Women in Business > How To Gain Respect and Communicate Like Pro
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Women Helping Women In Business
Business women: Relax, take a deep breath, get ready. This lens is going to teach you everything you need to know about gaining respect in the workplace, communicating like a pro, and creating your perfect career.
Below you'll find workplace communication tips for women, information about how to handle sexual harassment, business tips for women books, career apparel and more.
You can also promote your women in business geared website or lens here, too. Scroll down for more info.
Let's get started.
Below you'll find workplace communication tips for women, information about how to handle sexual harassment, business tips for women books, career apparel and more.
You can also promote your women in business geared website or lens here, too. Scroll down for more info.
Let's get started.
Business Woman's Quote of The Day
"When you are a sensitive person, one who intuits the needs of others easily and works to fufill them in an over abundant manner, you attract self centered people. They are those who have come to teach you how to be a bit more like them."
Business Women, Don't Wait For Permission!
Business Tips For Women #1
You are responsible for creating your own opportunities, period. To be a powerful business women, you must pave your way, chart your own course.
This means identifying what you want and pursuing it with a passion that's accented with personal power and worthiness. Not doing so is probably the #1 mistake I see women making in business. Women have been conditioned to fit a societally acceptabe role; and in doing so we can find ourselves demurely waiting for an invitation to follow our dreams. But it's not going to happen. You've gotta take the reigns.
Identify your true passion, and think of careers that will allow for its perfect expression. If you're not in that career now, you can start planning the development of the skills you'll need to get there. And if that's too much right now, you can start with your current job. Where do you want to go? What would you like to see changed? The following tips will help you on your course to making those changes.
Business Women, Start Here:
Career and Life Planning for Women
This means identifying what you want and pursuing it with a passion that's accented with personal power and worthiness. Not doing so is probably the #1 mistake I see women making in business. Women have been conditioned to fit a societally acceptabe role; and in doing so we can find ourselves demurely waiting for an invitation to follow our dreams. But it's not going to happen. You've gotta take the reigns.
Identify your true passion, and think of careers that will allow for its perfect expression. If you're not in that career now, you can start planning the development of the skills you'll need to get there. And if that's too much right now, you can start with your current job. Where do you want to go? What would you like to see changed? The following tips will help you on your course to making those changes.
Business Women, Start Here:
Career and Life Planning for Women
Women Helping Women In Business
Women in Business Tip #2 : Enlisting support, picking a role model and following suit.
Women starting a career today are much more fortunate than those of 20 years ago. We've now got tons of women CEOs, politicians, activists and philanthropists. Not to mention that women are becoming entrepreneurs in record numbers.Before moving onto the more "practical and tactical" tips, this one can't go unmentioned.
Identify the admirable qualities exhibited by the successful women you know, and then integrate those success attributes that resonate with you into your own business ethic.
I can remember when I first started thinking about becoming a consultant. I called up a women I admired with whom I worked as a teenager in the marketing department of the Domestic Abuse Project and I asked her to have a cup of coffee. She agreed and I was elated with her willingness to answer questions about how she had come to experience such joy from her career. The stories she shared were priceless, and gaining her support helped give me the confidence I needed to realize that starting my own business was in fact a totally viable option.
Learn How to Communicate Like A Pro
Know of a good book you'd like to share? Add it here!
Understand Your Audience
Tip #3 > Business Women Can't Play By Men's Rules (and expect to win)
Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. And although things are changing, women are still being measured against a limited standard of the traditional white male. Women generally posess different instincts and operate within a different cultural context than men. Some of our best business qualities are driven by attributes we hold that are intrinsic to our physical make up and cultural upbringing. So how can we make these differences work for, instead of against us in the work place?
The key to competing successfully in business is to play to your audience. We can still play up the female characteristics that serve us in business, such as long term relationship building and natural leadership style, while still incorporating more 'male' elements. Breaking the stereo stypes doesn't mean you have to act like a man. It just means leveling the playing field a bit.
