For the past year or so, at the start of every executive coaching session, I invite my coachee to join me in closing our eyes and taking three easy breaths. The purpose of this 15 second prelude to our conversation is to disconnect from whatever we were just doing before we joined the session, and to center ourselves in the here and now. 

If any of you are tempted to roll your eyes here, let me explain the simple logic. You cannot breathe in the past and you cannot breathe in the future. So simply shifting your focus to counting your breaths in real time is an easy point of entry to the present moment.

What is astonishing is the difference these 15 seconds make. Often the coachee will spontaneously blurt out ‘Wow I needed that!’ ‘That was great.’ ‘That’s better’,    ‘I should do this all the time.’

Sometimes I ask, ‘What is the difference for you?’  The response, from both women and men, inevitably includes words such as ‘calmer’ ‘more relaxed’ ‘better balance’ and ‘ready to start.’



If it only takes 15 seconds to get this result, can you imagine the impact of carving out a little more time on a daily basis for sitting quietly and focusing on your breathing? Yet what is commonly referred to as ‘meditation’ is curiously elusive for many career professionals. So let’s review the benefits of this untapped resource which offers a tangible difference in our performance and  well-being.

For starters, meditation costs nothing, doesn’t require any equipment, can be done almost anywhere at any time of day and doesn’t involve any special training. All you need is a place to sit where you won’t be disturbed, i.e. a closed door and a phone on ‘silent’.

Connect with yourself before connecting with others
The primary benefit of daily meditation is the framework it provides for engaging in your day through deliberate, conscious choices.  This quiet ‘check-in’ with yourself at the start of your day, is an invitation to acknowledge what you are feeling and thinking about the day’s bundle of commitments and responsibilities. It also provides a reflective moment to connect the dots of what it all means for you in the bigger picture.  The long-term benefits of regularly taking time for this inner ‘self-scan’ is like an insurance policy for our most constant companion, the one reflected back to us when we look in the mirror. As the comedian George Carlin remarked, ‘The only person who is with us our entire lives, is ourselves.’

This time spent on inward focus (anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes) gives us an edge of having first connected with ourselves, before stepping over the threshold to our workday, where we connect with others.  This ‘edge’ translates to a stronger presence, clearer thinking, enhanced productivity and creative problem-solving – especially when the going gets tough. 

The alternative is functioning on automatic pilot. Going through the motions of what you believe you should be doing, because of what a dreaded future will look like if you don’t.  You might enjoy some of your activities and even look forward to them.  Regardless of whether you anticipate your day with anxiety or joy, meditation adds value by enabling you to prepare, reflect and choose an intention for how you will ‘show up’ on the day.

Another built-in feature of meditation is agency. Choosing to withdraw from the demands of our environment for a specific timeframe every day reinforces our sense of autonomy. It’s an act of resistance to what often feels like relentless pressure to perform or get things done. It’s a reminder that no matter how much we feel beholden to the responsibilities of our jobs, our families and our communities, we are still the bosses of ourselves.

Meditation Set-Up
You can meditate sitting on a chair, or on a cushion on the floor. It’s important that your back is supported, so you might try adding a cushion or two against the back of the chair or the wall.  If you are using a chair, make sure your feet are flat on the floor.  Eliminate all distractions in the room by closing the door and setting all phone or computer messages to silent. If you are new to meditation start with 5 minutes. With time you might want to lengthen the session in 5-minute increments. After some years of experimentation, I have settled on a 20-minute session, and I use a timer. Remember, the length of the meditation session is not what matters, it’s the repetition (ideally) as a daily practice that makes a difference. 

Meditation Basics: Counting your breaths
The red thread through the entire meditation session is counting your breaths (inhalation + exhalation) up to 10 and then starting over. When your mind starts to wander with other thoughts (which will inevitably happen) imagine those thoughts being encased in a bubble and floating away.

Even if all you do is count your breaths, the meditation session will calm you down. The science behind this is simple and elegant. When you inhale you activate your bodies accelerator, the sympathetic nervous system. This is correlated with alertness and action, and in the extreme our fight-or-flight responses. Exhalation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, putting on the brakes, slowing down the heart and relaxing muscles. Balancing inhalation and exhalation are the keys to making sure your body’s accelerator and brake system are working harmoniously together. When we are stressed, this balance gets out of whack: it’s like driving your car with one foot giving full gas while the other is slamming on the brakes.  Meditation relaxes the body by reducing stress hormones, cooling down you’re your metabolism. When things slow down, you are more aware of what is happening

A Structured Meditation Session
While there are many types of meditation that have evolved over centuries, I practice what I call a ‘Structured Meditation’.  I follow a 7-step process, guiding me to consider certain questions or use visualizations to boost my readiness for the day. While I am sharing a format that I have discovered for myself, I invite you to customize the process – adapting the questions, shuffling the order of steps, etc. in any way that works for you.

The key is to observe and accept whatever emerges, without judgment.

1.  Physical awareness: Start by steering your attention to physical sensation. You can silently ask yourself, ’What do I feel in my body? How is my energy? Can I feel my feet on the floor, my back touching the chair, wall etc. Can I feel my heart beating?  Is there any area of tension? Can I release that tension by breathing into it? Do any words or images come to mind as I focus on what I am sensing in my body right now?’  Just notice what comes into awareness.
2.  Emotional awareness: What emotion(s) am I feeling right now? What could be fueling them? Are the emotions  connected to the past or to the future? Is there a sensation in my body that is related to this emotion?  
3.  Breath: Am I breathing from my belly? Are the inhalations and exhalations of equal length or different? Can I count my breaths to 10? Notice if you are breathing from your mouth or your nose or both. Ideally you will keep counting your breaths to 10 and then start over throughout the entire meditation session.  If you lose count or find yourself counting beyond 10, then just gently bring your attention back and start counting from 1 again.
4. What is happening for me today?  What is my challenge today? What am I looking forward to? What do I need to be attentive about? What am I dreading or feeling anxious about?    With whom do I need to have a productive conversation? What am I feeling confident about?  
5. What kind of support do I need to be successful today?  Which people, thoughts, resources, etc. will help me to achieve my goals for the day?  What would enable me look back on the day with satisfaction?  Just silently observe the responses that emerge to these questions. This inquiry may release some specific thoughts such as ‘Trust in my expertise when I give my presentation to the board’ or ‘Ask clear questions to get the information I need from my manager’. You can also summon key words to choose an empowering theme for the day, such as Grounding, Creativity, Strength, Relationships, Self-expression, Intuition, Transcendence. * 
6. Blessing: If a religious faith is important to you, or you have a special blessing or prayer that has meaning for you, you can silently add it to your meditation practice.  
7. Blurring the boundaries: This is the most abstract part of my meditation practice, nonetheless I invite you to try it. Having reached a relaxed state in your body with steady and easy breathing for some time now, imagine that the boundaries between the contours of your body and the space around it are starting to blur. Notice what shifts. Where does your body seem to merge with space, and where do you still feel a physical sensation? For me, all that remains is usually the feeling of my hands resting on my lap.  The effect of this visualization is that the receding physical presence creates space for a sharpened awareness of what remains: our thoughts, our feelings, and our memories, bridging the gap between our conscious and unconscious mind.  

