Gloria Feldt, president of Take the Lead, redefines what power means and shares how you can find — and use — your own power. To learn more about Connect and join the group for free, visit http://www.linkedin.com/womenconnect.

1. Gloria Feldt, president of Take the Lead, redefines what power
means and shares how you can find — and use — your own power.
How to Tap Into Your Power
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2. Meet Gloria Feldt!
Gloria recently answered questions from the
members of Connect: Professional Women’s Network.
Here is some of her most popular advice!
Gloria Feldt is an author, activist and former
CEO of the largest women’s reproductive
health organization in the world. She’s also the
co-founder and President of Take The Lead,
whose mission is to prepare and propel women
to leadership parity by 2025.
Gloria made the shift from being a leader to
being a teacher and consultant with the
mission of closing women’s leadership gaps
across all sectors, in all industries and within
every business and profession.

3. First Thing’s First:
A Redefinition of Power
For too long, women have lived with but resisted
embracing the traditional definition of power—the
power over something or someone.
When we redefine power as the power to—to
accomplish good things in the world, to thrive as an
individual, and, as a society, to transform our view of
power to value authentic leadership more than
domination—then we can rule the world.

4. What’s the next step for women to seize their power?
In the 20th century, women marched to get the vote and change
discriminatory laws. In the 21st century, we must actualize the
opportunities we have created for ourselves to take our rightful place in
the fair and equal share of leadership.

5. How can women change their thinking about power?
First, take stock of the power we already have. We’ve been socialized to
believe we have less than we do, but we have 85% of the purchasing power,
57% of college degrees, 54% of the vote and ample evidence that more
women in leadership equals more profits. Women have power—but power
unused is power useless.

6. How can we seize our power on an individual level?
Make a list of at least three points of power you have in your hands
already. You then begin to see power you can embrace if you have the
courage and will to do so.

7. What role can female entrepreneurs play in the power shift?
The explosion of female entrepreneurs is amazing, and we need to think big. I want to
see the female version of a Steve Jobs or a Mark Zuckerberg soon—an innovator
who doesn’t just start a successful business, but also creates a technology or way of
thinking or interacting that changes how people live and thus creates wealth beyond
even the norm of a profitable business.

8. How can female entrepreneurs can support one another?
Network and form a support system. You might be able to trade services, you
might be able to leverage buying power or customer lists, you might spark new
ideas or you might just be there to support and counsel each other. I call it Sister
Courage. With a plan and strategy for action, you can make almost anything
happen—you become a mini-movement.

9. How can we channel our power to navigate our careers?
We all have the “power to” 1) define our own terms in regard to what we hope to have
accomplished in, say, five or 10 years, and 2) work backward from there to make a
plan. If you’re feeling stale in your career, ask yourself what would make you feel
enthusiastic again. Learning a new skill? Putting yourself up for a promotion? Moving
on to something completely different? Use your answers to chart your course.

10. What’s the best way to approach a potential mentor?
Identify a half dozen or so of the women you most admire, in your field or not,
and write to them requesting informational interviews. You’ll find most people are
flattered by that. After the interviews, write up your notes so you retain the value
of them for your own development, and write thank-you notes. One of those
women might be the right mentor for you.

11. How do you make the mental shift from employee to
employer? This shift definitely requires a woman to embrace her power
TO: to define her terms, articulate a vision and set the agenda. To have a
healthy enough ego that you can stand on your own convictions. To regard
chaos as opportunity and ride the wave of it even if it’s scary. To
communicate and tell your company’s story well.

12. What do you do when you’re being shut out from the top
ranks by your male colleagues? Ask yourself these key questions: Do
you document your accomplishments and schedule meetings to discuss your performance
rather than waiting until evaluation time? Have you developed a personal advancement
plan and discussed it with your supervisor to get feedback and alignment? Have you let
your HR director know of your desire to apply for higher positions? Have you sought a
mentor and, more importantly, a sponsor who will recommend you for positions?

13. …And if you’ve done all that and you still feel
underappreciated? There’s another company that will value
your abilities. You might just want to find them and move on.

14. What are tips for reentering the workforce after being
laid off? The power of personal communications can’t be overestimated.
Pick up the phone and ask for meetings, starting with people you already
know and asking them for leads and for direct personal referrals for positions
they know you’d be a good fit for. This takes a lot of determined work, but
more jobs come from personal referrals than any other source.

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Join the conversation!
Connect: Professional Women’s Network, Powered by Citi, is an online
community on LinkedIn that helps women achieve the careers they want
and discuss the issues relevant to their success
For more great insights from Connect members, check out the
discussion I'm Gloria Feldt, here to answer your questions about
using your power, as well as Gloria’s tip sheet
The 9 Ways to Embrace Your Power.
Learn more about Gloria’s initiative to close
the wage gap at TakeTheLeadWomen.com
Visit linkedin.com/womenconnect
to join the Connect group for free!

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