Seizing Success: A Woman's Guide to Transformational Leadership

By Mary Key

In Seizing Success: A Woman's Guide to Transformational Leadership, Dr. Mary Key serves as your personal executive coach as she identifies the essential core competencies and support you need to excel as a woman in leadership. She offers strategies, tools and action steps that can make all the difference in having a successful, fulfilling career and life. The stories and examples will not only engage you but inspire you to be your personal best.

In this book, you will learn how to:
• Positively impact your career and life paths by changing your mindset and employing evidence-based strategies that work.
• Succeed as a leader in whatever field you chose and learn how to navigate some of the obstacles unique to women in leadership as you build on your strengths.
• Build a peer forum network that supports you in your career and life and also serves as an accountability system to help you manifest your dreams.

At the end of Seizing Success, you will have a complete guidebook to succeeding as a woman in leadership and a strengthened internal compass so that you follow your "true north" and feel fulfilled in your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645700371

Book preview

"In Seizing Success, Mary Key has combined her substantial theoretical and conceptual knowledge with her extensive coaching and teaching experience to create strategies to become a great leader. She applies these for women through the lens of being a woman."

— JOSEPH HOPKINS, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Director of the Stanford University Leadership Development Program for Healthcare

"Women struggle with feeling the pressure to perform. Mary Key aces it in identifying why women often recoil from pressure and what to do about it. The strategies offered in Seizing Success serve as a guidepost for women at any stage of their careers, especially those starting out."

— DR. HENDRIE WEISINGER, Author of New York Times Best Selling Book, Performing under Pressure

"You can customize your new car, a pair of jeans and an omelet. Why would you not customize your career, or better yet, your life? Mary Key, in her brilliant, engaging new book, will help you do just that. You’ll get clear about what you really want... and you’ll discover strategies and steps for how to get it. Every woman who aspires to lead others should read Seizing Success!"

— SHARON JORDAN-EVANS, co-author of the Best-seller Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em: Getting Good People to Stay."

I heard Mary Key speak to an organization of professional women that I belong to and she was terrific! Many of the stories and strategies she spoke about are in this book. I was impressed by her understanding of leadership and her ability to break it down in relatable, practical advice.

— LORNA TAYLOR, President & CEO, Premier Eye Care

"Real change happens when groups of men and women begin practicing, and not just talking about, new behaviors in the workplace. Seizing Success is an extraordinary guide to the practices women can cultivate and men can respect and respond to at work. Drawn from her extensive coaching experiences and women’s leadership groups, Mary offers down to earth tools and inspiring strategies for achieving uncompromising excellence at work and a balanced life worth living."

— ALAN BRISKIN, Author, The Stirring of Soul in the Workplace and The Power of Collective Wisdom

"Over 40 years of experience in the leadership space and working with executives and leaders primarily in Fortune 100 companies has provided me with insights as to the importance of one’s personal compass. In particular, the relevance not only of identifying one’s personal values, but implementing them in our personal and professional lives. Seizing Success: A Woman’s Guide to Transformational Leadership provides the much needed and essential strategies for implementing one’s personal values, which, in turn, energizes everything. The crucial relevance of a personal and professional compass enables us to live a purposeful and dynamic existence. This book will not only be read and handy on my nightstand, but will be required reading for women I coach, lead, and mentor."

— CECELIA K. HOUSER, Ed.D., Principal, Korn Ferry

For women at all stages of their careers, building trusted relationships is just one of the many keys to transforming leadership that Mary explores in her book, and one that’s critical for advancing women to corporate boards. A must-read for any woman serious about leading.

— BETSY BERKHEMER-CREDAIRE, CEO of 2020 Women on Boards and author of The Board Game: How Smart Women Become Corporate Directors

Mary has been in the perfect position to learn the issues that face women leaders. Not only has she been there and done that herself, but she has coached countless women in facing and overcoming them. Mary brings her years of experience to women in every stage in their careers. Bravo.

— Dr. BEVERLY KAYE, Co-author, Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go and Up is Not the Only Way

Winning in business and being successful in the competitive environment is all about leadership, teamwork, and focus. Dr. Key offers strategies, tools and insights into how it’s done and what’s really important.

— ANGEL RUIZ, President & CEO, Ericsson North America

Copyright © 2019 Key Books, LLC.

All rights reserved. The scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. Please purchase only authorized editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. If you would like to use material from this book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [e-mail]

Thank you for your support of this author’s rights.

This book is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The author and publisher are not offering it as legal, accounting, health or other professional services advice. No income claims are made or inferred in this work. You are solely responsible for your results. While best efforts have been used in preparing this book, the author and publisher make no representations or warranties of any kind and assume no liabilities of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness of use for a particular purpose. The contents of this book are personal opinions and observations, based on author’s personal and professional experience, and should not be taken as anything more than that. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be held liable or responsible to any person or entity with respect to any loss or incidental or consequential damages caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information or programs contained herein. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. No one should make any decision without first consulting his or her own professional and conducting his or her own research and due diligence. You should seek the services of a competent professional before beginning any program. You are responsible for complying with the laws where you live and where you conduct business. You are solely responsible for the consequences of your use of this material.

