In 1985, at 23 years of age, I launched Bureau Consulting Group [BCG]. My vision was to empower women everywhere by contributing to the careers of executive women and young future women leaders for greater futures. In 1992 I married and by 1999 I had three children under the age of 5. I sold the business, retained the name and in 2004 joined one of Australia’s top 300 privately listed companies as HR Director. The unique combination of working in-house and as Founder/CEO of my own consultancy business, whilst raising three young children has given me the privilege of being a woman in business throughout the 80’s and 90’s. What I know is that to excel professionally, we must be at our peak personally.
To feel empowered means to feel valued. Today’s article starts at the very beginning – when we meet your audience for the first time. Did you know 30 seconds is all you have to capture your audience’s attention and make a positive lasting impression. It’s in that tiny amount of time that your audience starts to respond to their individual conscious and unconscious bias to three sensory triggers.
1. Do they want to KNOW YOU?
2. Do they LIKE YOU?
3. Can they TRUST YOU?
I am excited to be sharing my TOP 5 attributes and characteristics of an inspirational role model and great female leader.
1. HOW AM I PERCEIVED?
Personality from the inside, what we call ‘identity’, is how we think of ourselves and how we want others to think of us [example: smart, funny, creative]. How we see ourselves however, is rarely the same as how others see us.
PERCEPTION is the first of 6 critical success factors for everyone to learn who works in your business.
2. WHAT DOES MY PHILOSOPHY SAY ABOUT ME?
Now people are PERCEIVING you the way we want them to, we move to learning that people don’t buy WHAT WE DO, they buy WHY WE DO IT. Take a few minutes to consider the question - ‘WHATS MY WHY?’ Why do you do what you do – why your chosen career?
This called PHILOSOPHY – it’s your unique vision, values and integrity and it's the second of 6 critical success factors.
3. HOW DO I DIFFERENTIATE MYSELF FROM MY COMPETITORS
Now that we are being PERCEIVED well and our PHILOSOPHY guides us to do what we love ‘what we call our why’ the next challenge is understanding the pain points or frustrations that customers are facing. Think about what pain points your customers face when they come to you for advice and representation.
This is called DIFFERENTIATING and it’s probably the most critical of the 6 success factors for your business.
4. DO I DELIGHT MY CLIENTS
So now you are PERCEIVED WELL, your customers KNOW you AND they LIKE you because your PHILOSOPHY is their PHILOSOPHY, we want them to TRUST you
This is called DELIGHTING – it’s when you create a feeling of delight when speaking to your customers – getting them excited about your business because they feel that you understand their pain points and are excited to work with you exclusively.
5. WHAT MATTERS MOST IS HOW I MAKE PEOPLE FEEL NOT THINK
We are now PERCEIVED well, share the same PHILOSOPHY, our customers are DELIGHTED by what we have to offer but we still need to get them to commit to you.
The next critical success factor took us a little while to work out? This is the example we were given – video
OK – so what do you think Harley Davidson motor bikes sell? …….
They actually sell amazing experiences
When you are PERCEIVED well, share the same PHILOSOPHY, have DIFFERENTIATED yourself from your competitors and DELIGHTED them because they feel you understand their pain points and connected with them because you have SHARED YOUR STORY, you and your customers are empowered because you have a relationship that is built on knowing, liking and trusting each other. you have connected through feelings which is why they will want to tell everyone else about their amazing experience with you.
SHARE YOUR STORY and appeal to your customers’ emotions by convincing them or making them FEEL something not think something.
6. WHAT’S MY WOW FACTOR
The last critical success factor is what we call the WOW FACTOR
Together you have put the building blocks in place for something that really matters and you have made a difference to your customer’s world which will have a lasting IMPACT – no 6 – that’s why they will be loyal and come back when they are next ready to buy or sell AND tell everyone about their amazing experience.
So that’s our 6 step guide to Empowering your Female Excellence – of course there is the HOW in all this but that’s for another workshop.
1. PERCEPTION
Personality from the inside, what we call ‘identity’, is how we think of ourselves and how we want others to think of us [example: smart, funny, creative]. How we see ourselves however, is rarely the same as how others see us.
Q: What words best describe how you would like others to perceive you [example: honest, trustworthy, authentic]?
A: Ask someone you trust to describe how they perceive you. Disparity plays an important role in how we are perceived.
2. PHILOSOPHY – WHAT’S YOUR WHY?
Your core beliefs, ideas and attitudes governs your personal philosophy that in turn determines your desires and motivation.
Q: What’s your why?
A: Understanding why your beliefs, ideas and attitudes are important to you and how they influence the actions you take and the decisions you make every day.
3. DIFFERENTIATE – YOU.Inc
Q: Have you considered differentiating yourself by creating your unique brand?
A: Be the very best at what you do, measuring your success not in financial terms but by being recognised as a thought leader, an expert in your chosen field.
4. DELIGHT YOUR AUDIENCE
Q: Do you remember a time when you felt that you 'delighted' the people around you?
A: Create a feeling of delight when speaking to others. Practice maintaining eye contact and active listening skills when engaging in conversation with your audience. People will want to engage with you because when they are with you they feel valued for the contribution they are making to the conversation.
5. HOW YOU MAKE PEOPLE FEEL NOT THINK MATTERS
Q: Do you have a story to share? Story telling is a wonderful way to get people to know, like and trust you.
A: Remember that people connect with you based on how you may them feel not how you make them think. Share your story!
“When women come together great things can and do happen"
- Jeromine Alpe _Founder & CEO
Corporate Diversity Pathways is a full service diversity and inclusion advisory focused on empowering women for diversity, happiness, inclusion and peak performance. We do this through Careers for Women, Executive Development Programs, Coaching for Peak Performance, Workplace Wellness, D+I Advisory and Action, D+I Leaders Network and The Power of Mentoring.