How To Get To The Top - Part 1

 

·         More than 50% of graduates in the UK are women

·         Nearly 50% of the workforce in the UK are women

So why are the vast majority of the top jobs held by men?

 

It is widely recognised that businesses perform better with women throughout the company, so what is going wrong?

 

There are several possible scenarios:

·         Is it that recruitment is biased in favour of men?

·         Is the system stacked against women with families?

·         Or do few women aspire to the lifestyles that go with the top jobs?

 

Undoubtedly career success requires hard work and the willingness to make tough choices. Women have to make sure they are the right person, in the right job at the right time – but that isn’t the whole story. As Hilary Devey says

“It may be a little more difficult for a woman than a man so she has to work harder – fact.”

This may be true, but is it right?

 

This situation represents a shocking waste of talent – it is bad for women, bad for business and bad for the economy. The system of promoting from only half of the workforce, as is the case in many companies, is inefficient and is causing the loss of a vast amount of talent from the business sector.

 

Every business knows there is a huge cost associated with recruitment and training so it surely makes sense to retain the skill sets that have cost so much to develop? This has to be basic good business sense.

 

Women bring different life experiences, different perspectives and are often more constructive. This ultimately leads to better decision making. Evidence shows that companies with an equal mix of men and women in leadership positions make better decisions, make a higher return on sales, equity and capital investment.

 

So what can be done?

 

Hilary Devey states that not enough women are coming forward to apply for senior roles. Why is this?

 

It may be that the wording of job advertisements contain gender bias. Words such as “gravitas”, “demanding”, “relentless”, “outstanding” and “exceptional” will all lead to more applications from men. It may also influence the recruiters who may appoint candidates based on unconscious language bias and gender stereotypes.

 

Added to this is the tendency for women to point out the few attributes from a long list that they feel they fall short in and use this to talk themselves out of a job. Men, on the other hand, will often point out the few attributes they are confident in and ignore those they may not possess.

 

It is an issue of confidence.

 

In the UK today, approximately two-thirds of women work at least part time.

Many of these find the challenges of juggling work and family commitments can affect their confidence and their career progression.

 

There comes a point when women have to choose what they want to do with their lives and often, work is an important part of this. However, the reality is that being a mother can slow their progress up the career ladder.

 

More than four in ten mothers with good degrees say they have taken a job for which they are over-qualified in order to secure a part-time working arrangement. Too often they have to sacrifice seniority and pay to achieve a satisfactory work/life balance.

 

There are also the costs of childcare to be factored in to the equation. Childcare in the UK is among the most expensive in the world and many families spend 33% of their annual budget on this. Often it just doesn’t make financial sense for women to return to full-time work after having children.

 

Clearly it is a complex issue. However, there are facts that point to it being cost effective for companies to develop strategies for managing career breaks because it has been demonstrated time and time again that mixed gender teams and departments produce more profit.

What do you think?

Do you have a solution to the issue?

 

More to follow in Part 2.

 

Sue Courtney is an expert in Personal Rebranding for Career Success.

For information about her programmes and events please email her at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk

Or go to her website at

www.successandimagecoach.co.uk

Free book – “The Ultimate Guide to Personal Rebranding for Professional Females Climbing the Corporate Ladder” can be found at www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk

Career Success The Olympic Way

 Career Success the Olympic way my top 10 tips – by Sue Courtney

The Olympics – how was it for you? Did you watch every moment, ignore it completely or dash out and begin participating in a new sport?

I was totally captivated and inspired by the achievements of the athletes and Team GB in particular. As I listened to their stories and watched in awe as they achieved great results I was struck by the fact that there were lessons to be learnt here that could be applied to your career success.

So here are my top 10 tips for Olympic style career success:

1.     Run your own race. Many of the most successful athletes had a plan for their event and they stuck to it. There is a lot to be said for this confident approach – be yourself, maintain focus and believe in yourself and your plan for success. (This pre-supposed you actually have a coherent plan!)

So be sure you have a detailed plan for your career success and stick to it. Don’t allow others to derail you. Believe in yourself, remain focused and take action.

