Category: career

career, growth mindset, Health & Wellbeing, New thinking

Be More Pirate – Attitude and Growth Mindset

ciaramoore36

Having a growth mindset is extremely important in maintaining a positive outlook at work and in home life. It encourages an individual to overcome challenges and failure, whilst continuing to strive for success. Adopting a growth mindset allows us to develop our skills and abilities, as it allows us to acknowledge that we have the capacity to improve even if we are not currently successful.

“The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.”– Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean character

Carol Dweck renowned researcher author of Mindset describes two mindsets. Fixed and Growth;

Fixed mindset: “In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort.” (Dweck, 2015)

Fixed mindset thinking

This is too hard

I can’t do this

This work is good enough

Growth mindset: “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” (Dweck, 2015)

Growth mindset thinking

I can try a different strategy

Is this really my best work?

This may take some time and effort

“Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts).” – Carol Dweck.

A growth mindset encourages us to take on new tasks, conquer fears and push ourselves out of our comfort zone. This promotes learning and personal development which can in turn increase our confidence and self-esteem. Having a fixed mindset leads to feelings of stagnation, lack of motivation and low self-worth; this is why it is so important that we adopt a growth attitude towards ourselves, others and situations in life.

How you view yourself determines fixed or growth mindset


Dweck takes this stoic approach, writing: “in the growth mindset, failure can be a painful experience. But it doesn’t define you. It’s a problem to be faced, dealt with, and learned from.

The power of yet

In a growth mindset Dweck talks about the power of yet. Instead of praising talent and intelligence, Dweck argues that we should praise the process: effort, strategy, focus, perseverance and improvement. Process praise, she explains, leads to more persistence and, ultimately, better results.

Having or developing a growth mindset enables us to be open minded about opportunities that come our way-we learn how to adapt easily without feeling overwhelmed by potential failure or change. This type of mentality is an especially useful tool when working with colleagues as it allows us collaborate more effectively as well as being able to accept disagreeable viewpoints without becoming overly defensive or judgmental. In addition, having an open mind when tackling tasks will enable us create innovative solutions rather than just settling for the obvious answer!

With this approach, individuals are encouraged to keep going despite any roadblocks they may encounter on their journey-this helps maintain positivity in both professional and personal lives. So while I’m not condoning Captain Jack pirate behaviour we certainly need to consider our attitude towards issues and problems with a “not yet” attitude.

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed no hope at all- Dale Carnegie, American Writer and Lecturer

Overall, having a growth mindset is essential for maintaining a positive outlook at work and in home life – allowing us take on greater challenges with confidence while appreciating the power of learning through mistakes along the way!

Author: Ciara Moore

Ciara is the founder of Female Leaders At 50 Network

Advertisement
career, New thinking

Career Sponsorship : so what’s the deal?

ciaramoore36

Following a conversation with a network female leader this week I was reminded of the importance of sponsorships I received through my career and continue to receive as well as the importance of being a sponsor myself. Having a sponsor in your career is an invaluable tool for female leaders. A sponsor will actively advocate for you, put your name forward for high-stakes assignments that win notice and promotion, and spend their own political capital at work in your name. These roles are hugely important and can build your career in different ways. Here, i discuss how to find a sponsor, how to become one yourself, and the benefits of having one.

As a female leader how can you be a sponsor for others?
If you’re already established in your career and would like to help others reach their goals, then being a sponsor is an excellent way of doing so. As a sponsor, it’s important that you take the time to get to know those who look up to you – learn about their goals, experiences and strengths so that when opportunities arise that may be beneficial for them you can speak up confidently on their behalf. Also ensure that any sponsorship is done without asking anything in return – this should be completely unconditional support!


How to Find a Sponsor
Finding a sponsor starts with being visible at work. This means participating in meetings, speaking up with ideas and solutions, attending events, and generally putting yourself out there. If you have an idea that you can pitch to management or a project that you can take on independently then do so; these are great ways to get noticed by people who could be potential sponsors. Additionally, networking as always is key! Is there anyone else in the work place who has achieved what you’d like to achieve or who holds the position that you’d like to have – they could be great mentors or sponsors for you. Offer to take them for a coffee, talk about the work that they’re doing and see if you can support or be a part their project.

