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QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH - AUGUST
Each month you can “ask an expert” who will share her experiences and opinions. Is there a question you want answered? We’re sure you may have a few that others can benefit from as well. So feel free to ask our experts by emailing us at experts@flexperienceforum.com.
To learn more about the experts, click on their names to see their bios.
Finding Your Corporate Voice
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Kerrie Halmi,
Halmi Consulting
Kerrie Halmi of Halmi Performance Consulting specializes in increasing women’s success in business through speaking, coaching and facilitation. Kerrie was recently featured inThe Wall Street Journal in the article “Grooming Women for the Top.” Kerrie has over fifteen years of experience in the Human Resources field. Client companies include eBay, SAP, Wells Fargo, Kaiser Permanente, John Muir Medical Center, Camico Insurance, the City of Oakland, and PacifiCare. Kerrie received her MBA from the University of Michigan Business School (Ross) with an emphasis on Human Resources and her BS in Industrial Psychology from the University of Illinois. She is certified in coaching with Corporate Coach University International (CCUI) and is certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). She is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and the Women’s Council at the University of Michigan Business School (Ross). Kerrie served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of W.O.M.A.N., Inc., a non-profit dedicated to stopping violence against women. She lives in Oakland California with her two daughters, husband and dog. |
Women are often held back by not having their corporate voice heard. If women are not heard, they can lose out on promotions, assignments, money, credit, and flexibility.
FOUR STRATEGIES TO FIND YOUR CORPORATE VOICE:
- Improve your self-confidence
- Increase your confidence image
- Jump In
- Use “side door” strategies to gain support.
Q: How do you deal with colleagues who interrupt or how do you defuse a situation where person is aggressive? Is making light of it and making the person comfortable the right response?
It’s a good idea to go up to the person later to discuss the situation. Ask the person what the situation was about and determine why they acted the way they did. Build a relationship with that colleague to help address the problem and set boundaries where needed.
Q: How do you make communications via email effective?
It depends upon the individual. We tend to fall into the same roles along gender differences. Being direct can be an effective tactic and you can look at results you get to determine if it’s working. You might need to look at how you are communicating and be more direct in your writing. Can your message fit into preview pane of Outlook? Keeping it short is often helpful. In addition, try to do things in person when you’re trying to convince someone of something or to do something rather than relying on email.
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