Here are a few ways to do that, practically:
1. Minimize discussion about your personal affairs: No gossip. Ever!
2. Depersonalize your communication style where appropriate: Focus on your message. Deliver information in a straight forward manner.
3. Mirror body language and verbage: People feel more at ease, and more equal to, while in the company of someone who speak's their language.
4. Speak in a manner that demands attention.
5. Interrupting is OK! There is a time and place to interrupt. Notice how your male collegues do it, and start experimenting.
I used to have a fortune cookie taped on my monitor that read, "Focus on your audience. Ignore yourself." To me, this means the message I'm trying to convey is only as useful as the way it's interpreted. successful "accomodation" requires active listening. Pay attention to your audience and how they respond to you and others.
The key to competing successfully in business is to play to your audience. We can still play up the female characteristics that serve us in business, such as long term relationship building and natural leadership style, while still incorporating more 'male' elements. Breaking the stereo stypes doesn't mean you have to act like a man. It just means leveling the playing field a bit.
Here are a few ways to do that, practically:
1. Minimize discussion about your personal affairs: No gossip. Ever!
2. Depersonalize your communication style where appropriate: Focus on your message. Deliver information in a straight forward manner.
3. Mirror body language and verbage: People feel more at ease, and more equal to, while in the company of someone who speak's their language.
4. Speak in a manner that demands attention.
5. Interrupting is OK! There is a time and place to interrupt. Notice how your male collegues do it, and start experimenting.
I used to have a fortune cookie taped on my monitor that read, "Focus on your audience. Ignore yourself." To me, this means the message I'm trying to convey is only as useful as the way it's interpreted. successful "accomodation" requires active listening. Pay attention to your audience and how they respond to you and others.
:: Stop ::
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Demostrate Where You Are
There are no success hand outs when it comes to starting business or career. Success in business requires humilty and a passionate desire to do what it takes, even when it means starting at the bottom. Business are always built from the ground up, so that "bottom" is actually the best place to start demonstrating your value.
Where ever you are, demonstrate your worth no matter where you are in the pecking order. No one will know what you're worth unless you show them. If you're a receptionist, you can do things other than answer the phone. Understand what the prioirties are in your company (by watching and asking) and look for things to help realize those goals.
Note - This advice is only as useful to the degree that it's practiced with humility. Take ownership of your owrk within the context of the over all success of your company and you'll avoid the emotional pitfalls of grandiosity.
Where ever you are, demonstrate your worth no matter where you are in the pecking order. No one will know what you're worth unless you show them. If you're a receptionist, you can do things other than answer the phone. Understand what the prioirties are in your company (by watching and asking) and look for things to help realize those goals.
Note - This advice is only as useful to the degree that it's practiced with humility. Take ownership of your owrk within the context of the over all success of your company and you'll avoid the emotional pitfalls of grandiosity.
Women's Business Wear Look of the Day
Women's Business Clothing: Business Suits for Women
Browse these sharp looks...
Isaac Mizrahi for Target® Belted Linen Blazer - Old Tudor Brown
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) 
Disposable Dress Shields (8 pairs variety pack)
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Business Tips for Women : What To Do If You're Being Harassed
90% of women report having had experienced sexual harassment at one time in their career. It can be as seemingly harmless as a female coworkers calling each other "sweetie" or a more threatening experience.
Either way, sexual harassment continues to affect women in business today. It's a taboo subject; one thats not talked about. This is usually because women fear that reporting harassment will in some way jeopardize their status.
When it comes to harassment, it's importnat to be a part of the solution. You DO Have a discourse.
Either way, sexual harassment continues to affect women in business today. It's a taboo subject; one thats not talked about. This is usually because women fear that reporting harassment will in some way jeopardize their status.
When it comes to harassment, it's importnat to be a part of the solution. You DO Have a discourse.
- Learn About Sexual Harassment Law
- If your company is larger than 15 employees, you're protected federally by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Smaller organizations are subject to laws varying state by state.