Why is this last step important? Because normally our conscious mind only has access to 10% of what is going on inside of us. The other 90% is in our unconscious, but nonetheless has a strong influence on how we perceive, behave and feel throughout the day.  When we sit quietly with ourselves through meditation, the gates to the unconscious start to open, heightening our awareness about our own drives, needs and inner resources as well as our stumbling blocks.
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When you are ready to end your meditation session, either from an internal or external timer, just gently open your eyes, take a moment to reconnect with your surroundings - and voila! You are ready for your day.

Conclusion
Meditation practice is one of the most cost-effective and high ROI forms of self-care. Nonetheless, it remains undervalued as a resource for high performing professionals. To those remaining sceptics who believe that they just don’t have enough time or discipline for meditation practice, I leave you with a quote from Deepak Chopra M.D., a world renown researcher on the intersection of science and spirituality:  

‘It isn’t successful habits that get (you) to the top. It’s being centered, aware and secure.’

While I have shared both meditation basics and a more detailed structure for a meditation session here, I invite you to start slowly  with an open and curious mind. Even if it's just stopping what ever you are doing, closing your eyes and takeing three easy breaths, just pause and notice the difference..............
 

*For those who are interested in exploring chakra’s (the Indian tradition describing energy points in your body) and chanting as a support resource, there are several websites which provide information on this practice, for example https://evolutionvt.com/chanting-the-chakra/

This article is the second in a series highlighting one of the 8 areas of focus: Self-care Practice, on the Female Leadership Wheel™ a unique coaching tool I developed to help women identify areas for leadership growth.  

Check out my previous article on Negotiation Skills.

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After a yearlong search and weeks of interviews at a rapidly growing consumer goods company, Emma was thrilled to learn that she was being offered a job. It was her dream role, leading a R & D team, in an organization whose culture and values reflected her own.  Yet when the salary offer came in, her dream collapsed with a thud. Emma had done her research up front and knew that the company was offering 15% below market standard for her skill set. Convinced this was a non-starter, she declined the offer. HR came back with a simple question, ‘Can you be flexible?’ Emma’s response was just as simple: a firm and resolute ‘No’. End of story.

The good news for Emma and all women, is that discussions about the gender pay gap have moved from the shadows to center-stage, creating a sense of urgency about addressing the issue. However, at the current pace of progress it’s going to take 40-60 years to close it. Emma’s refusal to accept anything less than an equal salary for a man with the same skill set is valid and understandable. In holding her ground for herself, she is holding the ground for all women, sending a clear message of resistance to unfair treatment and a call for change.

But hold on a moment. Could there also be hazards to salary being the primary deal breaker for a job? There is no question that it is important for women to be paid fairly. But money is not the only factor that determines professional success.  Instead of asking 'Is that all?' could we also ask 'What else is possible?'

Should you find yourself in Emma’s situation, you might want to consider turning around and coming back to the  table. Opening the door to negotiation can be a creative and collaborative undertaking while profiling you as a force to be contended with. Even if the job doesn’t materialize, you will have gained in other ways. Getting adept and comfortable with negotiating is an important leadership skill, vital for managing relationships and achieving goals, including financial goals, in the long term. So here are 3 reasons why it’s worthwhile to hang in there and negotiate:

1. Opportunity to practice negotiating skills
2. You may succeed in negotiating a deal which you feel great about
3. You will be remembered

 
Get comfortable with negotiating
The reason so many women find negotiating stressful is because of perceiving it as a zero-sum game where there are winners and losers. A more wholesome approach is to view negotiation as a problem-solving exercise among equals. Instead of ’I need to get what I deserve.’, shift your mindset to ‘How can we make this work for all of us?’  Then get ready to unleash your negotiating skills. The principles are the same whether you are negotiating a job offer or a promotion. Here are some things to keep in mind.

1. You have leverage: Both you and the company have gone through an extensive process to determine that you are the right person for the job. It is in their interest that you strike a deal, otherwise they will have to spend more time filling the position. Perhaps even start from scratch. Trust that they are as motivated as you are to find a solution to get a good outcome.
2. Do your research beforehand: Find out what is the market pay rate for a man  for your role and skill set 
3. Be an expert in your expertise: Get crystal clear on how your experience, skills and ambitions will add value to the company, and why that matters to you. Practice how you will say it ahead of time. Help them understand the benefit they will get from hiring you and not someone else. 
4. Respectfully call out their sub-standard offer: When a company's offer reflects a gender pay gap, it's important to respectfully ask if they are aware of that. Be able to cite your sources on this, whether information from other companies or research that is publicly available. How they respond to this question will be very revealing in terms of their negotiating attitude. Do they acknowledge that their offering is below market rates, but for whatever reason they are not able to increase it now?  Or do they push back in denial?  If so, don’t let it rattle you. One way or another it’s time to shift the discussion from ‘You are not offering me enough’ to ‘What else could make this work?’
5. Prepare for the negotiation ahead of time by reflecting on other rewards which would make a difference in supporting your ambitions while aligning with your values. Here are some ideas: 