2.     Set the bar high – aim for excellence. I think that the cycling ladies in the Velodrome  demonstrate this particularly well. Every time they got on their bikes they broke their own world record! Their determination to succeed combined with the belief that they could win was a powerful combination.

Jessica Ennis also showed that she was aiming for nothing less than excellence in her event by winning in spectacular style.

Jessica and the ladies cycling team had set their own personal bar very high and would settle for nothing less than excellence in their performances. We can learn a lot from them.

Every day you have the opportunity to aim for excellence and raise your bar very high to demonstrate that you are a world class performer.

3.     What you measure you can improve. All the athletes were aware of their figures – how fast, how long, how strong – they had been measuring their performances over time and analysing how they could improve.

      As Oscar Pistorius put it, "If there is something I can do to be faster, I just do it, it's simple."

At work, ask yourself how well are you doing – and how do you know this?

How can you improve on your current performance if you really have no clear idea what your current performance is?

What do you need to be measuring?

What do you need to be achieving?

4.     Celebrate your achievements. Some bronze medal winners were ecstatic – others were inconsolable – distraught because they had failed to win silver or gold. To them, bronze meant failure! Other gold medal winners were measured in their response. Many of these were comparing themselves to the achievements of others which is rarely an uplifting experience. Others who had not won a medal cried tears of joy because they had achieved a personal best time or distance. Such a huge variety of responses.

What does this have to do with career success? Plenty.

Celebrate like the last category – when you achieve a small victory celebrate your achievement and then plan how to make the most of the opportunity it brings.

If your CV gets you an interview – well done. You have won an opportunity to go further. Celebrate and plan for the next step. Focus on what you have to be grateful for. If not – it is teaching you something. Learn the lesson, improve and move on to success.

5.     Pay meticulous attention to the detail. The top athletes ensured they left nothing to chance. To quote Oscar Pistorius, “Being a perfectionist is everything. If you skimp, you lose.”

Paying meticulous attention to the fine detail in your work will get you noticed because so few people do this. Ensure you are always immaculately turned out – whatever your position in the company. Ensure your work is of an exemplary standard at all times. Ensure your behaviour is of an exemplary standard at all times.

6.     Who – me? Why me? I listened to an interview with Duncan Goodhew in which he said that the first reaction of many people, when told that they can be world class, is disbelief – they can believe it is possible for someone else, but they feel themselves to be too ordinary. Their second reaction is to ask “why me?” Well, I would ask – “why NOT you?” Everyone has potential greatness in them – it just requires a mindset which knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that you are the capable of world class greatness.

7.     Prepare mentally for success. This brings me nicely to the fact that, as Oscar Pistorius and all the other medal winning athletes know – success is all in the mind. They will have spent hours visualising winning, running the perfect race, overcoming obstacles to claim the gold medal until they have complete belief that the gold medal belongs to them. Failure is not an option.

The same holds true in your career. You need to believe with absolute certainty that the job you want is yours. To do this you will need to have developed a plan, taken all the actions necessary to achieve success – in world class style – visualised success and taken on a coach to help you through the tough times. Remember – just like preparing for the Olympics – achieving career success demands focus, hard work and determination.

8.     Make your own decisions. The top athletes always take advice from their coaches, trainers and mentors – but in the end they have the ultimate responsibility for their own success. It is essential to have total belief in yourself and your ability. Only you know your capabilities and so only you can decide how you will “run your race” and achieve success.

9.     Take responsibility for your actions. The top athletes had top coaches, trainers and mentors who worked tirelessly with them – but they still had to take responsibility for ensuring they did the work. Ultimately they alone were responsible for their input and outcome – and so are you in your career. Where are you abdicating responsibility?

10.   Step through the door.  When Andy Murray won gold I remember a commentator saying that they hoped the result would enable him to finally “step through the door” and accept his status on the world stage.

You need to do the same. Walk through the “door” to your greatness. Accept your place as a world class performer. Become that person you were meant to be.