- Get Free Expert Advice
- If you have fears or concerns about your personal situation, here you can read FAQ's, participate in forums, and receive customized advice from sexual harassment lawyers who deal specifically with women in business.
- File a Complaint
- Business women, learn more about your rights and even file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Books to Help You Deal With Harassment
Have Resource Lens for Women? Add it here!
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Woman Owned - Small Business Resources for Women in Business
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Squidoo Networking Women Group Headquarters
Squidoo Networking Women Group Are women better ne more...1 point
Web Mums - Business Resources for Women & Mums
Advice for small business start ups with friendly more...1 point
Domestic Violence/Abuse Help
Find immediate help here. Learn how to protect you more...0 points
Wonderful Entrepreneurial Women
For all those women out their with a great idea fo more...0 points
Gaining Respect In Business - "AS IF!"
Act as if, and it will be so.
Successful, respected women leaders expect to be treated as such, and act accordingly. This is so because they have taught others how to treat them. Success tip #5 deals with how to do just this."Act as if"means exemplifying qualities you want to possess. The only way to become what you want to be is to be it! This concept takes a lot of effort and personal discipline, but it's really not as difficult as it might seem. Your capacity to be who you want to be, and to be treated how you want to be treated increases with each "acting as if" attempt.
Here are two scenarios in which to try the "act as if" principle.
1. Emotion Control
Do the people you respect the most frequently fly off the handle? Spout sarcastic remarks or complain? Do they (gasp) cry?
I asked myself this question and my answer was a loud no. So I try to ACT AS IF I don't want to scream at my coworkers, throw my hands up in frustration, or say other words I know I can never take back. No matter what the circumstances, it is very, very important maintain equanimity and to speak professionally and respectfully.
2. Knowing (and keeping) your standards
When I was first starting out as an online marketing consultant, I was talented, but lacked experience. I received an inquiry from a potential client who repeatedly spoke to me like I was little girl who would benefit from his business. I could have taken the work,( I NEEDED the work) but knew it would cause me to view myself as lesser than I who I really wanted to be. If I wanted to be treated like a professional, I needed to act like a professional; which meant knowing my standards of treatment, and keeping them. The loss I incurred paled in comparison to the loss to my self perception (and therefor others perception of me.)
What Do YOU Think?
(have you rated htis lens yet?)
Your feedback is welcomed and encouraged. If you post a comment, remeber to rate this lens at the top of the screen. When you're done posting, check out The Link Kitchen
a_willow wrote...
Nice kens. Lots of useful advices. I'll go through once more in future when I grab more time. Right now it goes to favorites.
Posted July 20, 2008
Annie8 wrote...
Great resource for women, well done. Have added my Wonderful Entrepreneurial Women link. Really we just have to learn we deserve it..
Posted July 01, 2008
Lensmaster
Gulmira wrote
Great. 5 Stars.
I like the info and it is very useful.
Please visit and write my site~~
G_gulmira@mail.ru
Posted April 30, 2008
Networking-Woman wrote...
Hello, 5 stars for your lense. I added my Networking Women Group under resources and please ladies, submit your lenses!
Wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Posted December 22, 2007
marasco2001 wrote...
Great lens! The business world is totally different for women vs. men. Thanks for all of the helpful information. All young women need to take a look at this advice before graduating from college and entering the work environment.
Posted December 02, 2007
ebenpaganaltitude wrote...
Nice job on your lens. Your business should explode with your skills.
http://www.squidoo.com/eben-pagan-altitude-dvd
Posted December 02, 2007
Victoria_Neely wrote...
Gave you a 5! I especially like the part about gaining respect in business.
Posted November 27, 2007
Clutterbugs wrote...
I'm all about helping women in business! I added the WomenOwned.com link under resources...it is a networking site for business women (mainly entrepreneurs). ***** for such a fabulous lens!
Posted November 26, 2007
Karendelac wrote...
Great lens. 5 Stars.
I like the info and it is very useful.
Please visit and rate my site~~
http://www.squidoo.com/Harland-and-Wolffs-Titanic/
Posted November 25, 2007
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