• Resources – funds for projects, extra team members/direct reports, department collaborations, equipment, facilities, software/hardware, knowledge sharing 
• Timelines – starting date of job, projects, deadlines for completion
• Professional development – trainings, seminars, mentoring, coaching.
• Time for other professional pursuits/pet projects outside of job responsibilities. For example, writing a book or lecturing on your areas of expertise.
• Work-Life Balance – hybrid working, working days/hours, vacation days and periods
• Networking – Assignments that will bring you in contact with key players for your career development. Appointments to workgroups, committees that will support you in your career goals. Invitations to present your work in high value contacts.
• Title – your official title and function, and what kind of autonomy and authority it will give you in decision-making.
• And last but not least: Commitment to future salary discussions.  If the company can’t or won’t pay you what you think you deserve, but you have gained ground on other areas to make the job more appealing, it’s time to get commitment about when salary discussions will be broached again. This conveys awareness that although you may be flexible on salary demands now, they should expect that this topic will be revisited in the future. By then you will be in a stronger position. You will have established a track record and cultivated allies and sponsors to reinforce your value to the company.  

Maintain the ‘We are negotiating as equals.’ mindset
Introduce your topics one at a time and give yourself space to gauge the reaction of your negotiation partners. Are they getting energized, displaying a willingness to collaborate, thinking out loud to build on your suggestions? Or do they remain closed to any ideas and seem to just be running out the clock to end the meeting?  No matter what, hang in there. This may not be the company you want to work with after all, but at least you are getting great practice at negotiation.

Getting a sweet deal
Do you sense a customized rewards package coming together?  Keep going!

Because you have reflected ahead of time on what is important to you, where you can be flexible and what is the minimum bundle of rewards you will accept to get you over the line, you can take it easy and be superbly confident that whatever outcome you get will be the right one. The freedom from attachment to the outcome is a boost to your negotiating power.
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A word of caution: never reveal your previous salary. Many companies use this information to try to convince you that you are getting better deal by offering an increase of 5%. Don’t take the bait!

Be memorable
Not being shy about negotiating and demonstrating a grasp of the process conveys self-belief and confidence in your value. Whether or not the negotiation process results in a deal, trust that you will leave a vivid impression in your wake. Don’t underestimate that something positive may come from this encounter sometime in the future.


This article on ‘Negotiation skills’ is the first in a series highlighting one of the 8 areas of focus on the Female Leadership Wheel™  a unique coaching tool developed by Lisa Ross-Marcus to help women create their own plan for leadership development.  

​Having ‘authority’ is one of the many rewards of female leadership. Developing strategy, making decisions independently and expressing impactful opinions are all rooted in a sense that you know what you are doing, and you have the right to determine how things will be done.

However, having more authority means that you could become a target for anger, grievances, and frustrations of those who depend on you to lead them. Sentiments expressed through insults, bullying and threats are all forms of aggression. While aggression can range from unpleasant to outright toxic, cultivating a resilient leadership presence means not wallowing in thoughts about how badly you were treated. Instead, keep your eyes on the road that leads to the outcome you want, while protecting yourself from getting dragged into a gully by the bad behavior of others. An unflappable response to diverse forms of verbal and emotional aggression is a leadership skill that will help you to keep your balance when the terrain gets rocky.

Like many women, I was raised to avoid conflict. So, although it was rare, when confronted with anger or bullying, my usual cool would instantly vanish and I would wilt into a shaky, tongue-tied wimp, with no resources to push back on whatever insults or accusations were being hurled at me. In the aftermath I was often overcome with a feeling of shame about my total helplessness in standing up for myself.

Over time I discovered some strategies for pivoting away from this depowering response. There are some very effective techniques for de-escalating combative interactions such as ‘Crucial Conversations’ by Patterson, Grenny et al. and ‘Non-Violent Communication’ developed by Marshal Rosenberg. Psychologist Liane Davey advocates for productive conflict in her book, ‘The Good Fight’.  I would recommend checking out these frameworks for moving from anger and frustration  to  constructive dialogue.

But to address the question ‘How can I empower myself when faced with aggression?’ I have discovered some mindset shifts which can be helpful before or during conversations, or anytime you are feeling stressed and insecure about your ability to manage a combative situation.

Put on your imaginary bulletproof vest.  Drawing on the body-mind connection, this simple practice provides a sensation of stability when you are feeling exposed and vulnerable. Just as law enforcement or journalists don this extra protection before entering dangerous situations, imagining that I am wearing a bulletproof vest has helped me to create my own safety bubble whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed by antagonistic or undermining behavior of others. Besides literally changing my posture and gait, this physical sense of protection, especially around my heart, gives me an ability to take a step back from the drama and think clearly about the facts of the situation. When needed, my imaginary bulletproof vest helps me to be confident that I can handle adversity and choose my response  in line with my own moral compass.

Maintain control of your attention and energy.  Besides face-to-face encounters, aggression also travels through digital channels such as email and text message, sometimes multiple times per day.  While you cannot control the sender of the messages, it is you who is in charge of your attention and energy. This means you can decide when (and if) you will read messages, and when, how (and if) you will respond.  While context, relationship and topic will influence how you handle cases of antagonistic behavior, here are some things to be mindful of when considering how to react:  

• Do you really have to read the email/message now? Can it wait until the end of the day or until you have finished the task you are now involved in?
• If you are receiving multiple emails from the same person, would it make any difference if you just waited and read them in sequence and then send only one response?
• Is the sender conveying a false narrative, incorrect assumptions or shifting focus to an irrelevant topic? Consider addressing any of these tactics with short, polite, fact-based statements.
• Is the sender making outrageous demands or baseless legal threats? Consider not responding at all.  While this type of aggression may evoke strong emotions in you, any reaction will probably just add more fuel to the fire. A refusal to engage, to set boundaries about what kinds of dialogues you are willing to have, sends a clear message that you will not be intimidated. 

