Becky Shambaugh, author of "It’s Not A Glass Ceiling, It’s A Sticky Floor" and "Make Room For Her: Why Companies Need An Integrated Leadership Model To Achieve Extraordinary Results" shares advice for how companies and individuals can empower female leaders.

1. HOW WOMEN CAN
EMPOWER
THEMSELVES AS
LEADERS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY

2. In addition to being a leadership expert, author and
keynote speaker, Becky is the president of SHAMBAUGH,
a global leadership-development organization, and the
founder of Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL), one
of the first executive leadership-development programs in
the country. She is also the author of three books, including
It’s Not A Glass Ceiling, It’s A Sticky Floor and Make Room
For Her: Why Companies Need An Integrated Leadership
Model To Achieve Extraordinary Results.
MEET BECKY SHAMBAUGH!

3. Becky answered questions about
women and leadership from
members of Connect: Professional
Women’s Network. Here’s some of
her most popular advice.

4. EMPOWERYOURSELF:
BUILD YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Seek out key influencers and senior-level
leaders who can be your mentors and
sponsors. These should be people who
respect and trust you and care about your
success—people who will advocate for
you when you’re not in the room.
A good network is not about numbers,
it’s about having quality, trusted people
who support you.

5. What is the biggest roadblock women face on the path to leadership? So
much of our success lies within ourselves, so the first potential roadblock is our
own voice that impacts how we show up every day. I often hear, I am not
100% qualified for this new opportunity, so I will wait until the next
opportunity,” or “I am not as senior as the others in the room, so I won’t speak
up and share my view.” These narratives hinder our growth and success.

6. What advice do you have for how we can get out of our own way when it
comes to succeeding? Women need to start looking at their own internal
beliefs and ask themselves if these are working for them anymore. When we
have the courage to reframe our beliefs, it enables us to speak up, ask for what
we want and go for those stretch opportunities.

7. I have the necessary qualifications, skills and experience, but I find myself unable
to move past a certain rank in my profession. How do I demonstrate that I’m
ready? Find a mentor who has taken a similar path. Ask her what steps she took,
what mistakes she made and what experience and skills you need for this role. Also,
create your board of directors—people who will provide feedback and advance you
along the way. Finally, take new opportunities that enhance your visibility.

8. EMPOWERYOURSELF:
USE THE 4x4x4 PLAN
• Ask 4 people you know for their advice
on your career.
• Ask them to introduce you to 4 people
you don’t know who can help you
identify opportunities.
• Do this within 4 weeks.

9. How can I move from management to a leadership role? Know that
leadership is less about doing and more about being. It's about developing and
coaching others and delegating the day-to-day to your team. Leadership is
about flexing different styles to effectively inspire and influence others. So be
intentional about how you show up. Be cautious of leading with the style that
got you to a level of success as a manager, as this approach will be limiting.

10. I’m new at my company, but I hope to work up to a leadership role one day.
What should I do to make this happen? Look at leaders who are successful
within your field. What is their leadership profile? What behaviors and qualities
do they exhibit? Remember, leadership is also about following your passions
and your beliefs, so lead from within versus from the outside in!

11. What advice do you have for attaining a leadership role after changing
industries? Do your homework and find out how your strengths and
brand can align with the business objectives of the new organization.
What's their pain point and how can you be a solution? Also, make sure
you have a broad and influential network that can open doors and
create introductions for you in the new industry.

12. EMPOWERYOURSELF:
GET OUT OF THE OFFICE.
Get involved in activities outside
of your day-to-day job and
volunteer to provide value and
support. This is a great way to
learn new skills sets, gain a
broader perspective of the
organization and enhance your
visibility and brand.

13. I’ve been a leader for several years, but I still don’t feel like a central part of
the organization. How can I break through? Make sure you have developed
and are pushing out your own leadership campaign and brand. Your results
won’t get noticed until you let the right people know. Demonstrate how your
value impacts the bottom line or key business objectives. Also, know what
drives your top execs. What keeps them up at night? What are their top
priorities? Be part of their solution, and you can bet they’ll notice you.

14. Beyond my experience and skills, what else should I highlight when
interviewing for a leadership position? Businesses look for people who
have a vision for themselves, who know their strengths and have a sense of
where they want to go and how they’ll get there. Take time to create that
vision for yourself. Let others know what you can bring to the table now and
what your plan is for reaching your goals and leadership aspirations.

15. What can organizations do to make sure they’re recognizing and fostering
future women leaders? The first step is to establish a business imperative for
gender-balanced teams. Next, develop a women's leadership strategy that
includes the following: targeted programs and coaching to further the
development and advancement of your top female talent; sponsorship for your
high-performing female leaders; and measurement to track progress.

16. EMPOWERYOURSELF:
TAKE THE LEAP.
When a growth opportunity comes
your way and it's something you
are looking to do but you’re not
totally qualified yet, GO FOR IT.
Believe in yourself, lead with your
strengths and have the right
support system to mentor and
coach you along the way.

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION!
LinkedIn and Citi’s Connect: Professional Women’s
Network is an online community with more than 465,000
members that helps women achieve the careers they want
and discuss issues relevant to their success. Visit
linkedin.com/womenconnect for more information and
to join the group for free!
For more great insights on networking,
check out Becky Shambaugh’s
discussion in Connect.
PHOTO CREDIT:
1: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

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