Articles, tools, and books for you and your team

Welcome to my newsletter, in which I curate resources including articles, reports, books, and more for those interested in people development.

As we conclude Women’s History Month 2021, I reflect on the articles, posts, and blogs I’ve read these past weeks, each one with the theme of understanding what women bring to the workplace and accepting and honoring us just as we are. In 1900-2000 A Century of Women at Work, it is made clear that women have a long history of fighting hard to contribute to the workplace and to be recognized as valued contributors at work. In doing so, we continue to strive to create a different and better future for generations to come.

From the oppression of women, “a woman’s place is in the home”, to working in sweatshops and factories for “starvation wages”, to a cry for “equal pay for equal work” that continues to echo to this day, women have soldiered on. Although we’ve made great strides as women leaders and employees, recognizing our unique characteristics and offerings and campaigning for these competitive skills to be seen and valued, there is still more to be done to cement an esteemed place at the table.

- Cranla

Recommended Articles and Resources

Listen to What Women Say, Not How They Say It

Women are often told they lack confidence. Much of this stems from the way they communicate. Do women really need to improve their language? This article suggests a more inclusive solution.

Women Are Better Leaders During a Crisis

This compelling article answers the questions: “…are women in fact more qualified to lead during a crisis? Could that be why they are handed the reins when times are tough?”

How Women Manage the Gendered Norms of Leadership

Research shows female leaders face the double bind of having to be warm and competent or tough. We need to change our expectations of what it means to be a woman and what it takes to lead.

Women, Leadership, and Missed Opportunities

Advancing gender equity is a clear win. This IBM research study claims doubling down on pre-COVID approaches won’t get organizations where they need to be.

From My Library

Read the book and join the conversation.

US purchasers: amazon.com; Canadian purchasers: indigo.ca

The Collective Wisdom of High-Performing Women. Edited by Colleen Moorehead

A dear friend gifted me this book and thoughtfully had it inscribed by the editor. It so resonated with me that I reached out to the editor and the contents of the book became one of my most successful livecasts to date: The Collective Wisdom of High-Performing Women.

This book is about women and leadership, formal leadership and personal leadership, however it’s not just a book for women. There are many lessons to be learned about the core of values-based leadership as people-centric over task-focused. The personal stories shared by over 70 women contributors were inspired by a speech given by Judy Elder in 2002 when she was a senior executive at Microsoft. Judy inspired male and female colleagues alike and the Judy Project was created in her honor. Ten leadership attributes are outlined, each providing a chapter theme in the book, highlighting self-confidence in addition to commitment and leveraging what have been seen as “traditionally female traits” as the key to impactful leadership. The fuel of extraordinary leadership is made clear - making valued and respectful human connections.

The most compelling concept for me was ambition. Ambition need not be a swear word for women. We know from the research on women and leadership that women are less self-promoting than men. This mindset costs us dearly and is easily understood because women are punished for self-promotion more than men. So, what to do then? I find great strength in the build alliances and nurture allies approach. “…people never get anywhere unless someone wants them to. Translation: Organizational ambition requires that others be ambitious for you.” What this means is if you have a drive to be more and do more, find someone who believes in your talents, skills, and abilities and show them how believing in you and supporting and championing you will “help them achieve their goals”. This is the win – win.

I believe everyone who reads this book will find at least one story that resonates with them so loudly, it will be impossible to ignore. That’s how important this book is. Find your own nugget, your own lesson, that will propel you to take powerful action in your own career and to also make a difference for the women you work with.

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