Harvard Business Review published an article in April that highlights a study of boldness between male and female leaders. The researchers created a “boldness index” of seven behaviors, then compared these between men and women using their 360-degree review database of 75,000 leaders. These bold leaders: Continue reading
I’m excited to announce that my latest book, The Moonshot Effect, Disrupting Business as Usual, just “hit the shelves” on Amazon.
Many people have asked how the book came about. Here’s the story. Continue reading
Get down on your knees. Take a thirsty drink of water. Wipe your face with a towel. Count the drops of sweat dripping off the tip of your nose. Listen to the instructions you’re ignoring for the pose you’re not doing. Count how many are left ‘till it’s over. Bad idea. Wipe away hair stuck on your sweaty forehead. Listen to the breathing of people near you. Ignore the grunting of the woman to your right. Relive each time you lost your balance. Stifle the gag reflex. Think about poses you hate that still await you. Glance at the clock. Consider leaving. Sit up. Look at the door. Plan your escape route. Evade the eye of your instructor. Take another drink of water. Glance enviously at the perfect Yogini to your left. Lay your head down on your matt. Calm your breathing. Will your heartbeat to slow. Imagine swimming in a snow fed river. Cut yourself some slack. Decide to stay. Talk to yourself lovingly like you would to a child. Take another drink. Stand up slowly. Let your arms fall limp to your side. Take one big deep cleansing breath. Exhale slowly. Prepare for the next pose. Be kind and gentle. Don’t push. Just breathe.
For many years, leading brands have leveraged sponsorships as an effective way to build brand awareness. Companies put their name on a stadium for the world to see, or develop sponsorships with globally consistent brands to increase their brand exposure. But what results are these impressions driving? How much impact do they have on sales? At best companies predict estimates of brand impact, but in reality there has been little hard data on the return on investment (ROI). Continue reading
Dear Kate,
I have an audience with our CEO to present our newest product initiative. How do I make sure it’s a success and that I make a great impression?
Nervous in New England
Dear Nervous,
To make a positive impression, it’s important to tailor your presentation as much as possible to your audience and only include what’s necessary to achieve your desired outcome. Here are some tips to help you prepare: Continue reading
A recent New York Times article, Four Executives on Succeeding in Business As a Woman, interviews executive women on what it takes to rise to the top of their profession.
Here are three of the tips that resonate with me:
By Kate Purmal
Long-term planning. We all know it’s important. But for most of us, it’s the to-do that always slips to the bottom — or right off — the list!
Since there is never enough time, why not pair planning with fun? Retreat yourself!
One of my clients goes on a personal retreat twice a year for several days. She completely unplugs with no cell and no Internet. I know! It’s hard to imagine being off the grid. She takes a list of things she wants to do — like write her company’s manifesto or develop new product ideas. And she does it.
“A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all.” ~ Michael Leboeuf
“A satisfied customer – we should have him stuffed!” ~ Basil Fawlty
Even if you have dozens of happy and satisfied clients, chances are that asking for referrals makes you uncomfortable. But think about it. If you’ve had a great experience working with someone, it’s really satisfying to refer a friend or colleague. It’s even more rewarding when they, too, become a happy and satisfied customer and thank you for having made the connection.
So how do you ask for a referral without being pushy or sounding desperate?
By Kate Purmal and Lisa Goldman
Peer advisory boards, or mastermind groups, are a great way for entrepreneurs to get support to help manage and grow their business. Typically these boards consist of four to six people who provide each other with ideas, feedback, guidance and accountability.
It’s not easy to maintain interest and momentum in your board as members get distracted by the demands of their work and lives. My colleague Lisa Goldman and I recently held a call with the board chairs from the new advisory boards formed during a workshop we led. Here’s what we learned from them about how you can make your advisory board meetings more effective and keep your board engaged.
Communicate “wins” when they happen: Several of the advisory board members share short emails with their board when they experience a “win.” These communications benefit the group because they keep each other informed and engaged, and they motivate and inspire other members to seek their own “wins.”
Here’s a great negotiating tip from today’s Harvard Business Review’s Management Tip of the Day. If you haven’t yet subscribed to get a daily dose of quick, practical management advice from the Harvard Business Review I recommend you do so now: HBR.org/tip
How do you negotiate better? Simple: Beforehand, take a minute or two to focus on what you have to gain and what you hope to achieve – and banish all thoughts of what you might lose. List everything you hope to accomplish and the ways you will benefit if you are successful. Re-read this list just before the negotiation begins. Throughout the exercise, it’s important to try not to focus on what could go wrong. Great negotiators stay focused on their ideal target, despite the risks they face. With practice, this focus-training will become easier and, eventually, automatic.
Adapted from “The One-Minute Trick to Negotiating Like a Boss,” by Heidi Grant Halvorson.
Kate Purmal 