Female Executives Who Are Too Bold and Too Aggressive Do Not Rise as Fast

Female Executives Who Are Too Bold and Too Aggressive Do Not Rise as Fast
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

Female executives who are bold and aggressive do not rise
up the corporate ladder as quickly as you may think. Bold
and aggressive traits do not naturally match well with
intelligence and savvy. Given the fact that there are many
more male executives than female executives, being bold and
aggressive gets fewer promotions on the way up.

Female executives who use a self-confident but much softer,
indirect approach do not highlight or reinforce any
pre-conceived notions that they might be too bold, too
aggressive or too judgmental for a higher position.

Remember that men, and especially male executives, do not
like aggressive, judgmental women (it may even remind them
of their wife in some cases). The expression is: Behind
every successful man is a strong and cooperating woman, and
we surely do hope it is his wife because too often it is
his mistress.

Men like women who are assertive but not aggressive. A man
sees an intelligent, assertive woman as completing him, not
challenging him. Remember that men do not know how to
handle aggressive women, they do not have any centuries-old
database other than that the man leads, the woman follows.
Their ego does not allow them to treat aggressive women any
differently than men.

If they perceive that you are aggressive, they will treat
you as they do men, they will rip out your jugular vein and
walk over you to the next corporate competitor in the
boardroom. Here are some things to consider:

First, female executives should never, under any
circumstances, devalue any core competencies of a male
executive. Try to reinforce any good trait that a male
executive has that you have. Why? Because he
psychologically cannot deny himself. If he is
detail-oriented and you are detail-oriented, and he
criticizes you for being so, he is criticizing himself
during the process. Male executives who are smart and
successful will not criticize you in this circumstance. He
will rather like you for being so as well.

Second, if the male executive has weak people skills, make
it your business to bring a wonderful (not challenging but
supporting), uplifting, positive presence to his office. In
other words, COMPLEMENT his weakness, just as he would want
his spouse to do.

Some guys are perceived as a man's man, like Arnold
Schwarzenegger and Howie Long. They ooze macho. They are
good guys, nice guys, but if you even think about testing
them, they will knock you on your backside. You know better
than to even try. Their image is secure and intact.

There are some male executives who appear secure and smart
in what they are doing, but they cannot handle harsh
criticism or ANY criticism. Their ego is that fragile. If
you criticize them harshly and embarrass them in the
process, they will quietly quit what they are doing and
find a reason to go elsewhere. Schwarzenegger and Long will
see to it that your face gets messed up as they move on
WITHOUT you.

It is wise to know the difference between these two types
of male executives.

Just as in writing resumes, female executives who get to
the top of the corporate world know it is not so much what
they say, but how they say what they say that counts most.

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Read my 4-part series on Job Interviews: "It Is Not What
You Say, But How You Say It That Counts ' Part 1", "How to
Answer When Asked Your Strengths and Weaknesses ' Part 2",
"How to Handle Job References ' Part 3" and "What Do
Employers Really Want When Hiring? ' Part 4".
Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/JobsandCareers.html

Autoresponder Previews For Your Potential Clients

Autoresponder Previews For Your Potential Clients
The first step in successfully marketing any product is
that of building interest and excitement for potential
clients.

Autoresponders are an essential business tool in building
excitement and interest. For example, to build interest in
a product or service, tell them what it will do and how
soon it is available to them. If you are writing an ebook,
let the visitors and potential opt in subscribers know
about it on your website.

However, you can do more than build their interest by
telling them about it, you can also use an autoresponder to
allow them a preview of your product. Previews are great
business tools, which allow your potential client, just a
small taste of what is in store for them. It is the same
concept as watching those previews of a movie coming soon
to a theater near you. It works!

All you have to do is load one chapter from an ebook into
the autoresponder then place an opt in form on your
website. Visitors who are interested will enter their name
and email address to receive their free chapter preview.
This builds your list of potential customers. Once a week,
send them a reminder email, giving them the release date as
well as information of what they can expect from your
product. This keeps building the excitement and interest of
the product.

A couple of days before you launch your product offer a
pre-release copy for sale, to those who received the
preview. You can decide if you would like to offer them a
discounted price for the purchase in offer or you can leave
the price as it is on launch day.

You should check the list of individuals who signed up for
the preview, to see how many subscribers there are. They
have their option to unsubscribe, yet they continue to
receive information. These are high target contacts for
your product. They hold interest and excitement about
receiving the autoresponder message letting them know it is
time to get their own copy.

