Her Money. Her Work. Her Power. Redefining power: why influence matters more than title

Yeah it's quite a varied career isn't it from sort of working in Halifax to sort of getting all the way up that sort of rung of the ladder and it must have been really a really nice feeling that you kind of kept pushing yourself forward which I think a lot of people sometimes worry about don't they a little bit and you know are they ready for something do you ever is that sort of if you did you ask yourself am I ready for this or did you feel that you were you were more than ready to be pushing yourself in the direction that you were going? So there's a

few things there I don't see myself as having pushed myself but I have taken opportunities and it's interesting when I'm because I'm a coach you mentioned I'm a coach a lot of times women particularly but not just women will say talk about imposter syndrome and and to me all through your labels can be helpful and they can be not helpful and to me if you are challenging yourself and stretching yourself, you're bound to feel a bit uncomfortable.

And that actually is a good thing because it means you're self-aware and you're aiming to learn.

So, I mean, of course, I didn't every day that I took a new role think, oh, yes, I've cracked this.

Absolutely.

First day, definitely not.

Imposter syndrome

did play a part.

Well, no, it wasn't.

Because I wouldn't label it as imposter syndrome.

I really do not like that term.

I think it's just I was taking on new opportunities and opportunities for growth.

And did I ever feel I'd cracked it even on the last day? No, it's all still opportunities for growth.

Yeah, I think we talked when we had a pre-chat to the recording today about just being curious and taking those opportunities.

And I think sometimes people, it's a bit of a leap of faith, isn't it? And it's just, I said about pushing yourself, but I mean, trying to motivate yourself to take those opportunities is a big thing.

what do you think sort of advice you'd might give to someone who, I don't know, they listen to this podcast and thinking, Oh, you know, that sounds really impressive.

I don't think I'm kind of where I should be at the, at this stage in my career.

What's what advice would you give them?

So I think, um, and you've already alluded to this, you know, careers go in fits and starts.

Um, I would ask them what they mean by behind schedule.

Um, I would, again, encourage people to ignore job titles and look for opportunities to learn, add new strengths to their bow and to widen their influence.

And thinking a bit more about the sort of roles you've had in the sort of latter part there, obviously as a leader, how do you think the different experiences that you've had over the years have helped shape your perspective as a leader?

So great question, because I think every experience, everyday experience shapes our perspectives.

So I had an overarching perspective when I started work that business was about people, hence my interest in HR.

And I would say that that's been reinforced through three things, through theory, so through studying and reading.

Yeah it's quite a varied career isn't it from sort of working in Halifax to sort of getting all the way up that sort of rung of the ladder and it must have been really a really nice feeling that you kind of kept pushing yourself forward which I think a lot of people sometimes worry about don't they a little bit and you know are they ready for something do you ever is that sort of if you did you ask yourself am I ready for this or did you feel that you were you were more than ready to be pushing yourself in the direction that you were going? So there's a

few things there I don't see myself as having pushed myself but I have taken opportunities and it's interesting when I'm because I'm a coach you mentioned I'm a coach a lot of times women particularly but not just women will say talk about imposter syndrome and and to me all through your labels can be helpful and they can be not helpful and to me if you are challenging yourself and stretching yourself, you're bound to feel a bit uncomfortable.

And that actually is a good thing because it means you're self-aware and you're aiming to learn.

So, I mean, of course, I didn't every day that I took a new role think, oh, yes, I've cracked this.

Absolutely.

First day, definitely not.

Imposter syndrome

did play a part.

Well, no, it wasn't.

Because I wouldn't label it as imposter syndrome.

I really do not like that term.

I think it's just I was taking on new opportunities and opportunities for growth.

And did I ever feel I'd cracked it even on the last day? No, it's all still opportunities for growth.

Yeah, I think we talked when we had a pre-chat to the recording today about just being curious and taking those opportunities.

And I think sometimes people, it's a bit of a leap of faith, isn't it? And it's just, I said about pushing yourself, but I mean, trying to motivate yourself to take those opportunities is a big thing.

what do you think sort of advice you'd might give to someone who, I don't know, they listen to this podcast and thinking, Oh, you know, that sounds really impressive.

I don't think I'm kind of where I should be at the, at this stage in my career.

What's what advice would you give them?

So I think, um, and you've already alluded to this, you know, careers go in fits and starts.

Um, I would ask them what they mean by behind schedule.

Um, I would, again, encourage people to ignore job titles and look for opportunities to learn, add new strengths to their bow and to widen their influence.

And thinking a bit more about the sort of roles you've had in the sort of latter part there, obviously as a leader, how do you think the different experiences that you've had over the years have helped shape your perspective as a leader?

So great question, because I think every experience, everyday experience shapes our perspectives.

So I had an overarching perspective when I started work that business was about people, hence my interest in HR.

And I would say that that's been reinforced through three things, through theory, so through studying and reading.