WiNfluence - The WiN-Canada Blog

Happy Mother’s Day to all WiNfluence readers,

For all you Mom’s out there, today it is a day to sit back, relax and just be happy to be you.

Yesterday I had the privilege of spending the day with 23 amazing young girls, aged 8-12, who came together to talk about self-esteem and body image issues. The event was sponsored by Ontario Power Generation’s emPOWERed Women, Women in Nuclear (WiN) - Bruce, Meridian and Bruce Power. The full-day session was facilitated by Jen Charbonneau from So Glad 2B Me.

Jen’s message was simple, “everyone is beautiful and beauty comes from the inside, as well as the outside.” This is a great message for girls and women to hear at any age, especially when we are inundated with media messages everyday that suggest you must be tall, slim, have perfect skin and well-designed hair to be beautiful. Jen talked to the girls about how models spend hours in makeup and hair design before having a single photo taken and then their image is further enhanced using computer software. Yet we continue to compare ourselves to these images.

On this Mother’s Day be glad to be you. No judgements - don’t even think about standing in front of that full- length mirror and starting the negative self-talk. Small children always think Mommy is beautiful, because they have not yet learned to judge by appearance only and they clearly see the whole person. Take a page from their book and give yourself the gift of beauty today. Stop the negative self-talk, recognize that people naturally come in different shapes and sizes, focus on the good things about you, treat yourself with the same respect you’d pay to your best friend and celebrate your uniqueness!

See yourself through the eyes of a child, because you are indeed beautiful!

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content out there? Let WiNfluence curate the content for you. Each week I will share a few interesting links I have come across in order to share more content with WiNfluence readers. The information is not necessarily something I’m endorsing but links that I think are thought provoking and warrant a further look.

Check out this week’s interesting links.

The XX Factor: What’s Holding Women Back?  - The Wall Street Journal by Sue Shellenbarger. This is a great article with very good advice on how to help women succeed in the workplace. A must read for anyone in HR or working in the training of women leaders.

A Super-Efficient Email Process  - Harvard Business Review by Peter Bregman. Are you a slave to your email? This is a very well thought out process to help you manage the elephant that would be your inbox.

Toss The To Do Lists - Set Your Intention  - In Power Women by Dana Theus. I live and die by the to do list so this one was difficult for me to read, but Dana makes a great point about getting away from being the “doer”  and managing at a much higher level.

The Accomplishment Journal for Women Entrepreneurs  - Small Business Trends by Sarah Kirkish. Whether or not you are an entrepreneur or a women in the workplace this journal is a great idea to keep you on the right track and remind you of your accomplishments along the way. Imagine having all your accomplishments recorded in a book to take into your next performance review.

9 of the most overused clichés around women in the workplace  - The Grindstone by Lisa Skapinker. How often do you use this clichés when referring to women in the workplace. Is it time to talk differently?

It’s time to Rethink Continuous Improvement  - Harvard Business Review by Ron Ashkenas. Are continuous improvement programs like LEAN and Six Sigma hurting innovation in your organization? An interesting article on how we think about continuous improvement.

Research Summary: The Qualities that Distinguish Women Leaders  - In Power Journal by April Sweazy. “Good news for women leaders! Your distinct personalities and motivational strengths are creating a leadership profile that translates better in today’s diverse workplace.”

10 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Career  - Forbes. Don’t forget your career when you are in spring cleaning mode. Great tips!

Do you have any interesting links you’d like to share with WiNfluence readers? Pick one thing that inspired you this week and post the link in the comments section below.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content out there? Let WiNfluence curate the content for you. Each week I will share a few interesting links I have come across in order to share more content with WiNfluence readers. The information is not necessarily something I’m endorsing but links that I think are thought provoking and warrant a further look.

Check out this week’s interesting links.

Do You Have Klout? Employers Want to Know  - Forbes by Erik Kain. Just when you thought you had the interview process all figured out here comes another element. Employers may be looking at your online influence when making hiring decisions.

Can Exercise Make You Smarter? New Research Says Yes  - Forbes by Melanie Itaiken. We all know that exercise is good for you but now there is another reason to sweat it out. You will actually be smarter!

10 Reasons Men Should Care About Equality  - Men Advocating Real Change by Graeme Russell. This is a great article to help convince the men in your organization that they need to care about equality in the workplace.