Automation is a wonderful creation. When you use an
autoresponder, you can find out whether there is a market
for your product, while building excitement and interest
before its release. It is essential for creating profits,
be sure to use an autoresponders to build interest. You can
watch the profits come in when you build interest and
excitement for your potential clients.

----------------------------------------------------
Roy Chan is a business consultant, providing useful online
marketing information since 2004. To get your free email
marketing software, value - $27 as well as a 7-Day Email
Master Course at his website now, please visit:
http://www.email-autoresponder-review.com/subscribe.html

Coaching and schizophrenia

Coaching and schizophrenia
When I train managers as coaches I always ask them to
respect the power of coaching questions and to recognize
the possibility that what starts as an innocuous, business
related conversation, may lead to the unveiling of a deeper
issue. Coaching managers would be advised to develop at
least a little insight into the signs of abnormal
psychology. Consider for example, that most commonly
diagnosed form of mental disorder; thought to affect about
1% of the population at some point - schizophrenia.

It is a popular misconception that schizophrenia means a
split personality. This is not true. It is actually a
generic term for a group of psychotic disorders
characterized by disturbance of personality, loss of
contact with reality and so on.

Let's look at how the condition might be described and the
symptoms one might expect to be present.

Firstly we'll consider Schneider's first rank symptoms
(1959):

Thought Disturbances:

Typical symptoms under this heading include Word Salad -
bizarre verbal association and Clang Associations - linking
words by sound rather than meaning

Auditory Hallucinations:

This is the classic "I heard voices", where the sufferer
believes some external force is directing them to do
something over which they have no control.

Primary Delusions:

Delusions are misrepresentations of what most people would
regard as the reality of situations. Common schizophrenic
delusions include:

Delusions of influence - the sufferer believes they are
being manipulated by external forces Delusions of grandeur
- e.g. "I am Napoleon" Delusions of persecution - "They're
out to get me", i.e. paranoia

Next let's consider the symptoms outlined by Slater and
Roth (1969):

Disturbance of Affect:

This is characterized by schizophrenics expressing emotions
that are inappropriate to the situation e.g. giggling on
receipt of bad news

Psychomotor Disorders:

Including odd hand gestures, twitching and peculiar facial
expressions

Lack of Volition:

Schizophrenics often have trouble conducting a normal day
to day life. They can find simple activities difficult and
can often become reclusive and withdrawn.

Schizophrenia is a term that has perhaps become cheapened
by misuse at the hands of satirists and thriller writers.
In truth it represents an horrendous burden for sufferers
and their families both of whom deserve our sympathy.

It is unlikely that the coaching manager would be the first
to stumble upon such symptoms, but it is not unheard of.
Sufferers are often able to carry on in their job roles
after perhaps some minor adjustments or be moved to other
duties. A coaching approach to communication amongst the
colleagues of the newly diagnosed schizophrenia sufferer
should also prove a sensitive way to enable everybody to
adjust.

Some studies indicate that schizophrenia - like many
abnormal psychological conditions - can be triggered or
exacerbated by stress, and work is the most common arena
for experiencing stress these days. It seems those of us
with an interest in coaching may be primed to notice the
early signs of stress and what it might lead to.

----------------------------------------------------
Matt Somers is a coaching practitioner of many years'
experience. He works with a host of clients in North East
England where his firm is based and throughout the UK and
Europe. Matt understands that people are working with their
true potential locked away. He shows how coaching provides
a simple yet elegant key to this lock. For a bumper load of
coaching tips and tricks - including FREE resources - visit
http://www.mattsomers.com

Putting Modular Homes to the Test

Putting Modular Homes to the Test
According to some modular home owners, all homes may one
day be factory-built. Is this crazy or what? Possibly not.
It just might surprise you the advantages that modular
homes bring to the new construction industry. These aren't
the mobile homes of the past. Modular homes are the real
deal. They are better built than site built homes, and on
average 20 percent less costly.

In 2003, an ideal situation occurred that allowed modular
home construction to be put to the test. Michelle Kaufman
(of Michelle Kaufmann Designs) decided to build her first
home with her husband Kevin Cullen in California just
outside of San Francisco. Kevin, being a builder, acted as
the general contractor, and the couple began the normal
arduous process of designing, permitting and financing
there site-built Glidehouse. As is typical, delays and
upwardly increasing bids plagued the process, and the
couple became progressively frustrated.