 

These are my top 10 tips to produce world class results for your career. How can you begin to apply them to your situation today so you too will achieve a “gold medal” and a “world record” in career success?

Here are two bonus tips to start you off:-

1.     Online control. Take control of information that appears about you online. Develop a strong online presence that demonstrates your professionalism and strength in the area of work you wish to specialise in and be promoted for. Remove all items and references to less than professional conduct and monitor what others post about you.

2.     Take time out. It is vital to take time out to re-group and re-energise. So ensure you take your holiday entitlement and really relax. Know that taking your full holiday entitlement and not being available for work interruptions sends a strong and positive message about your confidence and boundaries. It is a very strong action.

 

If you are an action taking woman, determined to succeed in your career then I have the perfect event for you. An exclusive, intensive, luxury focus on your career or business. For more information email me at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk

www.successandimagecoach.co.uk

www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk

Redundancy or Release

Redundancy - or Release?

In these economically uncertain times there is increasing talk about ‘redundancy’. It is a word that sends shivers of fear down the spine of many people today, but what does it really mean?

According to the dictionary, ‘redundant ‘ means “superfluous, no longer needed”. In the thesaurus, similar words are “surplus, unnecessary, unwanted”. Who wants to feel they are any of these? The word ‘redundant’ does not have positive connotations. However, truth be told, it is not the person that is redundant, it is the job – you just happen to be filling it!

If viewed positively, it could be the best thing that ever happened to you, after all ”every cloud has a silver lining” or so they say.

I think the process should be called ‘release’. This may bring to mind being released from prison, but I am sure that many of us have, at some time, felt as if our jobs imprison us and stop us doing what we would truly love to do with our lives.

So redundancy can give life to dreams and ambitions that have been buried under layers of habit, fear and procrastination for years. Redundancy is one of the biggest fears as it takes away security, regular income, status and identity. But it gives a lot as well – the opportunity to take stock and redesign your life.

Have you ever asked yourself what success means to you?

Anthony Robbins defines success in the following terms:

“Success is doing what you want, when you want, where you want, with whom you want, as much as you want”

Your definition will be as individual as you are, but I suspect that as well as a certain amount of money and security there will be a thought as to the way the money and security is gained. Few people have the opportunity to achieve success in their chosen field of endeavour because obligations of family and home take priority over an authentic life. If you are facing the threat of redundancy, or have recently experienced it then you have the perfect opportunity to reconsider your whole future and change the outcome.

It is often the case that we won’t jump voluntarily but wait until pushed. As a child I was taught to dive. It terrified me, mostly, I think, because I have an irrational fear of being upside-down. So I would stand on the side of the pool, perfectly poised to dive but not actually taking the plunge. I knew what to do but didn’t dare do it. Instead I waited until someone came along and pushed me because they couldn’t stand it any longer. Think of redundancy as the Universe giving you that push to lead a more authentic life.

Many of us suffer a sense of disappointment our whole life, not because we don’t have love and fun in our lives but because we aren’t brave enough to make changes and admit what we would truly love to do, in case it upsets the status quo. Many who have faced redundancy have the feeling that they have somehow failed, even though it is not their fault and they have done nothing wrong. Indeed they may have been the model employee.

Many who do not experience redundancy would love the opportunity to make the change and move out of jobs they hate, but are terrified to risk change despite the damage it is doing to their self esteem and inner happiness. On the outside you may appear a success but only you will know how successful you really feel.

In many cases redundancy is firmly in our panic zone and is to be avoided at all costs, but when it happens, what can be done? Firstly know that you have not failed, the universe is forcing you to take hold of a new opportunity, giving you the chance to rethink and redesign your future. It has been said that the worst thing in life isn’t failing, it’s never having tried.

A coach can guide you to a place where you can access your own inner wisdom and take charge of your future. It may be an unfamiliar feeling to have choices as to the direction you might like to take and how you would like your future to be. How fortunate you are to have this ‘problem’. It usually comes with a cash cushion to enable you to take a little time to consider your options or to simplify your life by paying off mortgage or loan. Not many have this golden time for reflection – embrace it.