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​Be in your best mood ever. When bracing yourself for a contentious conversation, it would seem counter intuitive to breeze in with your sunniest disposition. I was recently preparing for a meeting where high stakes outcomes were going to be decided. I knew from experience to expect personal attacks, undermining behavior, and an overall tense atmosphere. Up until 5 minutes before the meeting, my mood was somber, anxious, and insecure. And then suddenly I had a crazy thought: ‘I’m going to be in the best mood ever!’ And what happened? Those who were ready to attack seemed completely disarmed by my positive mood. And the atmosphere lightened up for everyone, as we swiftly addressed and resolved the issues of the day.I am not suggesting showing up at meetings with a ‘fake’ attitude of joy. This is about connecting with another part of yourself. In those last 5 minutes I shifted from my serious, worried and stressed side to the part of me that was proud that I had used my best thinking to prepare for the meeting, was happy to meet all of my colleagues again and was optimistic that we would reach a good outcome.  Recognize that you have a choice. And see what happens when you show up in ‘your best mood ever.’

If any of these ideas for dealing with aggression resonate with you, I would love to hear about your experiences of trying them out!

A few years ago, I coached Carolyn, the Head of Global Campaign coordination for a small NGO. She had previously worked for a large non-profit organization, where she had developed a a wealth of expertise and leadership experience, fueled by her deep passion to make a difference.

Carolyn was extremely unhappy; not only because her current job did not leverage her talents and provide any opportunity for growth, but also because the demands of work and travel far exceeded the assurances she had been given when she was hired. As the mother of two young children, the long hours and extended trips away from home were having a detrimental effect on her family life. Carolyn knew she had to make a change, but she was deeply insecure about her abilities to get another job.  Her biggest desire was to find out what would make her happy and enable her to use her strengths and talents in a positive way.
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While every job has its down sides, I was struck by how out of balance the tradeoffs seemed to be in Carolyn’s case. She was getting too little of what was important to her and too much of what was draining and uninteresting. It made sense that she wanted to re-asses her values, and talents, in order to determine what kind of professional role would be rewarding now. Yet I was also curious to better understand what drove her to make the compromises she did in the first place. She complained often that her boss promised her things and didn’t come through, while at the same time he kept asking more and more of her time and energy.  I sensed that the ‘Pleaser’ side of her was taking charge, preventing her from setting boundaries while boosting unrealistic high expectations of herself.

With Carolyn’s permission, I interviewed the ‘Pleaser’ through Voice Dialogue. What we discovered was that the Pleaser’s behavior was often driven by a need to prove herself to others.  By holding the bar high, so as make others happy, she repeatedly over-extended herself. She felt more comfortable making excuses for others and taking on their tasks herself instead of setting boundaries of responsibility.  It became clear that Carolyn needed to connect with other parts of herself in order to practice assertiveness and direct communication.  Her breakthrough came with the insight that if she was going to create more balance in her life at any job, she needed to learn to hold others accountable.
After addressing Carolyn’s issues with boundary setting, we shifted the focus back to her goal of creating a vision for a job that would make her happy.  In response to a series of questions on the topic of 'Who am I?’ and 'Ideal job description’, Carolyn was able to reflect on her priorities and desires in a way that helped to shape a new direction for her career. 

Carolyn was surprised at how easy it was to get immediate agreement from her boss once she clearly expressed her needs. She succeeded to extend her family vacation and cancel a non-essential business trip. When she informed her boss that the work load was too much, he immediately responded with an offer to raise money to hire an assistant for her. Carolyn called it her 'standing-up-for-myself muscle' and she enjoyed flexing it. Her newfound self-empowerment gave her the courage to turn down a new job offer which was below her level. Although she was determined to leave her present job, she now had the confidence and patience to wait until the right opportunity came along. 

Ultimately Carolyn decided to take the step to establish her own consulting firm to support other NGO’s.
​In her own words: I am living this dream now and it is making me super happy!
 
 

When she was four years old, Christa Kloosman saw ''The Nutcracker''and was totally enchanted. She started taking ballet lessons as a young child and continued throughout her school years, studying dance during the afternoons and on weekends.  When she was 16, she was accepted at the dance academy in Tilburg where she was fast tracked to advanced classes and was a guest student at a Belgian ballet company.  Christa later trained in Austria before being offered a contract at the Dutch National Opera.
It was during her mid-twenties that Christa got a series of injuries which kept her away from performing and taking class for months at a time. She soldiered on despite the pain, telling herself "It's better than yesterday.", but more injuries followed. At a certain point, Christa knew she needed to find another perspective, so she decided to step back from the stage and the whole performing arts world.  Her goal was to take a break, relax and get healthy again.  She decided to enroll in a stewardess training program at KLM.

I interviewed Christa in 2013 when she was just starting out as a pilot. To celebrate her being honored as a unique ''Nederlander'' I wanted to share  her thoughts and observations again about her experience of being a dancer transitioning to a new career. 
 
You entered a program to become a stewardess but ended up as a pilot. How did that happen?
I thought the KLM stewardess training program would give me some time to think about my situation.  I had always liked traveling, so I would have the chance to finally see something of the world. The amazing thing is that the moment I entered the plane on my first day of training, I realized that I actually didn't want to turn to the right to the passenger section with the rest of my class, but that I would much rather make a left straight into the cockpit! I thought, 'Hey pilot! That's really something for me."  And maybe I was a bit naïve - like many dancers - but I applied directly to the pilot academy - and I was accepted!

What was it like to make the career switch from the dance world to the culture of airplanes and pilots?
 Actually, it was not as big a leap as you would think. In both environments I was surrounded by people who, like myself, were focused and passionate about achieving their goals, whether it was to be a star professional dancer or an excellent pilot. My experience of the two professions is pretty similar, except that I am not putting my leg so high in the air anymore.
 
