Women Helping Women-How Can We Support & Advocate For Women In Business?

It's a simple question. Really? Really! Maybe we agree to disagree, but I only accept one answer to this question: JUST DO IT! 

It's time we stop all this nonsense (as my mother would say). It's time we stop all this competition, positioning, mania, and narcissism towards each other! It's time we change the pattern and "woman-up"! We are all guilty at some point or other. 

How can we support and advocate for women in business? Woman-Up!! We need to elevate, inspire, advocate, and support each other. Try these 3 rituals:

1. We are pros at developing and executing our daily rituals, aren't we, women? Try an additional ritual, and gift "a word of encouragement" to another woman in business. 
2. As women, we want to be respected, valued, and relevant. Try just a smile and thank you to another woman in business today.
3. We want our colleagues to listen to our ideas and provide valuable feedback. So, try to converse with each other with kindness, care and sincerity...and truth...and the rest will fall into place.

Simple...really...try, try, try, and just do it!!

Ladies, what one answer will you accept to this question?

thanks for joining me today...donna slater

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

Women In Business-Why Everyone Deserves To Be "Coached" (Part 4 of 4)

Welcome back! Yesterday I gave you pointed questions to ask coaches and mentors, as you decide which coach is the best fit for you. I also gave you some things to think about as you listen to their answers (to your questions).

I will now demonstrate how you have a "secret coach" you probably did not even know existed. Think about it...

• We are coached everyday either formally or informally. During the normal course of our lives, we tell individuals something of significance to us every day, listen to their feedback, then act on their feedback, or not. If that person engages with you, listens to you, and provides some form of answer, advice, or statement, that moment could be a "coaching moment". 
• It is how you reflect and respond to the feedback which is the act of being "coached". You may or may not agree with their feedback. You may or may not have asked for coaching, but you might have given the other person the impression you were open to coaching.
• We all need an individual, other than a family member or friend, who can be "real" with us all the time. If that person is only there to tell you what you're doing is perfect, then you have affirmation your solutions are on track. Normally, it's another set of eyes and brains which is there to collaborate, brainstorm, offer other ideas or options, or become your partner in crime!

Even coaches need coaches...... which might be a surprise to some of you. Coaches and mentors are fallible, just like you and me, which means not everything they say and think is right or wrong,  and good or bad! It is simply something for you to consider, as you process your thoughts.

I have seen senior management in huge corporations being coached. Many chairman's have coaches or mentors. Not because they are weak, but because they are strong and always learning as a student of life!

I made an admission to myself last year that I am open to any kind of coaching everyday of my life! Yesterday, I was coached by my partner when I explained a time constraint in my day. ALLOW yourself to be coached, as it can be one of the most satisfying moments of your life. Listen to what people say, whether you agree or not. Reflect or act on their statements, whether it is to take action, or not take action.

WHO IS YOUR SECRET COACH THIS WEEK? Please respond and comment if you were the recipient of a coaching moment, and you now recognize that moment as such!

Hope you've enjoyed the 4 part series and have better insight into why everyones deserves to be coached.

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

www.women4womenclub.us

Women In Business-Why Everyone Deserves To Be "Coached" (Part 3 of 4)

Today, in part 3 of this series, I will give you pointed questions to ask prospective coaches and mentors. Tip: always listen to your gut!

Before you ask these questions and listen to their answers, keep in mind:

• It's not always the answer to the question which will help you make your decision. It's more about the manner in which they answer and how their answer makes you feel. Ask yourself: Are they on the same page with me? 
• Notice their tone and inflection. Are they reading from a script or do you hears words from their heart? Do you feel their passion about what they do?
• After a few minutes, take note if they are talking about themselves or the solution/answer to your issue? Are they answering the questions in my head? Does it sound feasible, or does it sound confusing?

Questions:

1. How is your style of coaching different from other coaches?
2. What benefits will I receive from you which I won't receive from other coaches?
3. How do you differentiate yourself from your competition?
4. How will we communicate?
5. How will we measure the success of our relationship?

