Fearless Female Leadership Podcast with Sheryl Kline, M.A. CHPC Sheryl Kline M.A., CHPC

http://www.sherylkline.com/blog

I had the honor of speaking with Cathie Hall, Chief Customer Officer at IFS. We dove into her philosophy on leading with humility... including how recognizing strengths, and collaborating with others is crucial for success in leadership, especially for women in the tech industry. Cathie also emphasized how important it is to prioritize personal balance and challenge social conventions.

Key Takeaways:
00:00 Humility in leadership is crucial for success, as personal experiences and early inspiration can shape one’s perspective and choices.04:55 Leading with humility involves recognizing strengths, listening to others, and collaborating with a team to deliver successful outcomes.09:30 Leading with humility creates a safe environment for creativity, innovation, and success, especially in diverse global organizations, and female leaders need to find a balance in taking credit for their team’s success.15:09 Leading with humility and celebrating success as a team is important, women need to increase visibility and joint ownership in projects, have a clear communication strategy, and mindset is crucial in overcoming setbacks and thriving in a tech career.18:47 Leading with humility is important for navigating social and personal challenges, and involves understanding goals, breaking things down, and building resilience.22:32 Women should prioritize personal balance, challenge social conventions, and spend quality time with children, while society needs to catch up with the modern global workplace.26:18 Make decisions based on your strengths and moral compass, lead with humility, collaborate with colleagues, and focus on doing your current job well for natural career progression.30:45 Leading with humility and focusing on strengths, rather than weaknesses, is key to coaching and mentoring others, seeking improvement, and advancing in one’s career. (edited) 

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Sometimes we get that uncomfortable feeling, like it’s time to shift, make a pivot or uplevel, and we often ask ourselves, ‘What's next for me?’

It’s a bold question, often not an easy one, isn’t it?!

Do you ever get that feeling that you are being called to do more, or do something different?

I’ve had the honor of working with some of the most prolific and influential female leaders, here in San Francisco, Silicon Valley and across the country and their teams.

One thing they’ve  said over the years is  “I wish all the women in my organization could have the transformation that I'm having, so they can go from being possibly silenced, overlooked or disregarded to being and feeling heard, valued, respected. Like they're really an agent of change.”

And so last September, I said ‘yes!’ to a fantastic opportunity to partner with the software company and learning platform Rali to create and film the Fearless Female Leadership Enterprise Journey.

After almost six months of curriculum design, filming, and editing, it's now ready and out in the world. I’m so excited to share it with you!

The Fearless Female Leadership enterprise program is currently being placed with a couple of early adopters in a consumer goods company as well as a cybersecurity company, and the official launch will be in a couple of weeks. 

The amount of time this took was scary. The amount of money that this took was scary. As a matter of fact, for my business, this level of investment did not make financial sense for me at the time.

But I have to share that every cell in my body was screaming yes!

I took a very serious look to see if I could make it work, and then I went for it.

Are you experiencing something similar? Are you asking yourself ‘what's next for me?’

It doesn't have to be something grand..

It could be…

‘What's next for me is that I speak up more?’

‘What's next for me is to get paid what I feel that I'm worth?’

But it could be a shift. It could be a pivot. It could be something big. It could be going from working in consumer goods to working in one industry or role to something completely different.

If you are at a place where that little voice keeps saying, ‘what's next?’, then maybe it is time to change, time to pivot, or time to up-level.

There are a couple of questions you can ask yourself when you feel like it's time to make a decision about what's next, but you're not exactly sure what it should be…

#1 If you had a magic wand and could not fail, what would you take action on?

#2 In one, two, three, or five years, if you were to look back on yourself today, what would you regret not doing or not trying?

The important thing to remember here is perspective.

I do not have the answers to ‘what's next’ for you. What I do have is the ability to help with shifting your perspective and helping you to understand that the answers are already within you.

And if you do have that uncomfortable feeling, it's my philosophy that you are being called for more or called to something different.

Will you accept the challenge that you’re being guided toward?

The next resource I want to share with you that should help is a worksheet called the "Get to Know Yourself Questionnaire."

Here is the worksheet which you can download today.