In what other ways is dancing like flying a plane?
As in a dance performance, every flight is the result of the combined efforts of dedicated professionals behind the scenes.  A dancer appears on stage knowing the steps and the choreographer who made them, the stage manager calling the cues and the conductor who leads the orchestra. She or he is supported by a team of dancer colleagues accomplished musicians. And without the technical guys who drive the whole production from one location to the next, the whole thing would never ''get off the ground."
As a pilot you have to rehearse your tasks - the order, the timing and the interactions with your colleagues. You know your crew, and how they got trained. You rely on experts to check the plane and give it fuel.  Air traffic controllers call the cues. The plane doesn't take off just because you are piloting it - there is a whole production team of people behind you who makes sure that the ''performance'' happens.

What is it like to be a female pilot in a profession traditionally dominated by men?
 In my flight academy class of 20, there were only two women, myself included. Yet being a woman in this profession can be an advantage these days. KLM, like many other western airlines, is committed to hiring more female pilots.  They have realized that female pilots create more balance in the cockpit, alongside male pilots. Women look at things differently, they are more creative and more precise in their work.  So they are considered an asset to the flight industry.
                                                                               
Which skills cultivated during your dance career helped you to become a pilot?
When you are performing on stage and something goes wrong - with the lights, the music or the choreography- you have to make snap decisions and work with what you've got: your body, the choreography, your knowledge of the music, your awareness of who else is on stage with you, and the technical support off-stage. You improvise a solution by working with the material at hand and solve the problem so that things can continue.
That is exactly what you need to do when you are having trouble in the cockpit: quick clear thinking and the ability to improvise.  Although serious malfunctions while in flight are rare, if all of a sudden an engine stops, there is an explosion or a drop off - the same principle applies:  you know yourself, the material and the capacities of the person sitting next to you and you have to think quickly and stay cool, just as you would when the unexpected happens in a dance performance.
 
I also discovered that my short-term memory skills were highly developed from my dance training. While I found it challenging to absorb a lot of information out of text books, once I was in the cockpit - learning all kinds of codes for radar and operating information, I could immediately function on a very high level. This particular skill - used to pick up combinations in dance class for example - demands that you become a keen observer of details and process it all in a very short time.  You repeat it a couple of times and then you've got it.
In the cockpit I'm sitting next to the captain or my second officer behind me, and I’m also interacting with the cabin crew. I can pick up on important information because of a heightened sensitivity to how people use their bodies.  I can quickly understand the strengths, weakness and styles of the colleagues I ''partner'' with.  I multi-task by managing several channels of awareness at the same time. Certainly not all pilots have this skill.

As an ex-dancer, what was the most challenging part of your pilot training?
Because of my intense focus on dancing when I was in high school, I never learned science and math. I needed to quickly catch up in these areas.  So I put in the extra study time and got a certificate in these subjects. Because I wasn't used to studying in this way, it took me more time to learn. In some ways I had to work harder than my colleagues.  But I also proved to myself ''You are never too old to learn." 

Where there any qualities developed as a dancer that you had to overcome as a pilot?
Yes, that was 'perfectionism' -  that little voice inside that tells you that your leg isn't turned out enough, your dancing could always be more precise, you could be thinner than you are - anything I did could always be better. This attitude is a major weakness if you are a pilot. You must able to cope with things not going perfectly in order to pilot a plane safely.  You need the ability to spread your focus on everything that is happening, because if you become obsessed with one detail, other things will fall apart. I learned this already from day one as a stewardess, which helped me to prepare for the flexibility I needed as a pilot.

What would you advise other dancers in career transition?
I would say, ''just be yourself" and don't ever underestimate what you have already achieved. There are so many skills you learn as a dancer that are transferrable to another profession.
Focus on yourself and don't be concerned about what other people think of you. Take whatever support is offered. Seek contact with people outside the theater and artistic world as much as possible.
Because the dance world can be so isolating, it's good, even temporarily, to have a little job outside the theater world.  It doesn't matter what it is, the idea is to get a first experience in the "real world". Doing that small job isn't signifying the end of things - the stopping of dancing, but the beginning of a whole new world that is opening up for you. It's actually a great gift that you can start from scratch again.
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If you could choose one word, what would express your overall feeling about making a career switch?
Freedom!  As a dancer, you try to achieve that idea of flying onstage, defying gravity through physical power. When I am a stewardess or piloting in the cockpit, I am still flying, inspired by this sense of freedom for me.  As much fun as I had as a dancer, I discovered that I could find a new passion, just as intense and rewarding through a different career, without the pain. That's such a gift. There is not one passion, but many passions in life.

Lisa Ross-Marcus provides life coaching for dancers at all stages of their careers. 

​ ''What do you feel passionate about?'' is a key question in any meaningful discussion about career choices. While those who have a clear sense of purpose are more likely to thrive in their professional roles, there is a distinction between those with high job satisfaction and those whose passion to create change and achieve the impossible is a zealous lifelong project. These are the individuals who stick their necks out, risk-takers who sacrifice security and ease while shouldering the responsibilities of making the world a better place.

​Think of mission driven roles such as NGO campaigners, political activists, and health care workers. And let's not forget civil rights lawyers and investigative journalists. What all of these outstanding professionals share is a passionate commitment to social justice and making a concrete difference in the well-being of people and planet.

Whatever you do – don’t let others down
Besides a sense that these professionals live and breathe their passion every day, they all tend to have something else in common: a deep conviction that they must not let others down.  While this belief can inspire the qualities of tenacity, responsibility and self-belief, the shadow side of this mindset can drive some self-sabotaging behaviors such as micro-managing, inability to set boundaries and neglect of physical and emotional needs.

Loyalty in the mission driven workplace.
Based on shared values, the positive side of loyalty is that it binds people to a group, an organization or a cause. However, when loyalty becomes the primary standard for action, there is a constant potential to let someone down: Is it your manager who is pressuring you to stay up all night to finish a grant proposal? Your colleagues who don't want you to accept another job offer? Is it an invitation to another international conference? Or is it an entire village in Malawi waiting for you to lead a project that will require a long-term separation from your family?

Numbing out our needs
Of course there are times when rising to the occasion is the right thing to do, and the sense of achievement that follows boosts morale and maintains motivation. The problem occurs when the systematic fear of being disloyal - of letting others down- has a numbing effect on our ability to stay connected to our own needs.  When these vital messages are blocked from the command control center in our heads, they find other ways to get our attention. We become irritable and argumentative. No matter how long we sleep we never feel rested. We seem to always feel harried and rushed; we make careless mistakes, and that queasy sensation in the pit of our stomachs is a constant reminder that we have already exceeded our limits. Yet these signals get routinely ignored, fueled by the belief that if others found out the truth, we would be letting them down.