Have fun with your conversations. Words should flow easily. The coach should make you feel like they are easy to talk to. Always listen to your gut!

Tomorrow, in part 4 of the series, I'm going to ask you who your secret coach might be.....

Thanks for joining me here and hope you enjoyed!

Donna Slater

Women4womenclub.US

Women In Business-Why Everyone Deserves To Be "Coached" (Part 2 of 4)

Welcome back. Yesterday in part 1 of this series, I described the experience of being coached and gave you 3 reasons why a coach adds more value than a friend or family member could possibly offer, consistently.

Though, let's be real. Finding the right coach can be challenging, and you have to kiss a lot of coaches before you find the right one. Bottom-line: you must feel a connection with your coach before you will ever believe anything they say; before you will trust their integrity; or before you will ever act on their suggestions or plans. 

A connection can come in many forms:

• a gut feeling
• intuition
• you both like the Dallas Cowboys
• ease of speaking with each other
• anything that tells you "I like this person"

The truth is there are no right or wrong answers. But, feeling that connection with anyone you work with is essential to the success of the relationship, and therefore, the success of the businesses. You cannot have a successful business relationship without a real connection between both parties. As a society, we know the phrase "relationship building" is utilized in sales organization's to seal a long-lasting business deal. But it doesn't just relate to a professional-client relationship. "Relationship Building" relates to all of our relationships, including B2B. 

Each and every small business owner deserves to be coached and expect a real connection with that coach or mentor. Do you need a coach? Will you allow yourself to be coached? Can you take the truth? If the person you engage with (as a coach or mentor) cannot evoke a feeling of calm with answers to those questions, he/she is not the right coach! 

Remember what I stated in part 1...The experience of being coached by somebody who has a vested interest in you, somebody you trust, and somebody who will except your vulnerability, will help you open doors in your life you hardly know exists. 

 

Tomorrow...part 3 of 4, I will give you specific questions to ask a potential coach/mentor and some insight into your "secret coach"!

Thanks for following...hope you enjoy!

Donna Slater

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

Women In Business-Why Everyone Deserves To Be "Coached" (Part 1 of 4)

What is a coach? Oy vey, that's a loaded question! Coaches come in all forms, they excel in unique skills, and they all serve many purposes to society. No one coach is alike! In the society we live in they can be Business Coaches, Sport Coaches, Psychotherapists, Teachers, Life Coaches, Mentors, and on and on. The point is many individual people can serve others through "coaching" at different moments or periods in their life. By the way, I am not suggesting these individuals all serve the same purpose and can, therefore, be interchangeable. Just saying...don't get lost in the messaging.

Each and every one of us have engaged in "coaching", whether we were the recipient or the coach at some point in our lives. We all learn and grow until the day we die. If you are reading this and you think you have learned all you can learn, and grown as as a student of life as much as you possibly could, you need not read further. But, if you are a student of life, so to speak, and your brain is a sponge for information, intellect, and stimulation, allow yourself to be coached.

The experience of being coached by somebody who has a vested interest in you, somebody you trust, and somebody who will except your vulnerability, will help you open doors in your life you hardly know exists. 

Let's not go crazy, I am not comparing "coaches" to Archangels or Greek Goddesses. Coaches are just like you and me, come in all colors and religions, and some are smarter than others...enough said. However, I contend coaches can offer some unique traits that a friend or family member does not normally provide, even when asked. Consider these factors:

• Coaches will always tell you the truth, no matter what, simply because they are not your friend or family member. 
• Coaches will listen to you without judgement and understand your idiosyncrasies in a way no other individual can.
• Coaches will allow you to be a vulnerable student of life, guiding you through moments of dizziness to clarity, so to speak.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not insinuating our family and friends cannot provide us the supportive traits described above. But the truth is our family and friends cannot provide this support at all times. Whether it is because they have their own busy lives and stresses, or they are not skilled, nobody has a vested interest in you to excel like a coach or mentor does. 

