what they could do. For this reason, they ask about people's ambitions and goals and look for places to stretch and shine.

Give Honest Feedback. Powerful women know that for people to grow, they need honest and transparent feedback.?They take the time to give specific actional feedback that will allow the person to develop. And they encourage the person as they work on modifying behaviors. They understand that some of the most critical change items take time, and they want the individuals to stay committed and focused during the process.?

Share the Journey and Experiences.?Powerful women are willing to share with others not only their successes but their challenges and failures so that others appreciate that we all experience them. By doing this, they encourage people who feel defeated that they, too, can rise. They also teach people lessons about overcoming the fear of failure, perfectionism, resilience, and growth.?

Enhance the Corporate Culture. Powerful women understand that we spend a lot of our lives at work, and they want to make that experience as engaging and uplifting as possible. For this reason, they develop and work on initiatives to enhance the workplace and its culture. They also speak out when they see microaggressions and unfairness.

Peter Parker, aka Spiderman, once said:

But now I think maybe there’s even more to the powers I got that day, and maybe I can use them to help people more than I ever imagined.

Powerful women have known and recognized this for a while. That is why they pay it forward and pave the way for others.?

What more insights?

To learn more about Sheila's training and speaking, click here .

Sheila is the CEO of Focus Forward Consulting. She helps intelligent and accomplished women lawyers go from uncertain and uninspired to unstoppable and attain power positions where they have greater control of their careers, compensation, and courage.