The Executive Women's Tool Kit
By now we all know being a woman in an executive leadership role is no easy feat, especially with statistics floating around like “67% of high-performing executive women said that they needed more support building confidence to feel like they could be leaders in their industry.” Even just breaking into being a woman in executive leadership is a steep hill to climb; did you know that women are only applying to roles when they recognize they’re 100% qualified for it? This is in comparison to men who apply when they have 60% of the qualifications for a role. Women may also experience fear of breaking into executive leadership and c-suite positions with studies finding that 75% of female executives across industries have experienced imposter syndrome in their careers, making it hard for them to believe in themselves enough to have the career they dream of.
The Confidence Gap as it’s so called, is real, but we’re here to provide you with Eleven Eleven’s “Executive Women's Tool Kit'' that will...
Help set you up for success in a new executive role
Deal with setbacks and failures through acceptance & mindfulness practices
Set goals through journalling for all of your BIG executive dreams
Goal Set Like an Exec!
Goal setting can feel intimidating and overwhelming, but we promise it can also be fun, freeing and confidence-boosting!
Journaling is one of our favourite ways to help us gain clarity and goal set as executive women. Something about putting pen to paper really helps us work out the nitty gritty of our goals and assess what matters most to us and get clear on who we are as leaders. Click the button below to discover our Top 5 Goal Setting Journal Prompts for Executive Women.
five steps to success
If you’re a woman starting a new executive leadership position, have you thought about how you may set yourself up for success? The tips provided below are relevant for those who have just started their dream role, but can also be applied for those who have been in their role for a while and need a refresh – it’s never too late!
1. Think about how you want to introduce yourself
Why did you choose to join the company and what is your intention in the role? New executives can sometimes bring unease to the team, so investing in relationship building is important. Share your goals, be vulnerable, and let the team in. If you’ve been working at your company for some time, how do you want to introduce yourself to new employees?
2. Don’t be afraid to learn something new
Learn at all levels of the organization by spending time with all levels of the team, from the individual contributor all the way up to the VPs. It’s the fastest way to get exposed to the inner workings of the business and understand each team at a deeper level.
3. Drive future talent acquisition to be more diverse, inclusive and equitable
The number one question people ask before joining an organization is what their current DE&I strategy is. This is the future of business right now, and it’s a clear and effective way to make an impact. Hiring a DE&I consultant can support you in diversifying the company in terms of thought, gender, representation and other vital factors.
4. Look for quick wins, opportunities and low-hanging fruit
Identify any glaring weaknesses in the business, operationally or otherwise, and make timely decisions. This is a great way to establish trust and confidence quickly.
5. Always be visible
Turn your video on in Zoom calls! If your company is doing a hybrid model, show up to the office, let people see you, stay in communication, and always share your observations and subsequent strategies. Even if it’s at a very high level, the team is looking for leadership, guidance, and most importantly, they want to feel a sense of action.
accept setbacks like a pro
Setbacks or failures as an executive woman can come as a major blow – with studies showing that women internalize setbacks and failures in comparison to men who will attribute those setbacks to external factors. However, it is true that setbacks and failures come hand-in-hand with success, and believe us, if you want to continue celebrating your successes, you will 100% have to come to terms with all of the failures that got you to where you are.
A concept we came across a few years ago that has stuck with us is creating a “failure resumé” for ourselves. The Stanford Technology Ventures Program, wrote on its website that “failures increase the chance that you won’t make the same mistake again” and that they are “a sign that you have taken on challenges that expand your skills.” Here’s how you can create a “failure resumé” of your own:
1. look at your current resumé
Think of your traditional, updated resumé as the highlight reel of your career so far.
2. add in your “failures” throughout your timeline
What schools did you apply for but didn’t get accepted to? What job interviews did you misstep in? These failures can even be examples of not applying to jobs you really wanted.
3. review your failure resumé
It may be difficult to do, but start looking at each failure subjectively. What did you learn about yourself during those times? How did you grow or see yourself differently? How did you unlearn limiting beliefs and push on to your next success?
4. revisit your failure resumé from time to time
Treat it like your actual resumé. Is there something recent you can add or update? Did a new learning come out of a past failure that you’re realizing now? This will help you stay true to who you are and help you come to love and accept yourself through all of your past and future hurdles – it may even make those successes and wins feel even BIGGER!
In addition to creating a failure resumé, we know that sometimes you need tools to ground yourself in the moment. For us, meditation & mindfulness is always a major help in times of need – even if it’s simply connecting to your breath for two to three minutes. Our favourite resources for meditation & mindfulness come from our sister brand, Chapter Two Meditation. Discover the blog for helpful resources or head to Insight Timer to treat yourself to our library of guided meditations with Co-Founder, Tess Sloane – we highly recommend “There is no mistake that lasts your whole life”!
We hope that the above tools help you find your way in the executive leadership world and build your confidence up to be the best leader you can be.
If you’re looking for your next Executive role, we would love to hear from you and help you Make Your Move! Click the button below to get a conversation started.