Magazine
Spring 2008: Leadership
Editorial TeamThe Levity Effect: Three Reasons Why it Pays for Leaders to Lighten Up at Work
As a business person, it may be hard to measure the return on investment of levity–whether a go-cart outing, dress-up contest, or a perfectly timed punch line–but a crowd of successful leaders attest that fun is an essential component of their people, business and innovation strategies.
The Case for Saying NO
Taneshia Nash Laird had a chance to get a more important and powerful job. She turned the offer down. Read more of her story here.
A Four-Tiered Look at Leadership
Women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s weigh in on the “L” word. We asked a quartet of lady leaders, with exactly a 30-year spread between them, about what defines leadership and some of the challenges they’ve faced (and surmounted) forging their career paths.
Go Ahead, Procrastinate
When we received an advance copy of a book claiming that procrastination could be a good thing, we had to call up the author to figure out what she meant. Kerul Kassel talked to us about Productive Procrastination: Make it Work For You, Not Against You!
Jessica Guff on Management
Jessica Guff is the executive producer of ABC News Now, a 24-hour digital network. Prior to this, she was senior broadcast producer of Good Morning America and was intimately involved in the launch of The View.
Jacqueline Liebergott on Accomplishment
Jacqueline Liebergott is the president of Emerson College and the first woman to hold the position since the College was founded in 1880.
Deborah Roberts on Authenticity
Deborah Roberts is an award-winning ABC News correspondent whose reports appear regularly on Good Morning America and 20/20.
Gale Britton on Reward
Gale Britton is the vice president of recruiting and selection for Prudential Financial’s Agency distribution unit.
Dealing with The Imposter Syndrome
Peggy Klaus, author of T he Hard Truth about Soft Skills: Workplace Lessons Smart People Wish They’d Learned Sooner shares tips on how to deal with The Imposter Syndrome.
Politics at Work
If you’re not already a registered voter, visit 411.org, a project of the League of Women Voters, for links and information for every state.
Simple Steps to Recession-Proof Your Career Right Now
In a challenging economic climate you might not be able to recession-proof your specific job, but you can definitely recession-proof your career. That means if you’re a mortgage lender and your company is in trouble, that job is likely impossible to save at this time, but that doesn’t mean your career is in the gutter.
Know Thyself and Thy Sticky Floors
We once believed that one of the primary factors keeping women from advancing in their careers was the “glass ceiling”—cultural and societal barriers preventing us from rising to the top. While that might still hold true in some organizations today, it’s important for women to look at what they might be doing, or not doing, to hold themselves back.
Start Talking to Strangers
Editorial TeamAs you think about ways to grow your career, put yourself in a position to try new things. If you never learn anything new or take your skills to the next level, you’re not bettering yourself, let alone increasing your value in the workplace.
To that end, it’s essential to cultivate relationships and network, the theme of this issue—with people you perceive to be smarter, wiser or even funnier than you. Usually these people are right around us, completely accessible, but we don’t open ourselves to the possibilities of meeting them.
I would often attend industry functions because it’s the thing to do when you’re running a business or looking to grow your career. One day I thought, “I keep going to all of these things, but I’m not really getting anything out of them. What’s wrong with this picture?” I wondered if I should stop going, and then realized that probably wasn’t the best idea. There’s a reason I was drawn to them in the first place.
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Determined to Make a Difference
Editorial Teamby Angie Parra
After working on Wall Street for more than 10 years, I found myself looking for a new opportunity within the financial arena. I wanted something where I could wake up each day and make an impact.
I attended the Women For Hire event in Dallas more than a year ago and met with many different employers. New York Life stood out to me. The company offered a chance to be an entrepreneur with a twist: I could be in business for myself, but not by myself. That made quite an impression on me.
In New York Life, I have a 163-year-old partner, which is always a great comfort. I’m very happy with my career. Right now is an especially good time to be with a company that is recession- proof—there will always be a need for what I offer to families.
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A Mother/Daughter Tale: Joined At More Than The Hip
Editorial TeamBefore they could work together on behalf of their clients, this duo had to work out the kinks inherent in the shift from family to business. While their personal bond and shared interests led them to the same professional passions, they are the first to admit it isn’t always smooth sailing when working closely with someone you love. We asked them to share their challenges and triumphs of thriving on the job.
The C Words: Control, Communication, Compromise, Change
Lou: As with any good partnership, even though it is supposed to be 50/50 usually it isn’t. Someone is controlling and someone is controlled. When I invited my daughter into my company, I had mixed emotions. I was skeptical. We both like control.
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Networking Wisdom from Four Pros Who Know
Editorial TeamDondi Scumaci, author, Designed For Success: The 10 Commandments for Women in the Workplace (Excel Books, $21.99)
Networking isn’t just passing out ten thousand cards at a tradeshow. That’s just an in-person version of spam. Networking is making a real connection—understanding what people care about and what they are trying to get done. Networking is not an event; it is a discipline.
• Volunteer. Sign up for causes that matter to you. You’ll meet people who share your interests and concerns. Common ground is a great foundation to build on.
• Manage your contacts. Instead of building a database, build a knowledge base. Go beyond collecting names and telephone numbers. Over time, if you pay attention and ask the right questions, you will learn the goals, interests and challenges of your contacts. That’s when they stop being contacts and become colleagues, friends and resources.
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Meet 3 Great Gals Going Places
Editorial TeamHannah Seligson
Hannah Seligson, who grew up in Alexandria, Va., says that after she graduated from Brown University with a degree in political science she took a job–then found herself glued to a computer looking at spread sheets.
“I took a job in political consulting, where I was essentially an Excel monkey,” she says. “The job was a bad fit all around, and they beat me to the punch and fired me after nine months.” That inspired her to write a career guide for young women, called New Girl on the Job: Advice from the Trenches (Citadel, $19.95).
“I wrote the book that I wish I had had when I graduated college in 2004,” says Seligson, now a journalist, author, speaker and blogger. “Being a journalist appeals to me because I love finding the story in things, even if it’s something like a dog parade. ‘Why’ is my favorite word.”
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