Professional and executive graces are timeless!
If we truly want to be seen as credible and successful professionals and executives, it is important to remember that a bit of mystery, is incredibly effective! As a mission to all professional and executive women, I challenge you to keep a look out for these bad habits that steal your power!
- Oversharing! Where you are from matters on this one, but overall, mild chit-chat is always a way to build trust. But, caution! Stay at the tree-top level! Throughout my career, I cannot begin to express my horror in being trapped as someone I just met goes into their divorce saga, their medical problems, their issues with their kids or parents, or even their political views. Until your professional relationship is moving towards a personal one, these stories cannot be untold, and will be your professional un-doing.
- Proper cancelling and rescheduling. Conflicts arise. That’s life. The professional woman handles it by apologizing that a conflict has arisen and offers an alternative date and time. That’s it! Don’t oversell the issue! In this instant world, the fact that someone’s husband can’t pick-up the kids, the dog got out of the yard, my car is in the shop and the mechanic is difficult, the child’s school called, a serviceman is coming; all do nothing to solve my need, which is to meet with you. It’s white noise. And just makes a disappointment even worse. This, of course, does not apply to co-workers who may appreciate an explanation.
- Stop cancelling. There are certain women colleagues of mine that I call the 50/50s. These are women that I can’t count on because it seems that at the slightest problem and they are out. In the meantime, I’ve cancelled all my other obligations to clear time for them, and are often stuck waiting on them or on the road to meet them, and basically stood up. We are all busy. The professional woman takes the stance that a commitment means you will make it happen!
- Showing up late. There’s nothing worse than wondering where your invitees are. The professional woman knows that if she is going to be late, call or email. And if not coming at all, make every solid effort to let someone know.
Executive grace is an asset. It stands out because it is based on respect for the other people that you are working with. And, as an executive woman, executive grace separates you from the crowd because it puts you square in the category of a credible, reliable and gracious leader, who is free from complications and ready for the task at hand. It is a skill worthy of cultivating, and if we want our other women peers to succeed, it is a skill worthy of learning to mentor in other women, as well.