Editorial Project Management: Karen Rowe, www.karenrowe.com

Interior Graphics & Visual Map: Diana Flores, www.ridg.com

Inside Layout: Ljiljana Pavkov

Cover Design: Kurt Richmond, [e-mail]

Printed in the United States

ISBN: 978-1-64570-038-8 (paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-64570-037-1 (ebook)

To women everywhere who are willing to take the lead for themselves and for others.

Your Visual Map to Navigating this Book

Table of

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Confidence – The Secret Sauce

Action A: Purge perfectionism

Action B: Take risks and act

Action C: Act as if and let go

Action D: Cultivate a growth mindset

Action E: Use the power of intention

Chapter 2: Right Focus – Your Personal and Professional Compass

Action A: Develop your personal mission

Action B: Develop personal values

Action C: Develop your personal vision

Action D: Develop your core focus—know your strengths

Chapter 3: Pressure to Perform – Building Resilience

Action A: Embrace what you fear and make it a game

Action B: Recall a past success

Action C: Breathe and find the right word

Action D: Stay present and rehearse a positive outcome

Action E: Decide now how to overcome obstacles

Chapter 4: Assertiveness – A Double-Edged Sword

Action A: Use powerful non-verbal assertiveness

Action B: Monitor and change your internal dialogue

Action C: Be graceful, but AFFIRM, ASSERT, AND AIM

Action D: Say NO without the guilt

Action E: Say NO when someone continues to insist

Chapter 5: Influence – A Key to Leadership Success

Action A: Be aware of your influencing style and that of the others

Action B: Be clear on your picture of success

Action C: Be ready to listen so that you understand what can make it a win-win

Action D: Offer-Counteroffer

Action E: Frame it for engagement

Chapter 6: Transformational Leadership - Inspiring Growth

Action A: Build trust

Action B: Develop an inspiring vision for your team or organization

Action C: Create meaning for others

Action D: Lead change

Action E: Be an effective coach

Chapter 7: Power of Peers – Your Support Team

Review the BIG growth strategy in this chapter

Conclusion:

Acknowledgements

Appendices

Appendix A: Forum Issue

Appendix B: Guidelines

Appendix C: Member Contract

References

About the Author

A WOMEN’S GUIDE TO TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Introduction

Make no mistake. Our time is now. The opportunities are opening. The environment has changed. The time is ripe for you. Look around you—at politics, culture, maybe even your own office—and you’ll see how much things have changed. The renewed focus on equal pay, more equality in the workplace, and expanded leadership roles are the result of very real economic, social, legal and political pressure brought to bear by the raised voices of women. If there’s a moment’s doubt about that power, take a look at the #metoo movement’s remarkable transformative force.

You might be following an entrepreneurial path or pursuing a promotion. Or maybe you’re considering a switch to a different job, even a different career path altogether, to make your work life better fit your passions, values and abilities.

A record number of women are running for public office. Politico reports that over 25 years ago after the Year of the Woman, women only made up one in five of the elected officials in Congress. In the recent election cycle a record number of women declared their intention to run for the House, Senate or governor. Many won. Women now make up nearly a quarter of the voting membership of Congress, the most ever in US history.

The same is true in the corporate world. Initiatives like 2020 Women on Boards have taken off. 2020 Women on Boards is a national campaign to increase the percentage of women on US company boards of directors to 20% or greater by 2020. In the latest report, the percentage of women on corporate boards is now at 17.3%. Over 25 cities around the country are participating in awareness events to support getting more women on board seats. Companies are being ordered to add women executives to their boards. For example, California has become the first state to require corporate boards to include women.

I’ve seen firsthand the struggles women in leadership roles encounter that are different, and often more difficult from any challenges faced by men in comparable roles. I’ve also seen up close the unique strengths that women leaders can bring to the table when they get a seat like willingness to find common ground, collaboration and hard work. The current climate is better than ever for you to advance now and in the future.

Seizing Success: A Woman’s Guide to Transformational Leadership charts a map for you to improve, enhance, refine, and further develop your leadership capabilities. It will help you hone your strategic career planning and personal goal-setting. The skill areas or competencies outlined in this book come from the needs and opportunities most frequently brought up by women in leadership roles – through women’s forums that I’ve started and facilitated, through the executive coaching and leadership development work done over the years and through the research out there on what women in leadership can benefit from the most. Each chapter is designed to provide a clear understanding of a core competency that will strengthen and enhance your leadership capabilities and help you achieve your highest wishes for yourself and ultimately, those you lead.

The underlying principle guiding the book is the emphasis on developing and strengthening an open attitude toward aiming higher and trying new things to develop your leadership skills. Some call this a growth mindset vs. a fixed or entrenched mindset. What’s the difference?

If you have a fixed mindset, you may tend to hold on to what you know and defend your status. You see having to work hard at something as an indicator that you don’t have the aptitude—so you don’t try. By contrast, when you have a growth mindset, you approach a given task as a perpetual learner. You view the struggle of learning something new as part of self-development, and see competence as something you can build. You see intelligence as developable and not something you are just born with. You believe that you can shape your own course in life.

A growth mindset enhances your confidence and sets the stage for you to take risks. You’re willing to try new things even when you know that you won’t always