Be sure to also have a look at this video, which is an overview of the Fearless Female Leadership Enterprise Journey (it’s 2:00-minutes long).

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It was such a joy to speak with Jessica Bacher, Chief People Officer at Prolink, who shares her personal journey of overcoming adversity in her teens and first-generation college graduate.

With the support of her parents, especially her mother's advocacy, Jessica navigated unfamiliar territory to pursue higher education. She reflects on her non-linear career path, emphasizing the value of lateral moves and project work over promotions.

Jessica also discusses Prolink's virtual-first approach, which prioritizes flexibility and work-life balance, allowing employees to work in various time zones and manage their schedules around personal commitments. This model supports the company's healthcare clients while avoiding an "always-on" culture, and it enables Prolink to tap into a broader talent pool beyond local geographies.

Key Takeaways:
-- The journey to leadership (00:00:00) Jessica shares her journey to becoming a first-generation college grad and a teenage mother.
-- A role model of advocacy (00:03:40) Jessica's mother's advocacy and support in her pursuit of college and motherhood.
-- Learning from setbacks (00:07:08) Jessica discusses the non-linear nature of her career journey and the value of learning from setbacks.
-- Prolink's virtual-first philosophy (00:10:33) Jessica explains Prolink's virtual-first approach and the principles behind it.
-- Embracing discomfort and showing up (00:15:12) Jessica's advice to embrace discomfort and always show up, drawing from her personal experiences and leadership journey.

To stay up-to-date with future interviews and gain valuable resources on building mindset and influence to have an even bigger voice and impact with your leadership, be sure to join our Fearless Female Leader community at www.sherylkline.com, or please email me directly at info@sherylkline.com if I can help you, your team, or organization in any way.

Cheering you on always, 
- Sheryl

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In the last 5 years, my husband Scott and I have almost moved on several occasions, but then decided not to at the last minute.

This time was different. I could feel in my bones that it was time to take action and not look back. Our house is now going on the market this month, and I’ve been feeling a lot of emotions following the task of writing a love letter to my home, as requested by my realtor.

It made me realize how grateful and appreciative I am of this home. This home caught us when it was a challenging time for our family, healed us, provided a place for laughter, sometimes tears, birthday parties, dinner parties, and sitting in the hot tub in the backyard at night watching the clouds pass over the stars.

This is the home where I said ‘yes’ to my now husband and where I came up with the idea of how to scale the impact of my company.

For all of those things and many more, I am forever grateful to my home.

I’m excited to be selling our house with the same world-class Compass Real Estate agent, Dana Green of The Dana Green Team who sold my first home to me in Lafayette and who represented me as a buyer for my current home. So, this is our third transaction with Dana, and she and her team more than over-delivered over and over.

I decided to dig into Compass a little more to see why Dana decided to switch over to them a couple years ago. In that process, I discovered the book ‘No One Succeeds Alone’ by Robert Reffkin, CEO of Compass.

Some of Robert’s gold nuggets of wisdom touched me so much that I thought I’d share a couple with you.

In a  previous post, I touched on how to make that ‘big ask’, because to Roberts point, no one succeeds alone.

Robert says ‘If you are not provided with something, it is not a barrier, you can create it’.

If you feel like you have a barrier or something is lacking that you feel you need in order to propel you ahead, then think of ways of how you can create it or who you can ask to help you

Early on, Reffkin did not have access to an influential network that could help him. He was involved in and benefited from many non-profits (because of his and his mother's research into those organizations) and began to build his own network within those influential people.

How does this apply to you and how can you build and strengthen your own network?

Reffkin has a 5 step process for success, and I’ll touch on it here:

-- The first is to dream big.  Proceed as if success is inevitable. Dream big and envision something as if it has already happened.
-- The next is to sketch out your future. Filling in the lines with color helps you to take control and make your future more clear.
-- Reffkin’s next point is to try, and either succeed or fail quickly. 
-- Learn from failures and successes.  If something doesn’t work, you can learn from it and move forward.  There are more lessons in failures than successes.
“Sometimes the ‘Secret to Success’ is a lot of Trying” ~Robert Reffkin
-- Lastly, dream up a new dream. Listen to your gut and your heart, take action, again.

