Leadership and Innovation Characteristics - Transforming Your STEM Career Through Leadership and Innovation - page 85

women corporate leaders in their various fields. 1 While much of what is said is
consistent with the social science literature, the items below are not based on a
scientific data collection exercise but rather experiential knowledge from these
experienced leaders. The 10 power tips are quoted exactly as listed and include
the following: 2
1. Be competitive: “To succeed in business you have to want to win,” says
Liz Lange, founder and president of Liz Lange Maternity. “Too often,
women feel they have to be nice. Don't,” says Lange.
2. It's not about friendship: “Women want everyone to like them but it
doesn't really matter what people think of you,” says Renee Edelman,
senior VP of Edelman. “It's that you get the job done and deliver results.”
3. Stand up for yourself: Restaurateur Donatella Arpaia is responsible for
two restaurants and 140 people. “I protect my interests, their interests. If
someone is going to mess with that, I cut them out like cancer.”
4. Trust your instincts: Dozens of people tried to talk Lange out of growing
her business, now a major force with nationwide distribution at Target.
“There are a lot of naysayers out there,” says Lange. “Shut out negative
noise and go for it.”
5. Always project confidence: Oscar-winning film producer Cathy
Schulman says presentation is key. “When someone asks 'How are you?'
don't go into a litany of what's wrong with your life,” says Schulman.
Instead, present yourself as in control and happy.
6. Own your success: Say goodbye to fear and insecurity, says Arpaia. Have
confidence in your decisions, and make them.
7. Reach out to other women: When Lange started her business, she called every
woman (and man) she admired and asked to meet. “Don't be shy,” she says.
Schulman begins each day by noting colleagues' accomplishments with a quick
call or e-mail. “We don't have golf so create other communities of support.”
8. Insist on being well paid: Don't view wanting money as inelegant or “not
classy,” says Schulman. “Men make decisions on the bottom line. Why
shouldn't we?”
9. It's all right to make mistakes: When Arpaia realized a business partnership
was doomed, she cut ties and moved on. “Don't obsess over things,” she says.
10. Be a problem-solver: If something on Schulman's desk seems difficult to
deal with, she tackles it first. “Big problems are an opportunity to grow.”
Integrating these power tips into the additional leadership characteristics can
be valuable in creating a comprehensive image of what it takes for you to suc-
ceed as a leader.
3 Power Tips. Newsweek Magazine, September 24, 2006 www.thedailybeast.com/
newsweek/2006/09/24/10-power-tips.html (accessed July 6, 2012).
4 Power Tips. Newsweek Magazine, September 24, 2006 www.thedailybeast.com/
newsweek/2006/09/24/10-power-tips.html (accessed July 6, 2012).