LEADHERSHIP PRESENCE™

4 Tips to Make Sure Your Personal Brand Shines During the Holidays

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 11:32:01 -0800

4 Tips to Make Sure Your Personal Brand Shines During the Holidays

by Rasheryl McCreary, PCC

The holiday season is upon us! As wonderful and energizing as this time of year can be, it can also be incredibly stressful. There are business social obligations, deadlines at work, as well as dealing with holiday travel and family drama. This time of year can make or break your personal brand, depending on how you deal with the stress of the holiday season.

Here are four quick tips to help you holiday proof your personal brand:

Tip #1 - Be Moderate

“Overspending is as certain a part of the holiday season as overeating. But pushing away from both the table and the cash register at least a little bit sooner can make the post-holiday hangover hurt a little bit less.”

– Jeffrey Kluger

The old saying is “moderation in all things”. This may be difficult to do with a hectic social calendar, but it is absolutely essential to practice moderation in everything.

Don't overeat, overdrink, over exercise, overwork, or overextend yourself if at all possible.

We've all heard of or known of a colleague who overindulged in alcohol at a business social event and then behaved in a way that tanked his or her career.

Women especially should pay careful attention to alcohol consumption. According to an article on HealthStatus, men and women process alcohol very differently, even if they are both the same height and weight.

The studies in this article point out that “women have a smaller body size, more body fat, lower amounts of the enzyme dehydrogenase which breaks down alcohol and a regular occurrence of hormonal changes. As a result, women respond faster and with more intensity after a round of drinks.”

The bottom line: Be conservative in alcohol consumption. Know your limits...Read More

3 Ways To Shatter Your Inner Glass Ceiling

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 07:50:52 -0700

The “glass ceiling” is a phrase coined in 1978 by management consultant Marilyn Loden, and defined by Merriam-Webster as “an intangible barrier within a hierarchy that prevents women or minorities from obtaining upper-level positions.”
In my coaching practice over the past 15 years, I’ve witnessed many brilliant women bump up against and break through the glass ceiling. I’ve also observed a lesser known, but equally powerful, barrier to women’s success. I call it the Inner Glass Ceiling (IGC).
Unlike the traditional glass ceiling, the IGC is self-imposed. It is a potent combination of fear and self-sabotage that creates a limited mindset that undermines your ability to rise to your full potential.
“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”
–Henry Ford
The IGC is a classic “Upper Limit Problem” as described by psychologist and author Gay Hendricks. In his book, The Big Leap, he explains that we each have an inner set point for sustainable success.
When we reach our upper limit, or surpass our set point, we sabotage our success and bring ourselves back into our comfort zone. Examples of this include missing an important deadline or bombing in a high-stakes presentation because of insufficient preparation.
You must shatter your IGC in order to break through the traditional glass ceiling. Here are three ways to do that:
#1: STOP PEOPLE PLEASING
“Taken to the extreme, people...Read More

3 Toxic Behaviors That Block Authenticity

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:13:02 -0700

3 Toxic Behaviors That Block Authenticity
by Rasheryl McCreary, PCC
I recently gave a talk on The Law of Authenticity, from the book The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. I was inspired by this law which says,
“The most valuable gift you can give is yourself.”
The authors went on to tell the story of a newly divorced realtor who had been thoroughly trained in every possible sales and closing technique, but still hadn’t made a sale. The realtor was discouraged and decided that she would give up after meeting with a final client.
As she was driving the client to a potential home, the realtor let go of what she was “supposed” to do, and simply spoke from her heart about the home. She listened to the client from a place of sincerity. Not surprisingly, the client decided to buy the home even before they arrived at the home!
The realtor made the sale because she was being authentic.
Authenticity is a buzzword these days. It’s hard to define, but we know it when we see it/feel it. As an executive leadership coach, I frequently work with leaders in tech, engineering, science, and finance, who need to develop their executive presence. The most compelling presence is built on a foundation of authenticity.
Leaders with presence must be able to connect and communicate authentically with others, in ways that engage, inspire, and motivate, especially in high-stakes situations.
Often clients want to approach authenticity as a task list of things to do. Ironically, when you are trying to do things to show that you are authentic, you’re not. #fakeauthenticity
Instead of focusing on doing something I urge my clients to release any barriers they may have to BEING authentic. To paraphrase my favorite Rumi quote:
“Your task is not to seek authenticity, but to find the barriers within yourself...Read More

LEADHERSHIP PRESENCE™

4 Tips to Make Sure Your Personal Brand Shines During the Holidays

4 Tips to Make Sure Your Personal Brand Shines During the Holidays

Tip #1 - Be Moderate

3 Ways To Shatter Your Inner Glass Ceiling

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” –Henry Ford

#1: STOP PEOPLE PLEASING

“Taken to the extreme, people...Read More

3 Toxic Behaviors That Block Authenticity

3 Toxic Behaviors That Block Authenticity

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”
–Henry Ford