Many people say they feel they have let down their family – especially their children. I have news for you – staying in a job you hate just for them is letting them down far more. Children admire parents who have the courage to make the change – they are the inspiring ones who dare to go after their dreams. By doing so they give their children permission to do the same. I wonder how many parents have told their children to find a job that makes them happy, while staying in a job they clearly hate? Children know when you aren’t walking the talk – you owe it to them. My son often tells people that he finds me the most inspiring person he knows – because I had the courage to quit a well paid job and pursue my dreams. He is now doing the same!

Ask yourself what your ideal day would be – where would you live?

 Who would you spend time with?

 What would you do with your day?

What would you eat?

 What would you wear?

Write it out in minute detail – really feel it, get passionate about it. If there is no passion, think again. Keep playing with the idea until your true desires surface – maybe kicking and screaming at the unaccustomed daylight (they have been hiding in the darkest recesses for many years, possibly your whole life) and feel the passion they unleash.

Now take each aspect of the dream and find out exactly what it is that holds the appeal for you – what makes you want it? Then ask what you need to do, or know to make it happen. Do you need to learn new skills? Taking on the services of a coach can make the process a

lot quicker and less frightening. You will be guided at your pace and will work entirely to your agenda. The coach is non-judgemental and gives you space to explore who you really are and what you really want by asking incisive questions.

Once you have some ideas you then need to make a plan of the order in which actions need to be taken. Find out about courses, ask about financial support and advice, talk to family and friends openly and honestly about the situation. To be on your side they need to know the reality of the situation – it isn’t anything to be ashamed of. It is an opportunity to celebrate – you are very fortunate.

Once you have a plan then you must take action. This is another area where a coach can be an enormous benefit. A coach will help you explore the possible barriers to action so you can work to remove them and then a coach will hold you accountable for the actions you have decided to take. You will have to explore deeply the reasons for not taking action – this often spurs people on to do what they say – so much easier!

SO, redundancy is a good thing – if you decide it is. I think there should be a new definition of the word which should be “ a golden opportunity to redesign your life and achieve your authentic goals and ambitions”. It’s much easier to do this with the support that redundancy offers than it is without it. So smile, be grateful for the shove that the Universe has given you and go get your dream life – it’s got your name on and it’s waiting for you to claim it as your own. Have a great future!

For more information go to www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk
www.successandimagecoach.co.uk
www.suecourtney.com

Holiday Capsule Wardrobe

The Holiday Capsule Wardrobe –by Sue Courtney

The holiday season is upon us and for those lucky enough to be escaping for a week or two there are issues to be resolved. I put my hand up and admit that I am completely incapable of travelling light – it is a struggle to carry my bag to the car even for a weekend away! If I am going away for a whole week or more the problem really doesn’t bear thinking about. I take every item of suitable clothing out of my wardrobe along with all shoes and accessories and a jumper or two in case it is cold in the evening. (For Goa in April – am I mad?) I then struggle to cram it all in, weigh the case and get cross and upset because it exceeds the weight limit and I now have to make choices. Sound familiar? Thought so.

There is a solution - travel light by taking a capsule wardrobe. I have researched the issue thoroughly and I would like to share my findings with you.

The first thing to consider is the sort of holiday you are going on. Is it a beach holiday, city break, safari or cruise? They each need a very different

wardrobe of clothes. Then think about what you will be doing each day and whether any of these have special requirements such as hiking boots for long walks or tops to cover your shoulders and arms for visiting some religious sites. Is there likely to be an occasion where a posh frock will be required? If so pack just one and use the hotel laundry service if required. If not then just don’t pack it! (I am really struggling with this piece of advice as I always pack at least one just in case!) One really comfortable pair of ‘walk anywhere’ shoes or sandals is usually sufficient, in a neutral colour that can be worn with dresses, shorts, jeans or trousers.