Benefits of Having A Sponsor
Having a sponsor gives both parties many different advantages; as mentioned previously it provides those looking for support with more visibility within their workplace which often leads to experience in projects which can result in more recognition from colleagues and management. On top of this having someone advocating specifically on your behalf gives them more confidence when making decisions too as they know someone else has faith in them – this often results in better performance overall as they feel supported by their sponsor throughout the process too.

Finally having someone willing to spend their political capital at work in your name allows you access into higher levels of decision-making power which is especially beneficial if there are no other pathways available traditionally into these positions otherwise.

In conclusion, having a mentor or sponsor is incredibly important for any woman trying to advance her career; not only does it provide access into higher levels of decision-making but it also builds confidence as well as creating visibility within workplaces where women are often overlooked or undervalued due solely on gender alone. Finding one requires dedication and networking while being one requires selflessness – but both are worth it if done correctly! With all these things considered i hope this article has given insight into why sponsorship is such an important tool for women today! Good luck!

Author: Ciara Moore

Ciara is the founder of female leaders at fifty.

career

You’ve come a long way baby but have you got the balance right? 5 tips for balancing your career and time

ciaramoore36

The slogan “you’ve come a long way baby” comes from a Virgina Slims cigarette commercial in 1968 and signifys the start of the womens movement in America. The advertisement showed an image of a confident, tall, slender, trouser suit-wearing woman, career getting female. Fast forward and women over fifty and their career pathway have come a long way from years ago. There are three times more women aged 50-64 working part-time than men (The State of Ageing in 2020) however despite a rapid increase, the employment rate for women aged 50-64 is still nine percentage points behind men (The State of Ageing in 2020). This is in part to pension age rise in 2011 and more recently the cost of living however it’s apparent that more and more women at fifty are still active within the workforce.

Many women in our network are also stepping into their best roles at board level or reinvigorating their careers and setting up their own businesses. Listening to you we know this extended career pathway is not without its challenges and comes with its own unique challenges. This is especially true for those of you in the sandwich generation, who need to juggle caring for children, or support university aged children, care for elderly family members, as well as their own professional ambitions, which can be daunting at times. In fact all a bit of a juggling act.

To help manage your busy lifestyle, here are five tips:

1) Prioritize your time wisely – When you’re trying to balance a career with other obligations such as parenting, older-age caretaking or any other responsibilities you may have outside of work, it’s essential to prioritize your time wisely. Set realistic goals each day and focus on what needs to get done first. Break large projects into smaller tasks that are easier to finish in shorter amounts of time.

2) Increase efficiency – One way to maximize your productivity is by becoming more efficient in how you use your time. For example, when possible try to consolidate errands or combine tasks that require similar steps; you’ll save yourself a lot of valuable time this way. Also look for ways to automate mundane tasks such as bill payments so that you can concentrate on the things that matter most.

3) Utilize technology – Technology can be invaluable when it comes to increasing productivity. Try using apps and automated software programs where applicable; this will help lighten your workload considerably and give you more free time during the day. Technology can also come in handy when setting up alerts or reminders so that important tasks don’t get overlooked or forgotten about altogether.

4) Ask for help – Don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed; friends, family members or even professionals can provide assistance with activities like childcare or elder care on an occasional basis if needed. Delegate to university aged children where possible and help them to be as independent as they can. Having reliable people available can make an enormous difference in terms of stress relief and peace of mind while allowing you to stay focused on your job performance without worrying too much about household tasks slipping through the cracks.

5) Stay organized – Staying organized is one of the most effective ways to manage a busy lifestyle since it allows all areas of life (job duties/responsibilities as well as personal obligations) to move along smoothly and efficiently without getting bogged down by chaos due to disorganization. Investing some time upfront into developing systems or processes (list-making/follow-up calls/filing systems etc.) will make life much easier in the long run so don’t overlook its importance!

Finally, don’t forget YOU, allow yourself time to eat well and exercise.Taking care of your body through exercise and diet is key for women. Staying physically active and eating well will not only improve and maintain your general health but increase concentration in the workplace thus allowing for a continuing successful career.

Author: Ciara Moore

Ciara is the founder of female leaders at 50. and an advocate for lifestyle medicine.

Health & Wellbeing

Feeling run down and not getting any healthier? Here’s why you should consider Lifestyle Medicine.

ciaramoore36

The importance of lifestyle medicine is that it provides evidence-based solutions to help prevent and manage chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. It also helps us maintain overall physical, mental and emotional well-being. The six pillars of lifestyle medicine focus on healthy behaviors like eating nutritious meals, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, maintaining supportive relationships with family and friends, reducing stress and quitting unhealthy habits like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.