​So the question is: How can we avoid the trap of depleting ourselves physically and emotionally, in order to remain loyal to the causes and goals we feel passionate about? The key word here is vulnerability.

Your Personal Alarm system
Feelings of vulnerability trigger the alarm system that lets us know when things have gone too far: when the gap between the demands being made on us and what we are capable of at this moment in time has gotten too wide.  
Allowing yourself to be vulnerable means recognizing the signals your emotions, your energy and your body are sending you.

Be loyal to yourself
Whereas loyalty refers to ideals, people and organizations outside of ourselves, vulnerability is a recognition of our inner needs and our ability to express them constructively to others. Being tuned in to your own vulnerability can be uncomfortable. It means letting go of the idea of always being strong, being able to cope and being in control. In a mission driven environment, your expression of personal needs could be perceived as undermining the plan, going off message or selfishness.  Your loyalty to others may be called into question, and it is important to remember that this is not the issue. What matters here is loyalty to yourself - telling truth about what is really going on with you and trusting that your passion and commitment for what you do will continue to make a difference over time. The decision is yours: Are you going to burn your candle at both ends or be sustained by an eternal flame?

Helping beliefs
One principle used in coaching is to replace habitual limiting beliefs with fresh helping beliefs. Instead of thinking ‘’I am letting others down.”, you can also think “I am taking care of myself in order to keep my commitment to the cause I believe in.”  Or “I can trust others to take on my responsibilities.” Or simply, “It’s OK for me to rest.”  Focusing your attention on shifting what you believe about the situation you are in, will help you to stay positive and give you the courage to follow through on making other choices.

Synergizing Loyalty and Well-being
From a practical standpoint, there are several constructive ways to promote your own well-being while remaining loyal to your cause. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Don’t wait until the last minute: Whenever possible, don't wait until the last minute if you need to back out of a commitment. Show your support by giving stakeholders ample time to find a replacement or create a Plan B.

2. Support the new plan: Be willing to contribute help or expertise to the new plan, including coaching the person who will take over (some of) your responsibilities. This is not a moment to become protective or possessive of your own content or role.  However, you can certainly request that you receive credit for your contribution to the endeavor.

3. No blame:  Desist from blaming yourself or others for your need to pull back. You are not a victim, you are an empowered person asking for help and understanding with dignity. Your positive attitude will be a role model for others. 

4. Troubleshoot: Learn to recognize colleagues and direct reports who might be suffering from a loyalty conflict. Show compassion and support for the idea of them looking after themselves and the value of their contribuion to the organization in the long term. Be  catalyst of changing the culture in  your organization from one which promotes ''loyalty at all costs'' to " support the well-being of our team."
 

Lisa Ross-Marcus is a leadership coach for women and an intercultural consultant.

I recently celebrated a milestone birthday which gathered together a diverse group of friends, colleagues and family, spanning several decades and careers. I found myself relishing the opportunity to stand in the spotlight and revisit the different roles I have had throughout my life, and witness how they have shaped the person I have become.  

A brief slideshow shared my family history, followed by a film montage of my career as a dancer/choreographer. The submerged amaryllis centerpieces were masterminded by my inner weddingplanner, harkening back to the years when I martialed all of my theatrical experience to create unique and elegant wedding events.

When it came to the party favors, it was the Lisa the Life Coach who took charge. I wanted my guests to leave with a playful yet meaningful souvenir of the party. Something that would trigger both personal reflection and lively dinner table conversation.

Through my own research on the connection between text and emotion in a personal growth process, I had been experimenting with giving different word labels to boxes. I decided to roll this out in a concrete way for my party guests by creating a series of small boxes with 5 different texts. It was a simple project - I bought miniature wooden chests at a hobby shop ( 7.5 X 5.5 X 5 cm) and printed texts on transparent labels, which I then pressed onto the lids.

I scattered these tiny text boxes on the tables and invited my guests choose the one that most resonated for them.  They seemed both delighted and intrigued by the gesture. It was fascinating to speak with individual guests about which box they chose and why:  LOVE: I'm going on a blind date next week and I'm hoping it will lead to something . FEAR: I have to take my school exams soon and I am afraid I won't pass. TRUST: I need to be reminded to trust myself. TRUTH:  In these times we need to regain the meaning of that.

I realised that the power of these tiny text boxes is not only in bringing into focus feelings which are 'top of mind' but also because they are miniature vaults for short written messages and very small objects. The strength of such an absurdly small box is that you can't really use it for storage. What ever goes into it is more likely to have a deliberate, symbolic meaning. In this sense, they are perfect ritual objects, which can be buried, burnt, cast into a body of water or cherished and displayed as reminders and vessels of ideas and experiences that are important to us.

For this reason, tiny text boxes can be a useful tool in coaching.  Clients who are visually and tactile oriented, who relate strongly to symbolism, are likely to respond positively to the introduction of a tiny text box as a support in their change process.  

For coaches, there are limitless possibilities of how to use the boxes.  My guideline would be to empower the client  to choose the text on the box, what goes in it and what happens to the box, in relation to making progress towards their coaching goal.  This can be the starting point for a deeper exploration of specific issue or theme related to their change process.
At the same time the tiny text box serves as visual anchor of a positive core idea or empowering belief that  has emerged through the coaching, which will endure long after the coaching process is finished.

If you decide to use the tiny text boxes as a coaching tool or for a personal use I would love to receive your to feedback, observations or questions. Thanks!

“What are you going to do to compensate me for 10,000 malfunctioning intercom systems my company bought from you?” I barked at the Spanish business executive seated across the conference table from me. In my role as actor in a training simulation, I had been venting my complaints to him about his lousy products for the past 15 minutes, and I was not planning to leave the meeting empty handed.