Careful what you say about your employer online  - The Globe and Mail by Virginia Galt. Beware that your rants online don’t come back to bite you. A compelling article on thinking before you type.

Attitude Adjustment: Making Gender Initiatives Stick  - The Glass Hammer by Melissa J. Anderson. Melissa makes a case for changing the attitudes at the lowest levels of management in your organization on gender diversity issues and not just throwing money at women’s leadership programs.

Women Want to be Promoted? Talk About Yourself  - In Power Women by Marcia Reynolds. It doesn’t just take hard work and long hours to advance in a company - you must speak up and share your ideas and link what you know to the big picture.

Complacency. Diversity. Comaraderie. And Corporate Boards - Forbes by Sandy Styer. McKinsey report says that companies ranking in the top quartile of executive-board diversity have ROEs 53% higher. Another article for the business case of gender diversity.

Do you have any interesting links you’d like to share with WiNfluence readers? Pick one thing that inspired you this week and post the link in the comments section below.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content out there? Let WiNfluence curate the content for you. Each week I will share a few interesting links I have come across in order to share more content with WiNfluence readers. The information is not necessarily something I’m endorsing but links that I think are thought provoking and warrant a further look.

Check out this week’s interesting links.

Sheryl Sandberg: ‘There’s no Such Thing as Work-Life Balance’ - The Huffington Post by Bianca Bosker. This is a great article based on an interview with Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, who offers some great advice for women who seek leadership roles. Sheryl is becoming a very vocal advocate for women in leadership roles.

Five Lessons About Women in Business - The Source by Carrie Hindmarsh. Based on an interview with Carrie Hindmarsh, CEO of M & C Saatchi Groups Advertising Agency, Carrie “gives five lessons about women in business from her experiences in the advertising industry over the 21 years she has been in the sector and from her journey to the boardroom.”

Vaulting Into the C-Suite, Interview with Patricia Koopersmith, COO of The Clearing - InPower Women by Dana Theus. Patricia Koopersmith offers some great career advice on making the shift from management to leadership.

Sallie Krawcheck Says we Aren’t Promoting Women, We’re Just Making them Busier - The Grindstone by Meredith Lepore.  Sallie Krawcheck, the former head of Bank of America Merrill Lynch says “we’re putting women on diversity councils; we’re putting them in mentoring programs; we’re giving them special leadership training, telling them how to ask for promotions — but we are not promoting them. My goodness, we’re just making women busier. There needs to be a rethink about how to make them successful in these organizations.” An interesting perspective on how companies support women in advancing to leadership positions.

Research Says: Top-Team Diversity Equals Greater Financial Gain - InPower Women by April Sweazy. The finding of this research is that “companies with diverse executive boards have notably higher earnings and returns on equity.” Another great piece for your business plan on why diversity at the top of the house matters.

The business case for gender-based leadership - Smart Blog on Leadership by Dana Theus. This article talks about how business is letting the best and brightest leave the corporate world to start their own companies because the culture drives them away and how this will be a risk for companies' leadership in the future.

The leadership challenge: Erasing stereotypes - The Globe and Mail by Leah Eichler. Take the online quiz offered by Harvard University linked in this article and see if you have a bias toward associating men with careers, and women with family. You may be surprised by the results. I know I was.

How to Close the Gender Wage Gap in Just Seven Easy Steps  - The Nation by Bryce Covert. Even though this is U.S. based data I doubt the scenario would be much different in Canada. Bryce offers seven great steps to eliminating the gender wage gap that all companies should be taking a look at.

Do you have any interesting links you’d like to share with WiNfluence readers? Pick one thing that inspired you this week and post the link in the comments section below.

Volunteers: Passion. Action. Impact. is the theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week (NVW) campaign. According to NVW website, the theme recognizes the individual volunteers across Canada who dedicate themselves to improving their communities. Volunteers have a passion for getting involved, they take action to support the causes and organizations that are important to them, and they make an impact in communities across Canada and around the globe.

WiN members’ actions tie in very nicely with this theme. We have great passion for the industry and the promotion of women who make a tremendous contribution to their companies and the industry. We take action by volunteering on the Board, helping out with GIRLS Science Camp/Club, acting as mentors for Skills Canada, planting trees on Earth Day, participating in WiN meetings and conferences, speaking to the public and a multitude of other activities. We make an impact on the industry by putting a fresh face on what has always been known as a male-dominated industry and by helping girls recognize the importance of science in our everyday lives and looking at careers in the industry with a new perspective.

