1. Communication skills for Women: Maximize Your Seat at the Table Part I
BOSTON COLLEGE WORLDWIDE WEBINARS
Communication skills for Women: Maximize Your Seat at the Table Part I
Kim Meninger ’97, MBA ’08
Executive Coach

2. Agenda Part I: Today What is a “Seat at the Table”?
Why Does It Matter?
Getting the Seat
Using the Seat
Keeping the Seat
Part II: January 24th at 12pm EDT
Explore your real-life scenarios
Q&A 2

3. What Is a “Seat at the Table”?
Literal term for inclusion in the meeting
Proverbial term for access to people and information that drive the organization
Having an influential voice within your organization 3

4. Why Does It Matter?
Contribute to discussions and decisions that impact your work and overall business
Gain influence and credibility with other leaders in your organization
Help your team and others to drive results and create change 4

5. Getting the seat

6. Start with Yourself
Clearly define the kind of leader you are/want to be
Understand your style and values
Prioritize authenticity
Know your value
What skills/expertise do you have to share?
What do you want your impact to be?
Identify your stakeholders
Who is impacted by your work? How?
Who influences your effectiveness? 6

7. Build Your Network Assess your current network
Where are your strengths?
Where are there gaps?
Strategically expand your network
Who else do you need to know?
Focus on all levels
Consistently add value
How does your network benefit from relationships with you? 7

8. Articulate Your Professional Goals
Understand your short and long-term goals
What do you want? Why?
Communicate your goals to others
Who needs to know?
Ask for help
Don’t expect to get there on your own 8

9. Using the seat

10. Have a Plan Be clear about what you want from your “seat”
Be proactive, not reactive
Identify your top priorities
Set clear, actionable goals
Determine how to best use your role to achieve your goals
What action steps will you take? 10

11. Know Your Stuff Be strategic
Get out of the weeds
Know the business
Prepare for informal and formal discussions
What do you need to know?
What are you expected to contribute?
Invest in ongoing education/development
Leverage your resources
Seek out trainings/support to help you grow 11

12. Speak Up Shape the conversation Manage politics Trust Yourself
Speak early and throughout
Use the “meeting before the meeting”
Manage politics
Be aware of informal power structures
Trust Yourself
Don’t fall victim to self-doubt 12

13. Keeping the seat

14. Raise Your Game Stay focused Be bold Identify new challenges
Don’t get complacent
Manage confidence issues
Be bold
Don’t play it safe
Take more calculated risks
Identify new challenges
Diversify your expertise
Take on bigger roles 14

15. Add Ongoing Strategic Value
Connect externally
Build an external network
Stay up-to-date on competitive/industry trends
Demonstrate thought leadership
Speak publicly
Become an influencer
Get recognized
Promote your accomplishments 15

16. Please send your scenarios and questions by January 17th
Next Steps
Please send your scenarios and questions by January 17th 16

17. Additional Resources To access any of these resources, right click on the hyperlink and click on “Open Hyperlink.”
The Influence Effect: A New Path to Power for Women Leaders, Kathryn Heath, Jill Flynn, Diana Faison
The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance---What Women Should Know, Katty Kay & Claire Shipman
No Excuses: Nine Ways Women Can Change How We Think about Power, Gloria Feldt
The Council for Women of Boston College (CWBC)
Lean In Circles 17

18. Schedule a complimentary strategy session to discuss your leadership development plan.
Visit:
Connect: 18