Women have always resided within sales and marketing organizations since I began my long sojourn in this industry. Those that succeed have some commonalities:
- Brains & Focus
- Creativity & Stamina
- Professional Image
- Solid Relationships
The one we rarely read about are GOALS.
CDN his hosting its annual Women of the IT Channel Recognition Luncheon on Aug. 22nd. If you work in the IT channel and want to connect with other women leaders, hear great keynote speakers and see who the honourees are click on this link: http://www.itworldcanada.com/
The Channel is a difficult place because it’s built on layers of stakeholders, with each area having specific needs, specific mandates and different goal requirements for next steps. Some of us have this down as a science, some of us simply know we should be doing this but a task list too often suffices the need to build comprehensive strategies containing set goals.
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All of us need to ask “What is our overall goal?” Are we looking to be the next CEO, (a lonely place at the top) or are such lofty ambitions set on building personal wealth from running a great sales organization? Like our opposites we have our own ways to produce great results. Sometimes we manage to exceed or at least get to the same place as our opposites, but we must have different approaches because as women we have different obstacles. This is not to say our male counterparts are viewed as our combatants. Rather it says applying for a $10M line of credit at one of Canada’s top six banks is more of a challenge for a female executive, and it is different when you can’t be part of the old boys club. Demanding a high salary must be presented in a different tone and articulating your value and worth needs to be coached in softer linguistics, and subtle but persuasive articulation that never offends. And once you have obtained such stature and power, a word we don’t use enough, it’s important to help others understand the rules of business, specifically for the younger generation of females sitting behind you.
Some of the most basic obstacles we experience are within our own heads. Yes, ladies, ourselves. We can tend to over-think situations and emotional reactions before it ever takes place; we can believe we need to work harder and be better for the same opportunities; we can also vote ourselves out of internal networked situations because we don’t play hockey or golf and sometimes we don’t wish to have libations that allow co-workers to engage in the right conversations with the office power crowd.
Certainly one way of looking at it!
Thank goodness there are also the newer views of female empowerment women are embracing. More women are volunteering in corporate non-profit organizations related to their work, and finding it does make a difference. Its new connections, many of them powerful, which can take us to the next level of achievement, as well as enjoyment. There are many more mentors and mentorship programs to help high potentials achieve stellar outputs faster. In the past these types of programs were tailored for men.
Importantly, many women have now broken the “glass ceiling” from government, to banking, academia, media and great sales & channel organizations.
What are their secrets? Some are learning to be more aggressive while still known for wearing pearls. Some are putting themselves out there, taking the risk to take a big office while sticking to their own value systems based on a more collaborative strategy. Not all ‘kill what you eat’ strategies are effective. Whatever the secret sauce might be, the most successful women believe networking with other women remains a high priority.
Women need to work with other women in all professions. Each profession has its nuances, and this is why I am a fan of such activities. One is coming up in a few weeks you should know about.
Computer Dealer News with Ingram Micro Canada will host the annual Women in IT Luncheon at the stunning and historical Graydon Hall Manor, Thursday, August 22nd.
To register go to http://www.computerdealernews.com/women-in-it