Staying healthy as a female over the age of forty is especially important due to the hormonal shifts that our bodies go through during this time. Our metabolism slows down while we gain more abdominal fat and tend to lose muscle mass – all of which can lead to an increased risk for chronic illnesses and health problems. To combat this trend it’s important to start improving your lifestyle now.

Reducing substances like alcohol and smoking is essential in order to protect your body from damaging toxins while maintaining optimal health. Sleep plays an important role in helping the body recover from everyday activities as well as promoting good mental health. Nutrition is key for both preventing disease as well as managing existing conditions. Eating a balanced diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables helps ensure proper nutrient intake for energy throughout the day and a strong immune system against infection or illness. Relationships are important for social support as well as providing accountability when trying to stick with new habits or accomplish goals that require dedication over time.

Exercise should be incorporated daily in order to boost energy levels and provide physical benefits including improved muscle tone, better posture, weight management and stress reduction. Finally, reducing stress is essential in order to stay mentally healthy by taking breaks from work or other difficult situations that may cause undue strain or anxiety.

The combination of these six pillars of lifestyle medicine will create a healthier version of yourself by establishing sustainable habits that you can keep up with long term in order to maintain your wellbeing now and into the future – no matter what stage of life you’re currently in!

Feeling run down and like you’re not getting any healthier?

Lifestyle medicine is a great way to take control of your health and well-being. It’s a comprehensive approach that focuses on implementing healthy habits and behaviors in order to prevent or manage chronic disease.

With the Healthy Active Women Lifestyle Medicine Programme, you will learn how to make lifestyle changes that will have a positive impact on your health for years to come. You’ll be given all the tools you need to make lasting changes and feel better than ever before.

Sign up today for our next 10 week programme You won’t regret it.

Ciara Moore

Ciara Moore a certified personal fitness trainer (ASFA) and a certified complete health improvement facilitator.

Contact CiaraMBmoore@outlook.com

career

Women in tech – the future is female

ciaramoore36

Women in technology are often under-represented due to the fact that a lack of access to education and resources, gender stereotyping, and the historical dominance of men in this field. Women often face the challenge of having to prove themselves even more than their male counterparts; they may also experience unconscious biases within the industry. This can be discouraging and demotivating for young women considering careers in technology or digital change.

How do we ensure women are involved?

To ensure that women are involved in digital fields, it is essential to make sure that there is equal access to educational resources, mentorship programs, internships and job opportunities. Additionally, companies should develop protocols to monitor hiring practices for gender bias, create a safe environment free from harassment with clear support systems in place, and offer flexible working arrangements that allow female employees to juggle their roles as mothers or caregivers while still pursuing successful career growth. Training programs could also be created specifically targeting female professionals looking to enter digital fields; these would provide technical skills training along with an introduction into understanding the industry dynamics and culture.

We can further encourage young women’s involvement by creating awareness about the many opportunities available through campaigns that highlight successful female tech professionals as role models and mentors. How many can you name in your company? Are you in contact with them? Are they visible? Offering scholarships or grants specifically targeted towards women entering technological fields would also be beneficial. Furthermore, organizations such as STEM clubs could be utilized to give young girls exposure and hands-on experience with coding or other related technologies which could help spark interests in pursuing digital change or tech careers.

Staying ahead of the curve

In order for women in digital change stay ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation, it is important for them to stay informed and updated on new advancements by attending events like conferences or hackathons which can provide networking opportunities as well as valuable insights into current trends within their chosen field. Joining online communities such as online forums or groups is another helpful way for women in tech stay connected with other like-minded individuals who share similar interests while maintaining an active presence on social media networks is also a great way for them to build visibility among tech professionals both locally and internationally.

Keeping it personal

In addition to keeping up with industry developments and trends, it’s important that female professionals continue honing their personal skills by engaging in self-development activities such as reading books related topics or taking courses aimed at helping them improve their understanding of technical concepts.

Finally, seeking out mentors who can provide guidance from within the same profession can help increase knowledge base through sharing personal experiences within specific industries whilst providing valuable advice on career development journey.

Ciara Moore

Ciara Moore is a Digital Change & Engagement Director working in the NHS. she also is the founder of Female Leaders at 50