He looked down at his notepad sheepishly, sweat forming at his temples, and I could see his mind was racing but he hesitated to speak. Finally after an excruciating silence “We ……um…I not…….we can’t…um….the intercom…..we not taking intercoms….and you get…um.. descuento?”

Javier had been tagged as a ‘high potential’ by the multi-national consumer electronics company he worked for. He graduated from one of the top business schools in Spain and had been recruited right away to join the sales team at the company. Well-liked by both colleagues and customers, he had exceeded his sales targets three quarters in a row, and had managed to entice a key account away from the companies’ main competitor.
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Yet none of these credentials could redeem Javier when it came to negotiating in English, a language in which he clearly was not comfortable. The poor guy was visibly embarrassed about his performance, and his eyes pleaded with me to put him out of his misery. I tilted my head and gazed at him thoughtfully. “Could you send me a proposal?” I asked softly. Instantly, his distressed expression evaporated, and a warm Latin smile spread across his face, “Yes, yes when you want I send it?”

The assessor looked at his watch and gave me a nod. I popped out of my chair to shake the Spaniard’s hand and congratulate him on hanging in there during a tough conversation. Although I was glad I had been able to end the roleplay on a positive note, I was aware that he had been communicating way below his level of knowledge and expertise. A missed opportunity not only for him, but also for his company.
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Lopsided exchanges
When doing business globally, the decision to establish an official company language, such as English, solves some problems, but creates others. If the latter are not proactively addressed by those in leadership roles, crucial perspectives, expertise and information will slip through the cracks, needlessly diminishing the collective power of the organization.
Statistically, there is a direct correlation between mastery of a language and the amount of time one gets to express ideas and opinions in a conversation. The most likely scenario in a meeting where one speaker communicates in their mother tongue and other speaks a foreign language is:

• The native speaker speaks 75% of the time.
• The non-native speaker speaks 25% of the time.
• The 50% of non-native speaker’s time is spent clarifying what native speaker said.¹

This lopsided exchange gives an unfair advantage to the native speaker, based on nothing more than an accident of birth. So the question is, how can we compensate for differences in language proficiency in the workplace, so that every individual is heard, and their talents and skills are optimally channeled to achieve company goals?

Creating a level playing field of communication
There are several approaches to creating a level playing field of communication in organizations, so that exchanges between native and non-native speakers are balanced and inclusive:

1. Offer flexible language training solutions: The most obvious step in improving understanding and expression in a foreign language is devoting time to learning it. However, companies need to be sensitive to the fact that their employees may already feel stretched by their responsibilities, so a one-size-fits-all solution may not be welcomed.
Offering a variety of options such as on-line or blended learning, short intensive courses, or personal individual instruction, will lower the bar to integrating language study into an existing workload.

2. Lead inclusive conversations: The person leading a meeting should practice deliberately inviting each person to speak, so that the conversation does not revert to the default mode of dominant native speakers. Leaders who facilitate inclusive conversations are great role models for others. They demonstrate the value of attentiveness and patience in creating a welcoming atmosphere for non-native speakers to express themselves, ensuring that their contributions are not lost.

3. Invest time off-line: Even when directly asked for their input, some non-native speakers might still hesitate to share their thoughts in a group situation. This could be because they are not yet proficient enough in speaking the language, or they are shy or lack confidence to find the right words. In some cases, just concentrating in order to follow what others are saying takes all of their energy. Cultural backgrounds which value a strong hierarchy and indirect communication may also be influencing reticent participation in meetings. So another option is to speak privately with these individuals before or after the meeting, in a more relaxed situation. In this way you can be assured that their valuable input will be taken into account.

4. Decrease speed, increase eye contact: There are couple of simple practical tips for maximizing understanding when speaking to non-native speakers, especially in a group situation. If you are a person who tends to talk fast, deliberately slow the pace of your speech. Secondly, be aware of spreading your eye contact as you speak, especially to non-native speakers. Looking in the direction of where you want your message to “land’’ increases its impact. Also, noticing facial expressions can help you to gauge to what extent a non-native speaker is following your story, providing valuable clues about the need to slow down and repeat some information, or a heads up that all is crystal clear and you can move on to the next topic.

5. Reward expression, ignore mistakes: When interacting with non-native speakers it’s important to focus on what really matters – their knowledge, expertise and humanity – not the flawless mastery of a foreign language. If we can think in terms of not “speaking’’ a foreign language but “managing’’ in a foreign language, space is created for infinite variables of competency, accent, style and culture when it comes to getting a message across. When the pressure is off to speak a second language perfectly, individuals can focus on the content of what they want to say and be more authentically themselves. It also becomes easier for non-native speakers to accept friendly feedback about pronunciation, vocabulary, etc. when appropriate. A rousing “Well done!” to a non-native speaker after a presentation can do wonders for building confidence and motivation to keep developing their foreign language skills.

¹ Source: Communicating Internationally in English, Bob Dignan, York Associates

Sharing a guest blogpost I wrote for Akteos Cross-Cultural Training.

The Dutch belief that not only you, but everyone close to you is to be congratulated when it is your birthday took me some time to get my head around.

Part I of this blogpost focused on the rituals of celebrating birthdays at work in the Netherlands and the USA. In Part II we look at some of the more “touchy” issues related to birthdays in the USA, as well as what birthdays reveal about the meaning of relationships in both cultures.
In the USA where fairness and equality are fiercely guarded rights, employee birthdays have become breeding grounds for other polarizing issues. There are passionate debates about whether or not it is good to encourage eating calorie loaded cakes in an environment where there is an obesity epidemic. Others will take issue about their right to privacy about their birthday, as ”age discrimination” is a hot topic in the workplace these days. It all boils down to the belief that ”what is good for one has to be equally good for everyone.”

Many clues about the relationship between the individual and the group are revealed in the contrasts between Dutch and American birthday celebrations. Being put in the spotlight on the day of your birthday in the Netherlands is literally not a free lunch. It does entail certain obligations to others – such as providing cake and paying for drinks. In the states, however your birthday is celebrated either work or at home, others are expected to provide for all your needs, nothing is expected in return.