Of course, finding the RIGHT COACH is another coaching opportunity...for another day.....tomorrow...

Thanks for reading my blog for women in business. Comments, topics, and perspectives are always welcome....

Donna Slater

Business Coach & Consultant

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

Why Having A Sales Plan Is An Essential Component To Your Marketing Plan

Author: Donna Slater

http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Donna_Slater

How Do We Build A Culture Of Empathy & Compassion Within Women In Business?

Women in business have thrived over the last decade, no one can deny that. But, isn't there always a but?? But, the journey is long and arduous, while gratifying and relevant. Isn't everything a double edged sword in business, especially for women?

Every day, I experience women who are amazing, inspiring, driven, adventurous, and kind. These experiences fuel my desire to learn new things, be curious about the things that interest me, and follow the trends these things result in. These women keep me going through thick and thin.

In contrast, remember the female culture in grade school? That person learned and was programmed to be competitive of other women, and grew that culture over time through their teens. Warning: this is not a discussion of blame, or what went wrong, or why we're not there. Blame and re-generating the past is futile.

The message and opportunity in this discussion is take action to change the culture over time, because this will always be a journey, but one we can affect change in, and advance of women.

My hope is that women everywhere reflect on their relationships with their female colleagues, friends, family, acquaintances, client's, or saleswomen, and ask themselves:

Are my relationships with all women I interact with daily that of compassion and empathy, or do I compete with those women with less desirable behavior?

Only one answer to this question is the correct answer!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed! I welcome all comments.

About Me & What to Expect in Future Blogs

A little bit about me...

Hi, my name is Donna Slater. I am the founder and owner of Women4WomenClub. I created my company with passion and purpose, having identified a need and support for women in business. I spent the last 30 years in the corporate world, in some of the most fascinating roles, and learning valuable lessons and skills every day of my career.

What I have found through careful research and reflection, is I have a larger opportunity to grow with and impact other women in business, one on one in the small business arena, rather than working the masses in the corporate arena. The revelation in which I had greater opportunities as a woman, working and connecting with women, and providing all women in business a forum to mentor and collaborate, was a passionate cause, in which I was willing to commit the rest of my career.

As for my work history, I possess a finance background, with a focus on sales, revenue growth, lead generation, and analytics. Additionally, I incorporated leadership, coaching, operational processes, sales & marketing strategies, and coaching into my skillset, as a result of learning and growing every day.

I have worked at some of the most fascinating companies, where I was encouraged to grow, such as Wells Fargo NA, Morgan Stanley, and Balboa Thrift and Loan.

I am humbled talking about myself, as my real purpose and passion is to help and serve women in business find their own passion. I chose the gender association with women as a result of my experience in the corporate world, and the differences I witnessed with gender equality. I hesitate to state the obvious, but as a woman, I, therefore feel compelled to help and support other women in business create their own successes.

Committed to your success,

Donna

Future blogs will feature women's advancement & advocacy, sales and marketing strategies, women's issues, sales ideas. I will be real and transparent about my views, opinions, and non-judgements. If you like my blog, forward on to another women, who might enjoy the same content.

My Blog's Purpose...

I write this blog to allow women in business a platform to connect on many levels.....life, work, spiritual, creative, and business to find their passion. My passion in life and work is to help women, particularly in small business, manifest big ideas into reality. You see, as a female in business for many years, I am compelled to encourage and advocate, and help advance women in business. This is my life's purpose and I will use my blog to achieve my passion, purpose, goals, and life's work.

As for today, remember nothing in life and business is your personal status quo. Every day your priorities change, you face new challenges, and you have
opportunities to choose your moments of peace, grace, and humility. Your perception on how you view the last statement is how your path then plays out into reality. Think about how you view events in your day and try to view these events with a clean slate of consciousness, rather than judging as good or bad, right or wrong.