“‘The right dream for you is the one that gives you the most energy.” ~Robert Reffkin

Truly, nothing is impossible.

If you’re looking for an entertaining story and an invaluable playbook of what it means to dream big and execute while lifting others up in the process, join me in reading No One Succeeds Alone by Robert Reffkin.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if I can support you, your team, or your organization in any way at info@sherylklkine.com. 

Cheering you on always, 
Sheryl

http://www.sherylkline.com/blog/creating-high-performing-cultures

I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Mindi Cox, Chief Marketing and People Officer at OC Tanner, who shares her insights on fostering a high-performing culture within organizations. 

We discussed the importance of prioritizing employee well-being, especially during economic uncertainty. 

Mindi emphasizes the need for leaders to build strong relationships and provide support, which can lead to increased loyalty and productivity. She also touches on the shift from seeing roles as transactional to viewing them as responsibilities that bring joy and connection. Key Takeaways:
Mindi's Journey (00:01:09) Mindi shares her journey to leadership, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and making promises to oneself.Importance of Relationships (00:12:30) Mindi emphasizes the significance of relationships and the impact on the organization's culture and long-term results.Work-Life Balance and Flexibility (00:16:21) Mindi shares her personal experience with work-life balance and the impact of company support on her ability to continue contributing to the organization.Leadership's Impact on Employee Morale (00:20:24) Mindi discusses the positive impact of leadership's support and flexibility on employee morale and the potential impact on the bottom line.Autonomy and Trust (00:23:29) Discussion on the importance of giving people autonomy and trust in their roles.Valuable Wisdom (00:26:40) Advice to be high performing in current roles and embrace new opportunities with confidence.To stay up-to-date with future interviews and gain valuable resources on building mindset and influence to have an even bigger voice and impact with your leadership, be sure to join our Fearless Female Leader community at www.sherylkline.com, or please email me directly at info@sherylkline.com if I can help you, your team, or organization in any way.

Cheering you on always, 
- Sheryl

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Growing up, I used to go with my dad to drop off and pick up the clothes at the neighborhood laundromat. Whenever he lost his ticket to claim his clothes, the laundromat owner would say: ‘No ticket, no wash.’ And she was not kidding!

When it comes to building visibility, impact, and the support from your leadership, if you don’t ask, you’re likely not going to get.

This is a double whammy because our male counterparts tend to be 4 times more likely to make an ask for a raise or a higher salary when initially hired according to Women Don't Ask by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever.

If this sounds familiar, the good news is that you’re certainly not alone. The not so good news is that you could be losing out on $1,000,000.00 during the course of your career according to the recent UC Davis study, titled Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Great Gender Divide.

The ability to effectively make an ask is a valuable skill that can open doors, forge partnerships, and propel careers forward. For female leaders and emerging leaders alike, mastering the art of the ask can be a game-changer in navigating the complexities of the business world.

While we are waiting for the institution of corporate America to change, there are a few proven processes that you can do to master the art of the ask, and negotiate for what you want and deserve.

Here is a proven framework from my Fearless Female Leadership enterprise journey that will help you get started:

Adopt an ECO Mindset—by developing Empathy, Curiosity, and Optimism—

Empathy: The foundation of a successful ask begins with empathy. Before approaching someone with a request, take a moment to consider what it's like to be in their shoes. What challenges are they facing? What goals are they striving to achieve? By putting yourself in the other person's position, you can tailor your ask in a way that resonates with their needs and priorities. This demonstrates genuine care and understanding, laying the groundwork for a more receptive response.

Curiosity: Adopting a curious mindset can further enhance your ability to make a compelling ask. Shift your focus from your own desires to understanding the perspective of the person you're approaching. What motivates them? What are their aspirations? By asking thoughtful questions and actively listening to their responses, you can uncover valuable insights that inform your approach. This not only strengthens the connection between you and the other person but also allows you to tailor your ask in a way that aligns with their interests and values.

Optimism: Finally, approach the ask with a sense of optimism and positivity. Visualize the outcome you desire and focus on the potential for