Many holidays involve lounging by the pool or on the beach, shopping, sightseeing and nights out at restaurants or a show. This can mean a selection of clothes that, these days, will put you seriously over your weight limit and out of pocket before you have even hit duty the duty free shops or boarded the plane! However, with some clever mixing and matching and some multi-tasking staples it is possible to look perfectly dressed for all occasions and still come in under your weight limit, which is great because that means that you can bring more back with you!

The easiest option is to wear an outfit out in the evening and then wear it again the following day with a change of shoes and fewer accessories. Current trends can easily be dressed up for evening and down for day so you always look stylish.

The basic items to go into your suitcase are the following:

·        Safari dress

·        Floral dress

·        Floppy hat

·        Gladiator/flat sandals (1 pair)

·        Tote bag for beach, shopping and sightseeing

·        Clutch bag for evenings and more formal day events

·        Sunglasses

·        High heeled shoes or sandals for evening – 1 pair in a neutral shade such as pewter or bronze work well

·        Lightweight flip flops for beach (not essential)

·        Lightweight, neutral cardi for cool evenings

·        2 sets of swimwear with 2 sarongs

·        1 pair of linen trousers or Capri pants

·        1 or 2 smart, embroidered vest tops/camis

·        3 or 4 cotton tops for the beach and general day wear

·        1 pair of cropped trousers and 1 skirt for day and beach wear

·        A couple of sets of jewellery – 1 for the safari look and 1 for the floral look

And that should see you happily from night to day, beach to shops for a week or two with clever mixing and matching and the occasional use of the hotel laundry service or some handwashing. If you coordinate all your colours you will have an even more versatile look. The dresses and shoes will see you happily through shopping sprees, sightseeing and more formal business meetings with no problem.

When it comes to beachwear, it is important to consider your body shape –  so

·        If you are a pear shape then opt for a padded bikini top and high leg briefs with a carefully coordinated and draped sarong to accentuate your top whilst drawing attention away from your hips.

·        If you are an apple shape then a tankini top or one piece will create the illusion of a waist, especially if it contains bodyshaper colour inserts.

·        If you have a full bust then halter necks offer more support and are more flattering.

Team your chosen swimwear with a coordinating kaftan or sarong for walking to and from the beach or for having lunch.

Over the years I have learnt that most holiday destinations sell beach towels quite cheaply, so I always buy when I arrive to save weight. I have also found that many resorts stock well known brands of toiletries and over the counter remedies for holiday ailments that work very well, so I buy those when I arrive as well. The more weight you can save on items like these, the more clothes you can take. The more weight you can save on the clothes you take the more you can bring back with you. (Are you sensing a theme here?) I have even invested in a very lightweight suitcase. In these days of luggage weight restrictions every kilo saved is an extra pair of shoes or an extra dress to give you a wider choice.

I hope you enjoy your holiday and look stunning throughout your stay. My goal this season is to take a capsule wardrobe that is significantly under the weight limit. Wish me luck!

To find out more and learn how to dress for your body shape, Sue can be contacted at

·        sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk

·        www.successandimagecoach.co.uk

·        www.suecourtney.com

·        www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk

Ladies, If you want to climb the corporate ladder then DON’T work for a bank (or the law)

I was staggered to read in my copy of the ILM magazine, that although 55% of the workforce in the financial sector are women (higher than the UK average of 49%), this not reflected at senior levels. Along with the legal profession, banking allows few women to rise to the top.

Why is this?

One reason, cited by 72% of respondents to the ILM research was the attitude of senior managers. Many women also felt that the role could be incompatible with family life as, in reality, there are few genuine opportunities for  flexible working.

70% of women felt that having a high proportion of men in senior roles inhibited their career progress as it appears that they recruit “in their own image”. 

There is more.

In the ILM survey, only 22% of all respondents (both male and female) believed that banking was a meritocracy, while nearly half (48%) believed promotion to be more likely if you know the ‘right’ people and  mix in the ‘right’ circles than if you possess an outstanding ability to do the job.

It was widely considered that there is a lack of female role models at the top of the industry, especially those who displayed a healthy work-life balance and weren’t perceived to have ‘given up everything’ to get to the top.

