We Spent The Day Learning About The #PowerHabits of Awesome Women — & Of Course We Took Notes
photo credit twitter: @feministabulous
I’m having a moment. It involves soaking in every piece of sound advice I hear from experienced women.
Don’t get me wrong, in my 24 years of life so far I’ve done, and continue to do, some great things. But I’m not running a company or leading a team or developing a product, or writing compelling, viral articles, just yet. So when you let me sit in a room, and listen to women who are? I listen closely.
Last week I got the chance to attend TheLi.st Power Habits of Awesome Women Conference. The conference consisted of a series of lightning fast panels featuring a diverse set of women from all fields and walks of life.
Advice on networking & cultivating relationships with people are aren’t like you.
photo credit twitter: @feministabulous
“Be kind, be succinct and be respectful of people’s time.” –@AliGelles#PowerHabits
— Her Agenda (@HerAgenda) May 14, 2015
This is networking 101, so it was nice to hear from women who probably get cold emails all of the time say, ‘Send them. You never know. But here are suggestions on how you should do it.’ Or, ‘This is how I do it.’ Here are some things to keep in mind when networking.
You have to be willing to suffer through the awkwardness. @AdaoraUdoji#PowerHabits — wifey (@wifeytv) May 14, 2015
@AliGelles “Relationships with ideas is networking.” #networking#powerhabits
— NataliJewel (@NataliJewel) May 14, 2015
@HerAgenda@NishaChittal it’s important to check your bias at the door when #networking. you can miss out on so many opportunities. — Solo Dove PR (@SoloDovePR) May 14, 2015
Networking is a process because forming relationships is a process. Consistency is so crucial. Placing yourself in the right spaces is so crucial, and just as important as “showing up.”
Building a company from the ground up, establishing credibility and racking in $10 mill
photo credit: twitter: @Lindseymgreen
The Muse Founder Kathryn Minshew talked about what it took to build a team and raise $10 million. It took a lot of grit, and the people on your team have to know this isn’t just an after-school program.
@kmin talks about looking for people who care about what you’re doing and can look beyond working at the “sexy start-up”. #PowerHabits — Her Agenda (@HerAgenda) May 14, 2015
Kathryn talked extensively about establishing creditibility and how exactly The Muse did that. Much of that involved using the values of their own mission, and narrowing in on strong strategies that displayed those.
We started with what we knew, career content, & looked at other platforms that we could use to establish credibility. – @kmin#PowerHabits
— TheLi.st (@thelist) May 14, 2015
If you don’t have a lot of cash to compensate people, you need something else. We used our mission for that. @kmin#PowerHabits
— TheLi.st (@thelist) May 14, 2015
Jill Abramson Life Update!
Journalist Jill Ambramson who was notoriously fired from NY Times, a topic she doesn’t shy away from discussing, sat down with Anna Holmes to talk about where she’s at in life.
“My life has returned to me – it’s both scary and thrilling” @JillAbramson on transformation #powerhabits — Jane Barratt (@Jane_Barratt) May 14, 2015
There is narrative being done in Instagram, it’s fascinating. – @JillAbramson#PowerHabits
— TheLi.st (@thelist) May 14, 2015
I’m trying to start a startup and it’s hard, but I’m optimistic about the future of long-form journalism. – @JillAbramson#PowerHabits — TheLi.st (@thelist) May 14, 2015
She gave insight on journalism, right now, from where she’s looking.
. on the new Facebook and NYT deal: “the news organizations that are doing it are smart to do it.” — Elizabeth Plank (@feministabulous)
“it’s not like theres some big idea out there thats going to save journalism-its going to be trying diff things.”- — Her Agenda (@HerAgenda)
And, just, life.
Opportunity doesn’t knock just once. Another will come along. Opportunity +time go together and are friends @JillAbramson#PowerHabits
— Laura Vigilante (@lauravigilante) May 14, 2015
Money advice. Lots of Money advice.
Founder of GoldBeanJane Barrett and Financial Therapist Amanda Clayman teamed up to give the room (and all those live streaming) solid money advice. They talked a lot about catapulting oneself out of a place where money is a burden and stress factor. Whether you have a lot, or a little.
“Really make money a regular practice in your life…not only when there’s a stressful trigger.” –@mandaclay#PowerHabits — Her Agenda (@HerAgenda) May 14, 2015
“Embrace money as a means of self care.” –@mandaclay & @Jane_Barratt discussing money as an energy source. #PowerHabits@thelist@bustle — Her Agenda (@HerAgenda) May 14, 2015
On Leadership:
Almost every speaker touched on leadership. Alyssa Mastromonaco, who went from Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Obama administration to COO of VICE, really drove the point of being in tune with the needs of your staff.
The most important thing you can do in leadership is listen. Then you start getting loyalty. @AlyssaMastro44#PowerHabits
— jackycarter (@jackycarter) May 14, 2015
My key take away here was that leadership is not about me. Yes, it is this wild ride of self discovering and figuring out what you’re good at, but it’s so you can support your team and delegate in a way that makes the most sense.
Discussion on how being the boss is about empowering others to make great decisions, not telling them what to do. #PowerHabits
— Her Agenda (@HerAgenda) May 14, 2015
As a boss, I’ve recognized what I’m not going to get good at and delegated it. Know where your limits are. @jenbee#PowerHabits@thelist
— Kristal Bergfield (@kristalberg) May 14, 2015
My power habit is setting goals that you can convey to other people in your organization. – @JocelynLeavitt#PowerHabits
— TheLi.st (@thelist) May 14, 2015
If people are happy & engaged, the brand is going to benefit from that. @vivianrosenthal#PowerHabits
— jackycarter (@jackycarter) May 14, 2015
On Choosing A Business Partner and Who You Decided To Work With
Of course The Li.st co-founders Rachel Sklar and Glynnis MacNicol stepped up to talked about choosing the right business partner.
When choosing a partner you have to find out what works for you. Find someone who will take leaps with you. – @rachelsklar#PowerHabits — TheLi.st (@thelist) May 14, 2015
Make sure your weaknesses are compatible, not just your strengths. @GlynnMacN on business partnerships. #PowerHabits@thelist — jackycarter (@jackycarter) May 14, 2015
On Vulnerability
CNN Contributor and columnist Sally Kohn broke down her journey towards becoming more vulnerable, and using that to make power moves.
.@sallykohn is #winning in talk on vulnerability & dark side of projecting rather than being confident, successful & strong, #PowerHabits — kathleen (@kathleendwarner) May 14, 2015
The origin of the word vulnerability is pain. You have to open up, share it and ask for help. – @sallykohn#PowerHabits
— TheLi.st (@thelist) May 14, 2015
It’s a mistake to draw a boundary around what you do, trying to stay safe in your area of expertise. – @sallykohn#PowerHabits@thelist
— Amanda Clayman (@mandaclay) May 14, 2015
Finding The Off Switch & Avoiding Burn Out
It’s important to come up with tangible ways to decompress and knowing when the power off. Plus, no better way to close this conference than swapping tips on how to decompress.
I don’t check social or email until 45 minutes after I wake up. @Pfro#PowerHabits — TheLi.st (@thelist) May 14, 2015
In terms of leaving work when you’re done, make it a power move and get up and leave. @GlynnMacN#PowerHabits
— TheLi.st (@thelist) May 14, 2015
You can find a full list of all women who spoke at The Li.st’s first #PowerHabits Conference here, as well as more of the #PowerHabits conversation.
