Chicken or Egg? Professional or Personal Development

Dear Divas,

I’ve received a number calls over the past few weeks asking: “where does professional development end and personal development begin?” These queries came from women interested in attending our 2009 Learning Journey to Ireland.

Before these successful women could commit to something which, in their hearts, they understand is right for them, each rang or wrote to me seeking assurance that spending time and treasure to address foundational issues of identity development can be justified as professional development. “Leanne,” they asked, “isn’t this just self indulgence?”

We tend to mis-take personal development as being selfish or indulgent and professional development as being about helping or doing for others.

I believe it’s time we realize that this is just not the case.

It’s time to understand that all professional talent development is personal and vice versa—especially women’s talent development.

As individuals and change agents we need to realize that women are relational by nature. Women care about others. We seek consensus. We want people to have a voice. We readily shift tasks. We adroitly read situations. These are all powerful and positive attributes that make us good leaders, team builders, mothers, caretakers, community members. 

Simply put, understanding and acknowledging that these attributes are key to our personal identities allows us to better employ them in professional settings.

Yet these issues and concerns are areas that women’s professional development rarely address.

Research indicates—from Mckinsey to Tricia Naddaff, from Sally Helgesen and Marta Williams to Herminia Ibarra—women’s development needs are fundamentally different from those of men.

A report just released from Catalyst reveals that in 2008 the overall representation of women corporate officers and top earners continues to stagnate.*

A primary reason for this continued lack of progress is that traditional models for executive women’s talent and leadership development are deficient. These models have yet to take into account the relational nature of women. They don’t do enough to help women realize and come to trust their own capabilities. They don’t focus specifically on identity development.

Unfortunately, even with all our successes, we are often unsure of ourselves, lack confidence in our capabilities, and disbelieve the powerful influence and affect we have on those around us. Ultimately, we end up questioning our value, our worth, our talents, and, finally, our very identity.

By nature and necessity, women’s leadership and talent development is personal development, identity development. And there should be no confusion: personal development supplies immediate workplace returns.

Women become noticeably better leaders, contributors, mentors, and coaches when they feel their lives are grounded and rich with meaning, when they gain confidence in who they are and what they offer.

It’s important for anyone involved in organizational change to understand that women's leadership and talent development is inherently a process of developing self.

I believe this message is both timely and urgent. Now is the time to pay attention to our development. Ilene H. Lang, president & chief executive officer of Catalyst, places this in context in terms of their recent findings:

“No change in a year of change is unacceptable—for business, for investors, for policy makers, and for the public which looks to business leadership for innovative solutions and accountability.”

As women, we must understand and come to terms with the fact that focusing on our identity development might just be our best chance for professional development and, in the end, what leads to meaningful organizational change.  Now is the time.

With warm regards,

Leanne

* See the Catalyst report.

Please consider joining us on our 2009 Learning Journey to Ireland for some personal & professional identity development (and a bit of pleasure, too.) Bring a friend. Tell a friend.

A New Year, A New You….Yeah, Right!

Dear Divas,

It's the 17th of January and I've already spoken to ten women who feel defeated and deflated because they haven't kept their New Year's resolutions.

When I asked them why they made the resolution, each invariably told a version of: “Something’s not quite right.” “I want to live differently, more intently, more passionately.” “I never get to me….”

We all can relate to that. Yet, when pressed to learn what got them going on their resolution kick, it seems those "danged numbers" were just so appealing:

“The seven new things that are a must for my already overstocked pantry.” “The ten foods for a healthy, happy, and always smiling family. “The four-minute makeover.” “The six ways to be the hypnotic me I should be.” “The seven steps to eliminating clutter, self doubt, and gray hair.” “The breath book: how to have the body of a twenty year old, forever.

We all continue to fall for these quick fixes; it’s no wonder we throw the resolutions out along with the gym memberships and the “Last Diet Book You’ll Ever Need.” Or as my neighbor, Gina, so brilliantly summed up the early demise of her resolution: “A new year, a new you...Yeah, right!”

As you head further into the year, and more and more of the resolutions fall or seem out of reach, I implore you to understand that living differently is not about the looking outside for the answer, but more about being reflective and honest about the relationships and actions that are meaningful to you. It’s about understanding who you are, about what you want, and about what's realistic given where you are in your life. It's about knowing and owning and believing in your story.

Somehow, in this crazy, ever-demanding, time-stretched world we live in, we repeatedly get lost in wanting to quick-fix ourselves so we can be better for everyone else. And, now, that simply misses the point, doesn’t it?

I urge you to not re-solve but to dis-solve.

The problem of your frustrations, your "something's-not-righted," your "I want to live more intently" will dis-solve, and the road forward seen clearly when you take stock of what it means—for you—to live more passionately.

I urge you to try to let go of chasing the perfect. Remember the tremendous talent and light that you possess, the good works you do, and those whom you love and those who love you.

I urge you to allow your story and beliefs to dis-solve your fears.

I urge you to make a New Year's Dis-solution.

You may not remember every day, but you will remember some days. And those some days will lead to more days, and more days.

Like you, I'm trying to stay in passion and let go of the perfect.

Wishing you a prosperous and passionate ’09.

Leanne

PS: If you would like to spend some focused time on your story, on your passions, on reclaiming and revitalizing your story and your sense of direction, please consider joining us for our mid-year From Perfection to Passion Learning Journey to Ireland.

Be part of a small group of engaging and talented women on a 6-day Learning Journey where you'll spend time in retreat directly addressing your deepest desire for a rich and fulfilling identity as well as time on excursion to Galway, Dublin, and more.

We'd love for you to join us. If of interest, please see http://www.divanate.com/ireland.html or download our Learning Journey brochure a http://www.divanate.com/pdf/LearningJourney09.pdf

Bring a friend. Tell a friend.

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