Being in architect design, Kaufman began investigating
design options with modular technologies. She even began to
solicit customers that may want to create an identical
Glidehouse to hers, but through modular design and
construction. Late in 2003, about 6 months into her own
home construction process, she found a client in Washington
state that responded to her offer.

What were the results? Well, the total time for design,
engineering and construction was 21 months for the
site-built home, and only 10 months for the modular home.
In other words, despite a 6 month lag, the modular home was
finished much sooner. Likewise, there was an extra 10
months for the site-built home in payments for a
construction loan, land purchase, and insurance before
occupancy could occur. Is there any question that time is
money?

But the benefits don't end there! The overall costs
including foundation and land preparation as well as home
construction was more than 20 percent less for the modular
home. Along the way, there was less waste produced and much
less frustration. The two identically designed homes were
far from identical in expense and time needed for
construction.

But while they look the same and are designed the same, are
they both equal in quality? If they are typical of most
comparisons, no they are not. The modular home is actually
better. Added reinforcements during the factory built
process provide greater sustainability and strength to
modular homes. Likewise, quality of workmanship on average
is better in a factory where the climate is constantly
controlled and quality assessments are uniform. Even in
post-hurricane situations, modular homes are preferred not
only because of their speed of construction, but because of
their durability.

So if saving time and money are important to you and having
a home with better quality and durability is appealing, you
may want to consider a modular home. And if you suspect
design limitations are a reason to hesitate, think again.
The fact is many of the homes in your own community are
modular, and you don't realize it! Put modular homes to
your own test. The results are likely to be pleasing.

Sources:

1. Arieff, Allison. The Proof is in the Prefab. Dwell.
November, 2006.

2. http://livemodern.com. Mayer, M. Why Modern? 5/7/2007.

3. www.modularhousing.com. A Guide to Residential Modular
Construction. From Factory to Finish. 2004.

4. www.zncustombuilding.com.

----------------------------------------------------
Michael Zenga owns the largest modular home dealership in
MA and is an unabashed advocate for the modular home
industry
http://www.zncustombuilding.com

Are You in Danger of Becoming a Dinosaur in Today's Competitive World

Are You in Danger of Becoming a Dinosaur in Today's Competitive World
The Secret to a Thriving Business and a Great Personal Life

Read any newspaper, listen to any news audio or TV
broadcasts these days and you will be blasted with the news
of recession and economic "doom and gloom". I hope that you
aren't buying completely into this depressing and
disempowering story.

As the famous commentator, Paul Harvey used to say, "Here's
the rest of the story." Yes, by all means, we do need to be
willing to take a look at the "reality" and take
responsibility for where we are. In fact, this is the 1st
step to take if you want to design a bigger dream for
yourself.

Here's the distinction though. Do a reality check and make
notes on the black and white facts of your business (and
perhaps personal life, too). Face your own "inconvenient
truths' straight on AND do so with the "rock solid"
knowledge that there are new possibilities and solutions to
your current situation. Do you want to make more money?
Good. Do you want to repair a relationship? Fantastic. In
order to shift and create a better future for yourself,
your bank account and your relationships, you need to make
a firm decision and DECLARE, "This is what I do want.
_______________________." (and fill in the blank) Here's a
powerful quote by Alan Kay that speaks to this. "The best
way to predict your future is to invent it!" Want to enjoy
lots of success and meaning in today's competitive
topsy-turvy world? The secret is to be willing to
"re-invent yourself" as you go. Don't become extinct, as
was the fate of the dinosaurs. Their inability to adapt to
the climate changes at that time literally killed them!

Business Guru, Tom Peters says, "We must innovate or die!"
Rather a bold statement, but well worth paying attention
to! Here's my coaching challenge for you this week. Take
out paper and pen (or create a fresh document in Word) and
do these 3 steps:
1. Ask yourself..."What is my current situation" (eg.
"How's my business doing?" Look at your financials to get
an accurate picture.
2. Ask yourself..."What do I want? What are my top 3 goals?"
3. Time to Get Creative! Conduct your own Brainstorming
Session by writing down all of the ideas and ways that you
could do things differently, do things better and do things
you never took the time to dream of! Congratulations, you
have "set the stage" for your success!

----------------------------------------------------
Success Coach and Speaker, Diana Long, is the President of
the Life Design Institute. Learn more about Diana and
receive your FREE Report," 3 Huge Mistakes People Like You
Make to Sabotage Their Success & How You Can Completely
Avoid Them!" and Free subscription to "Life Design Secrets"
e-newsletter, please visit http://www.DianaLong.com