The Latest Insights from Leading NOW

As we look towards another month (at least) of quarantine, many of us may feel like we have settled into some kind of new normal. Whether you’ve drastically adjusted to where and how you work, or you’ve unfortunately been displaced from work due to pandemic related lay-offs, the truth is that leadership in the pace of change today, has never been more important. As we discussed in our recent blog -- change is the only constant in life -- and that is so very true at this present time. While we must accept what’s out of our control and work to settle into a new normal, abandoning any of the core leadership competencies for managing change is not an option. So, today we wanted to share with you info on the leadership competency: Interpersonal Savvy. Interpersonal Savvy is “relating well with all kinds of people - inside and outside of the organization, building support, relationships, using diplomacy & defusing high tension situations.”

One of my favorite quotes is from a Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, who said ”Change is the only constant in life.” I’ve been thinking about the pace of Change for months now. I see Change happening at our clients’ organizations and I see the toll it is taking on their employees. And, I have been asking the question: “How do you lead in the face of constant change?”

Like many of you, our team at Leading Women is navigating in different and challenging work environments due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a global company, our team is accustomed to working remotely and delivering our programs virtually, but we too are having to find new rhythms and practices in order to navigate this season of the Coronavirus. We asked two of our leaders, Erin Defoyd, Director of Strategic Client Solutions (based in the US), and Samantha Furbush Taraskiewicz, Manager of Program and Client Relationships (based in Luxembourg) to share some of their observations, tips, and tricks for finding stability and productivity while confined to home. Erin and Samantha are both married with young children and are, therefore, navigating what it means to have husbands who now work from home 100% of the time, and children whose daycare and schools have been cancelled for the foreseeable future. Here is what each of them had to say…

How to Mix & Serve the Perfect Corporate Cocktail Many a career-impacting conversation has happened over a great drink. Not with any intent of impropriety – simply away from the confines of cubicles and conference calls. So, as a Black professional woman with years of earned and discerned corporate experience, I’d like to share some tips on how to build a better “corporate cocktail” for Black women like myself* who want a career they can sip and savor without the anguish of a 30-year hangover.

In honor of National Mentoring Month, we asked a few of our own Leading Women experts to share a favorite mentoring moment. Not surprisingly, they confirmed what we’ve known all along, that when women learn business, strategic and financial acumen, they thrive. If you don’t currently have a mentor, January is a great month to find one. #NaMeMo

"Sounds Like a TED Talk" This guest blog post comes from our friend and Leading Women alumna Victoria Waterman at Girls Inc. of Worcester. Be sure to watch her TEDxNatick talk and share it. Read ON! It started when I reached out to Susan Coluntuono to learn more about her research on confidence and how it fit into “The Missing 33%®”. As we knew from our work with leaders at every level, the lack of confidence was a significant contributor to holding women back in the workforce. As the former president of Leading Women Massachusetts, I have seen how this impacts women spanning all ages, socio-economic backgrounds, and industries. Paying it forward and preparing girls to get ahead of potential barriers when they enter the workforce has become my personal mission. And Susan replied, “Sounds like a TED Talk to me.” Read ON!

During the 2019 Holiday season, in lieu of sending gifts, Leading Women has a long standing tradition of making donations to local and national organizations that support women & girls. This year we proudly support:

Leading Women Announces Launch of Conference Services Division and Introduces #ConferenceInABox BOSTON, Oct. 22, 2019-- Leading Women, a distinguished global consulting firm noted for championing workplace culture transformation and promoting Gender Balance in corporate leadership, announces today the launch of its Conference Services Division, and its first ever #ConferenceInABox content offering for large and small scale events. Leading Women's innovative research-based solutions, which revolutionized Women's Leadership Development programs by identifying The Missing 33%® —and until now, were only accessible to select companies—are now available for delivery at leadership conferences globally through a packaged offering of learning modules designed to inspire and engage.

Today's blog post comes from our friend Meredith Wood over at Fundera. Read ON!

Today's blog post comes from our friend and Leading Women alumna Victoria Waterman at Girls Inc. of Worcester. Be sure to watch her TEDxNatick talk and share it. Read ON! Photo Credit: TEDxNatick | Leah LaRiccia Photography