Thursday, August 1, 2013

My advice for women planning their career - PART 3: NEW OPPORTUNITIES

There are plenty of new opportunities to develop your talents – one I want to focus on is volunteering, and potentially even look at joining non-profit boards!
I think this is a space that truly allows folks to show leadership in many ways
·         Often you need to step out of your comfort zone which is a great learning experience
·         If you support social causes you need to know how to clearly articulate your mission and vision and how to translate them into impactful activities
·         Align colleagues and friends to support a special cause /your vision.
·         Mobilize troops for action. This calls for leadership skills.
·         Arrange events and initiatives and ensure that everybody knows the role they need to play including superiors and peers.
·         Build your network and call on your network for support.
Volunteering is really as much about developing yourself as it is about doing good. I have seen so many folks grow by stepping up to the challenge, meeting new people, learning new tasks, gaining some of the best experiences of their life and by leaving a very positive impact on society.
You can get involved in some of our larger global projects or simply in a school of with a non- profit in your own neighborhood.
So in summary:
·         Know what is going on – observe and understand.
·         Keep learning and building your skills throughout your career.
·         If you believe in something be resilient – and keep asking and requesting even if it does not work the first time – the only way to get ahead means you need persistence
·         Persistence and Motivation trump talent – approximately 85% of your career depends on your attitude – competence is expected – your attitude is the critical differentiator.[1]
·         And have confidence in your abilities - it will lead to success.
If you do all that, I am afraid that my two sons will have some stiff competition by the time they are ready to build their career.



[1] http://whenindoubtgetout.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/85-attitude-15-aptitude/

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