However, the idea of a quota system to ensure more women were promoted to the top was unpopular with all. It is also widely held that having a stronger female presence at board level would be beneficial to the industry.

Does this sound familiar?

So what can be done?

Well, a shift in culture towards rewarding results would create a more even playing field. More flexible working arrangements were a popular option with both men and women. They do exist already, but most feel that taking advantage of the provision would adversely affect their promotion prospects, so it is not widely used.

Identifying specific stages in the career ladder where women tend to drop out of management would lead to research on measures to remedy the situation. Returning to work after maternity leave is one such ‘choke point’. It isn’t that women want preferential treatment, just an equal opportunity, and in a talent-driven organisation this would be available.

Now, many of these solutions may be beyond the power of the individual to implement. And I do accept that women don’t always present as confident and assured an image of their management capabilities as men.

But this can be easily remedied with coaching, mentoring and styling.

I have developed my unique 3 Step MAP System to address this very issue and enable you to move up the career ladder, as far as you wish, with confidence and style.

For more information please email me at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk

Or check out my website at www.successandimagecoach.co.uk

For your FREE copy of my book “The Ultimate Guide to Personal Rebranding for Professional Women Climbing the Corporate Ladder” please go to www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk

Copyright © 2012, Sue Courtney – Success & Image Ltd. All rights reserved.

Need a plumber/photographer/mortgage....?

Need a plumber/photographer/mortgage......?

Success & Image is proud to be a member of the Meon Valley Flyers Chapter of BNI (Business Network International). This is a group of local businesses which meet weekly and has a strict code of conduct ensuring that only quality businesses remain members.

What this means to you is that each business is carefully vetted and the level of service is monitored each week, so you can be sure that you are getting a reliable quality of service.

So whether you need a solicitor or a caterer, a mortgage consultant or an electrician, before you pick up the yellow pages or Google, have a word with Sue.

I may not be able to fix it myself – but I am sure I know a ‘man’ who can!

Email me at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk for contact details of businesses you need right now!

The "Ideal Job" Hat

This week the members of my networking group decided to shake things up a bit by wearing a hat which represented our business. There were some wonderful headwear ranging from Julie's which sported lovely yellow rosebuds fashioned from dusters and leaves made from scourers (she has a cleaning company) to Yvonne who wore a hard hat with a phone on the front and a lightbulb on the back, which actually lit up when you pulled a cord! (She is with Utility Warehouse).

 Mine was covered in maps to represent my Unique 3 Step MAP System - well, you wouldn't set out to travel from where you are to somewhere new and different without some means of identifying potential routes, would you?

I then addes a "Sindy" doll wrapped in my book "The Ultimate Guide to Personal Rebranding for Professional Females Climbing the Corporate Ladder"(www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk )
 - well, what else does a girl need? The book is packed full of tips and ideas to help you move your career forward!

She is climbing a ladder - the "corporate ladder" of the book title - looking radiantly happy and proudly holding her achievements - happiness, money, success & fulfillment!

This visually represents what I do. I work with ambitious women like yourself to achieve the career success and life that you want by working with my MAP system

• M - you develop a Masterful Mindset to ensure your success
• A - you decide which Amazing Actions will lead to your career success. You then plan them in detail and implement them.
• P - you then develop your Powerful Presence through learning what to wear to flatter your shape and present a professional and stylish image to the world both at work and out.

If you had a hat to represent your ideal job, what would be on it?
Why have you chosen thos items?

What is the essence of the career you want and the lifestyle you seek?

If you would like to learn more about my Unique 3 Step MAP System then please watch this short, five minute video where I explain it in more detail.

http://youtu.be/_lHatfqjN4I

In the meantime, I will leave you with a couple more photos of my "business" hat. I think my grandson looks rather wonderful in it - he certainly thought it was hilarious. I wonder what he will tell his teachers about his nana's hat?!

Ascot here I come!

I would really like to hear from you and see photos of your "ideal job" hat - what you have on it and why you have chosen those items. So please email me at

sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk

Copyright - 2012, Sue Courtney - Success & Image Ltd. All rights reserved.