It's not only my birthday!
The Dutch belief that not only you, but everyone close to you is to be congratulated when it is your birthday took me some time to get my head around. I remember the first time I answered the phone on my Dutch boyfriend’s birthday. It was his mother on the other end of the line, enthusiastically wishing me “Congratulations!” Completely confused as I was, I was at first silent and then said,”……um, yeah, it’s Martin’s birthday.” I get it now, and on cue, whenever I attend a Dutch birthday party, I shake hands and congratulate everyone in the room, even if I don’t know who the hell they are, just to play it safe.

The shared sense of achievement at having reached the birthday milestone is another expression of the unique attitude of the Dutch regarding the individual/group relationship. On the one hand, birthdays are seen as sacred occasions, which must be recognized as meaningful both in the workplace and at home. In Dutch culture, your own birthday or the birthday of a family member is accepted as a perfectly legitimate reason to avoid or cancel business appointments. Americans on the other hand, are incredulous if you would even suggest to miss an important meeting because of a birthday celebration.

It’s not that Americans don’t find birthdays important, it’s that it is considered a more private and individual affair. As Americans tend to split up their relationships into groups and categories – work relationships, sports relationships, school relationships etc., they confine their birthday celebrations to the appropriate group. Birthdays are generally celebrated at home or in a restaurant after work hours with family and a select group of friends. There tends to be a lot of flexibility about the date. The preference is to choose a date for a celebration when most people will be available; the birth date itself is not so sacred. In this spirit, people will often plan large birthday celebrations several months before or after the date of their birth.

How to deal with birthdays in an intercultural working environment
Because of the different meanings cultures give to birthdays, being dismissive about them can cause friction on international teams. The seeds of resentment and apathy are sown when people feel that what is important to them is being disrespected. The task-oriented American business executive could be blinded to the sensitivity of this issue, and risk some diminished commitment of colleagues and direct reports.

On the other hand, when doing business with Americans, it’s important to recognize the ”work comes first” attitude, and to appreciate that it has contributed to the drive and success of US companies worldwide. You may not get your day in the spotlight at the office, but if you tell an American it’s your birthday, you can count on an expression of good wishes, and once business is taken care of, a free drink!

​Sharing a guest blogpost I wrote for Akteos Cross-Cultural Training.​

Don’t get the wrong idea: the circus has not come to town, and nobody has gotten a promotion. The big news is that someone you work with has a birthday today.

If you are an expat employed by a Dutch company, sooner or later you will discover an unusual installation upon your arrival at the office in the morning. Somebody’s desk area – it might even be your own – will be festively decorated with strings of colorful hanging flags suspended from above, while the chair may be festooned with paper streamers and balloons. When the desk’s occupant enters the office, everyone will immediately approach him or her, beaming with smiles, offering a handshake or a hug and warm congratulations. Don’t get the wrong idea: the circus has not come to town, and nobody has gotten a promotion. The big news is that someone you work with has a birthday today. It’s a signal to put them on a pedestal, take time out to honor them, and enjoy some communal coffee and cake together.

Star for a day
The ritual of celebrating birthdays in the work place is deeply embedded in Dutch business culture. Every department secretary is responsible for keeping an updated list of employee birthdays, and he or she decorates their work station before they arrive on the morning of their special day. If it’s your birthday it’s your moment in the spotlight, and you deserve extra attention and appreciation from your colleagues. The birthday ”star” is also expected to behave according to time honored rules. It is essential that he or she brings a respectable cake to the office, which is shared by all at coffee break at the end of the morning. During this communal moment, songs may be sung, birthday plans revealed and optional gifts presented. If in addition, drinks will be shared at the end of the day either in or out of the office, it is the birthday celebrant who pays the bill.

This charming tradition with its decorations, sweets and songs, resembles a condensed and streamlined kids birthday party. It is a sincere expression of the Dutch view of professional relationships, which strikes a balance between valuing the person as well as the tasks they are responsible for. Although taking time out to celebrate birthdays on a workday, however briefly, does present a distraction and interruption of the workflow, it provides a context for warm and personal social contact. This creates cohesion in the group. Thanks to your birthday, you are at least one day a year seen, heard and respected just for who you are, not for what you do.

Birthdays, time and money
In contrast to the cozy Dutch tradition, birthdays in the workplace in the USA are regarded as something that is okay to acknowledge if you have the time, but above all, don’t let it interfere with productivity. Because in the States time is money.

So if you’re lucky you might hear a hearty “Happy Birthday” said out loud by someone within earshot at the office, but don’t expect them to take their eyes off of their computer screen as they convey their best wishes to you. Or they might not waste time with that and just send you an email from across the room. If it’s a significant birthday, you might be dutifully joined by some colleagues for a drink after work – and lucky you, they will pay the bill!

Not all companies are as unfriendly in their view of birthdays. The ROI of employee appreciation is not overlooked, and so many employers will take the route of presenting a plant or a gift card to show they care, or post birthday greetings on the company intranet.

Birthday Team Building
Other U.S. companies will seize the opportunity for team building activities, by bundling all birthdays into once a month lunchtime celebrations. Sometimes it will be a pot-luck affair, which requires everyone to volunteer to contribute something to the meal. Employees can hone their leadership skills by rotating the role of coordinator of the event. Once the large buffet meal is laid out, those who have a birthday that month get the privilege of being first in line to pile the food onto their plates.

Unlike the Netherlands, bringing your own cake to the office on your birthday would be considered somewhat pathetic. Either someone else is thoughtful enough to bring it in your honor, or it just doesn’t happen. This can be stressful because it becomes a litmus test of one’s popularity at the office. People are left wondering if anyone will remember that it is their birthday, or if anyone in the office likes them enough to care about it. If a colleague does supply a birthday cake, there is generally no special moment of togetherness to share it. The cake is sliced without any fanfare, and left on a plate in a back room, where employees are free to help themselves to a piece throughout the day.
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In Part II of Dutch vs. American Birthdays in the Workplace, we will cover some of the polarizing issues related to this topic in the USA. We’ll also take a deeper look at how celebrating birthdays reflects the group vs. individual preferences of both cultures.