The more hands that touch WiN the stronger we become as an organization. Our hope is that our volunteers benefit from gaining leadership competencies and a greater understanding of the industry, which will help them not only in their own career advancement, but make them more informed advocates for the industry.

In celebration of this year’s NVW I would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to all WiNners for your hard work and dedication each and every day. Your contributions make WiN what it is today. Well done!

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content out there? Let WiNfluence curate the content for you. Each week I will share a few interesting links I have come across in order to share more content with WiNfluence readers. The information is not necessarily something I’m endorsing but links that I think are thought provoking and warrant a further look.

Check out this week’s interesting links.

Girls in STEM Infographic  - The New Agenda by Whitney Zahnd. This graphic is a very informative chronology and overview of girls’ abilities, interest, and pursuit of science, technology, engineering, and math fields.

When Not to Tell ‘Em What You’re Gonna Tell ‘Em  - Harvard Business Review by Jerry Weissman. Some great advice on how to build a PowerPoint presentation.

The Glass Ceiling: Sometimes it’s not about sex  - InPower Women by Dana Theus. Interview tips for the C-Suite.

Research Summary: Overcoming The Blacklash Effect   - InPower Women by April Sweazy. This study talks about how learning to self-monitor your masculine and feminine leadership style characteristics, and evaluate the situations they’re best suited for could mean a faster climb up the corporate ladder.

How to Negotiate Your Next Salary  - Harvard Business Review by Amy Gallo. Amy provides some great advice on negotiating your salary. The article is written for starting a new job but I think the advice works equally as well for negotiating a promotion.

How to Keep Your Job Without Working Yourself to Death  - Forbes by Deborah L Jacobs. In this world of “doing more with less” Deborah provides some helpful tips on managing work and life and keeping the boss happy.

Business Meeting Etiquette: 8 Pet Peeves  - Inc. by Janine Popick. A must read for anyone who attends meetings. Look at the pet peeves - if you have ever done any of these in a meeting - stop now, please!

34 Things I’ve Learned About Life and Adventure  - The Art of Non-Conformity. I’ll leave you with this little blog post which is sure to reset your priorities and get your life on a happier track.

Do you have any interesting links you’d like to share with WiNfluence readers? Pick one thing that inspired you this week and post the link in the comments section below.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content out there? Let WiNfluence curate the content for you. Each week I will share a few interesting links I have come across in order to share more content with WiNfluence readers. The information is not necessarily something I’m endorsing but links that I think are thought provoking and warrant a further look.

Check out this week’s interesting links.

Top 10 Reasons Why Large Companies Fail to Keep Their Best Talent - Forbes by Eric Jackson. Are you losing top talent in your organization? Eric sets out some of the areas that may be causing you as a manager and your organization problems.

Five Myths About Women and Success and What You Can Do to Squelch Them  - Psychology Today by Marcia Reynolds Psy.D. Marcia does her best to squelch five common myths around women in the workplace. A must read for all women in the workplace and anyone who supervises women as well.

Research Says: Women in Groups Make Smarter Groups! - The Woman Effect by April Sweazy. “In this study, conducted by Carnegie Mellon professor Anita Woolley and MIT professor Thomas Malone, it was found that when groups included more women, their collective intelligence increased. In these more gender-diverse groups it was found that members were more prone to listen to each other, more open-minded and better able to accept constructive criticism rather than attempting to dominate the conversation.”

Case in Point: Uprooting Unconscious Bias  - The Washington Post by Erika James. In this case study Erika reveals how “Failure to recognize that unconscious biases exist in all of us can lead to perceived or actual discrimination and can severely limit a firm’s ability to identify and seize top talent. As competition grows fiercer and winning the war for talent becomes increasingly critical to success, firms must become proactive in identifying and circumventing unconscious bias.”

Five Myths about Gen Y Workers  - The Globe & Mail by Harvey Schachter. Harvey busts myths around working with Gen Y Workers. A great read for anyone with Gen Y in their workplace.

