New thinking – Female Leaders At 50

career, growth mindset, Health & Wellbeing, New thinking

Be More Pirate – Attitude and Growth Mindset

February 5, 2023 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

career, New thinking

Career Sponsorship : so what’s the deal?

January 29, 2023January 29, 2023 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.

New thinking

Leadership Sundays, Coffee and the odd hound or two

January 22, 2023 ciaramoore36

On a Sunday morning, I have developed a habit to take a few moments to write and read about leadership. Taking this time to reflect on the week that has passed and also plan for the week ahead is so important for my growth from a personal aspect and as a leader. Reading about new topics, ideas and perspectives can be incredibly stimulating and inspiring.

While the household sleeps (all late risers) and I have taken care of my two exuberant hounds, fed them breakfast and they finally settle beside me, I enjoy taking some peaceful moments with a cup of coffee in hand. Many times I will start by reading something inspirational or educational, immersing myself in knowledge that can help inform my views on leadership. Other times, I will review notes from my week take out my laptop and start writing instead.

This time is a quiet oasis in my otherwise busy schedule of work projects, our female leaders network family commitments and running errands. The smell of coffee wafting through the air while peaceful silence and a hound or two at my feet provides just enough comfort to make writing enjoyable yet inspiring enough to keep me motivated. It is here that many of my leadership learning has been consolidated –brief flashes of inspiration related to new ways of working with teams, more effective communication styles or creative strategies for problem solving emerge from these momentary pauses away from all other distractions.

Writing on Sundays helps me further develop my skillset as a leader – not only do I gain insight from reading new material, but also doing written exercises helps hone my critical thinking abilities. Crafting well-thought-out arguments on important topics helps me understand and refine how others perceive me as a leader – it encourages greater clarity when articulating ideas both verbally and in writing; it fosters fresh perspectives which might otherwise remain hidden; it stimulates creativity which can make all the difference when discussing complex topics with colleagues or team members; lastly, regular writing keeps me constantly learning which is invaluable in any profession but especially helpful within leadership roles where continual growth is essential for success.

So why develop a writing or reflection?

Reflecting on the past week can be crucial for understanding successes and failures, as well as recognising patterns that may be contributing to a current situation. Writing in this way allows us to revisit events with greater clarity, allowing us to identify opportunities and areas where improvement may be necessary. Additionally, it stimulates creative problem-solving ideas by examining situations from different perspectives and angles.

Finally, taking a few moments out of each Sunday with a cup of coffee to just write can be incredibly beneficial for recharging throughout the workweek. Even if this activity doesn’t directly further your progress in some tangible way (like tackling one of those planned tasks), it still serves an essential role in keeping your brain fresh so you can tackle challenges with the energy you need later on. This time should not only be dedicated to pondering over matters related to leadership but also venting personal frustrations or exploring other creative outlets such as writing stories. This ensures that your mind remains healthy during times of stress while providing much needed mental stimulation away from work-related activities.

How do you take time to reflect on your week or learn new leadership skills? I’d love to hear from you.

Author: Ciara Moore

Ciara is the founder of Female Leaders At 50

New thinking

Mentorship Programmes for Female Leaders over 50

January 7, 2023 ciaramoore36

Mentorship is an essential part of professional development. Whether you’re in the early stages of your career or an experienced leader, having someone to provide guidance and advice can be invaluable in helping you reach your goals. For women over 50, mentorship programmes can be especially beneficial, offering insight and experiences I from a more mature perspective.

Here are five tips on how to set up a successful mentoring programme for women over 50.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Tips for setting up a programme

Identify Your Resources
The first step in setting up a mentoring programme is to identify the resources available to you. Look at who you know that could be potential mentors—people who have experience and expertise in the areas you’re interested in learning about or working in. This could include people within your organization, alumni of your university or college, or members of professional associations related to the industry you’re interested in joining or advancing in.
Establish Your Goals
Once you identify potential mentors, it’s important to establish your goals for the programme. What do you want to achieve through this relationship? Are there specific skills or knowledge that you want to gain? Is there something specific that you want to accomplish? Having a clear understanding of what your goals are will help ensure that both mentor and mentee get the most out of their time together.
Develop an Agenda
Once your goals are established, develop an agenda for each meeting with potential mentors. This should include topics that will be covered during each session as well as any materials that need to be shared ahead of time (such as articles or reports). It’s also important to include break times throughout the meeting so that everyone has a chance to take a breath and process what has been discussed before moving on to the next topic.
Set Boundaries
It’s also important to establish boundaries between yourself and your mentor before beginning the programme. This includes agreeing upon expectations around commitment levels, communication frequency, confidentiality, and other issues that may arise throughout the course of the relationship such as fees (if applicable). Setting these boundaries ahead of time helps ensure both parties are comfortable with the process and expectations are clearly outlined from day one.
5. Create Time for Reflection Finally, make sure there is time built into each session for self-reflection so that both parties can take stock of what was discussed during their meetings and think about how it applies in their own lives going forward. Reflection helps ensure progress is being made towards achieving objectives set forth at the beginning of each session as well as providing an opportunity for feedback from both sides on how things can be improved going forward if necessary .

Conclusion: Setting up a successful mentoring programme is not easy but it can be incredibly rewarding if done correctly! By following these five steps—identifying resources available; establishing clear goals; developing agendas; setting boundaries; creating reflection time—you can create a safe space where both mentor and mentee feel comfortable sharing ideas, knowledge, and experiences with each other while making progress towards reaching common objectives together! With these tips in mind, why not start building your own mentoring network today?