Women & Risky Business - A Dynamite Combo? - InPower Women by Dana Theus. Dana finds a common link in all the confusing research out there about women and risk.  “If risk is defined as ‘a wing and a prayer,’ ‘competition-and-testosterone-induced hope’ or ‘gut instinct’, then women seem to be less willing to engage in it; however if risk is defined as ‘calculated, researched, understood and evaluated,’ perhaps women are more willing to take it on - even when it involves breaking the rules (often a risky endeavor on its own).

Why American Women Lose At Negotiation - And What We Can Do About It - Forbes by Meghan Casserly. Although this article is written about Amercian women I think we could easily substitute Canadian with the same result. “A big part of that problem for women is the belief that relationships should trump agenda. In other words, women are concerned that negotiating—or any sign of resistance—with a manager could tarnish a long-term relationship. When confronted with that scenario, many women choose to forgo their own agenda (whether a salary increase or desired promotion) in order to protect workplace relationships.”

Do you have any interesting links you’d like to share with WiNfluence readers? Pick one thing that inspired you this week and post the link in the comments section below.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content out there? Let WiNfluence curate the content for you. Each week I will share a few interesting links I have come across in order to share more content with WiNfluence readers. The information is not necessarily something I’m endorsing but links that I think are thought provoking and warrant a further look.

Check out this week’s interesting links.

6 Tips for Making Better Decisions  - Forbes by Mike Myatt. A must read for anyone who struggles with decision making. Six great tips offered that you can print off and keep close at hand.

Do You Explain Your Success Away? - InPower Women by Paula Davis. Do you suffer from “The Imposter Syndrome” that prevents you from internalizing your accomplishments? If so, this article was written for you.

Your Career Needs to Be Horizontal - Harvard Business Review by Ron Ashkenas. Ron provides a great argument for thinking differently about always having to climb the corporate ladder.

How to Craft a Job Search Elevator Pitch  - Forbes by Susan Adams. Do you have an elevator pitch not just for job searching but if you ride up with the CEO and he asks what you do? This article will help you be prepared for that next change encounter.

The Magic of Doing One Thing at a Time - Harvard Business Review by Tony Schwartz. This is probably one of the best articles I’ve read lately to help you with time management.

25 Female Scientists to Celebrate this Month  - Online College. Check out this great list of female scientists who deserve our recognition.

Do you have any interesting links you’d like to share with WiNfluence readers? Pick one thing that inspired you this week and post the link in the comments section below.

Are your presentation techniques engaging your audience or are you having a hard time keeping their interest. Last week, I attended the WiN-Durham meeting and Peggy Ancker, the WiN-Durham Chair gave a presentation on presentation techniques. With Peggy’s permission I am going to share some of the great points she made with you:

1.    Arrive early to assess the room, chat with people and share a personal story to warm up your audience.
2.    Check your space. Does the audio visual work?
3.    Watch your body language. Create some energy by walking around as you give your presentation. Use a   laser pointer to help draw the audience’s attention to your slides.
4.    Remember that people’s attention spans are short and they are easily distracted. Keep the uhms and ahs to a minimum.
5.    Make eye contact.
6.    Throw in a little humour. Maybe not a joke, as jokes can sometimes fall flat but perhaps a picture that applies to your presentation. Peggy suggested a recent picture from vacation makes you feel more human to your audience and can provide some humour.
7.    If you are not well prepared you will look uncomfortable, which can be equally uncomfortable for your audience. Practice your presentation ahead of time and even ask someone to listen to it and provide feedback. The better prepared the more comfortable you and your audience will feel.
8.    Add some energy and enthusiasm into your words. There is nothing worse than a monotone voice reading words from a slide. Make sure you highlight key words.
9.    Silence is golden. If you really want people to ponder on an idea - pause. Let what you’ve said sink in before you move on to another thought.
10.    Talk emotionally as well as intelligently. Use personal stories and examples. Your audience will feel more connected.
11.    Use good slides. Use pictures and less words. Don’t keep making the font smaller to get everything you want to say on the screen. Key words and a picture is all you need to get your point across. If you want to leave behind a supplementary report, make copies and pass them out after your presentation. The slides should not tell the entire story.

All great advice to sharpen your presentation techniques for your next big presentation. Thanks Peggy for sharing your tips and allowing me to share them further with the WiNfluence readers.