OVERCOMING YOUR DERAILERS. 2/3 of individuals in leadership positions will fail Did You Know? 2

OVERCOMING YOUR DERAILERS

2

2/3 of individuals in leadership positions will fail

Did You Know?

3

Commonly known as derailment

4

• Research base• Key derailers for women• Preventing derailment• Questions

Agenda

5

Grounded in Research

6

Core are overused strengths

7

confidence

dictatorship

8

Implications for Women

9

1. Sometimes feel that you are not sure what you really believe

2. Find that few people have met your expectations

3. Get angry quickly

Is This You?

10

This Could be You“Volatile”

Linday Wachner, Former CEO of Warnaco Group

Known as Abrasive and viper lipped

mood shifts are sudden and unpredictable

11

• People hold back – a lot of “mood management”• Internal “churn” – then explode• Tense under pressure• Vacillates between optimism and pessimism• Easily annoyed by others

Leadership implications - Volatile

12

1. Wonder what someone wants after they’ve done you a favor

2. Believe that people in charge will take advantage of you if you let them

3. Know that there are some people that you will never forgive

Is This You?

13

This Could be You

Doubt others’ true intentions

I don’t believe them

for one minute!

Hillary Clinton

“Skeptical”

14

• Suspicious of others’ intentions • Argumentative—easily offended• Critical when giving feedback • Obsess over what can go wrong• Prone to cynicism

Leadership implications – “Skeptical”

15

1. Feel a bit awkward around strangers?2. Others have said that you are sometimes timid3. Have been told you that you are not assertive

enough

Is This You?

16

The next decision may be your first

Sheri McCoy, CEO Avon Products, Inc

This Could be You“Cautious”

17

• Risk-averse; reluctant to take chances or make decisions

• Overstudies problems – needs to review all the data• Motivated not to fail – frets over mistakes• May not offer strong opinions or engage in debate• Reluctant to take the initiative or rely on others

Leadership implications – “Cautious”

18

1. Know that you’d never take a job that was “beneath” you

2. Believe that you do things better than almost anyone you know

3. Feel that you were born to do great things

Is This You?

19

This Could be You“Bold”

Have difficulty admitting mistakes

20

• Overestimates abilities• Self-centered and self-promoting• Has strong sense of entitlement• Takes credit for others’ accomplishments• Feedback resistant• Unwilling to give up a fight, no matter what

Leadership Implications – “Bold”

21

1. In a group, you are often the center of attention2. Like to have several projects going on at one time3. Sometimes dress so you stand out in a crowd

Is This You?

22

This Could be You

Always grab center of attention

“I'm ready for my close up”Desdemona from Sunset Blvd

“Colorful”

23

• Dramatic and expressive• Tends to dominate • Misses social cues regarding others’ behavior • May focus on their own behaviors first before others• Tends to confuse activity with productivity

Leadership Implications – “Colorful”

24

1. Feel that many of your ideas are ahead of their time2. Believe you have special talents and abilities – can

see what others’ can’t3. People describe you as unconventional

Is This You?

25

This Could be You“Imaginative”

It’s fun to be different, just for the sake of it

26

• Has a million great ideas that rarely get executed• Enjoys launching initiatives but may not follow-up or

not effective in executing them• It seems clear “to you” but others may not know how

the idea came about• Can be viewed as a bit “off beat” • Dresses or behaves in unconventional ways – likes to

be different/unique• May be easily distracted

Leadership Implications – “Imaginative”

27

1. Have been told you set very high standards that are often difficult to achieve

2. Known as a perfectionist3. Fussy about schedules and timing

Is This You?

28

This Could be You

You get the little things right when the big things go wrong

“Diligent”

Martha Stewart

29

• So focused on the details that the “big picture” or the obvious is overlooked

• Can’t let go of tasks, no matter how small, until it’s perfect

• Tendency to micromanage (delegates reluctantly)• May appear rigid or inflexible• Plans may mimic the past—not be innovative

Leadership implications – “Diligent”

30

1. On important issues, dislike making decisions on your own

2. Feel there is nothing wrong with flattering your boss3. Are more comfortable following others

Is This You?

31

This Could be You

Eager to please others and obliging

“Dutiful”

Andrea Jung, Former CEO Avon Products, Inc

32

• Reluctant to act independently or “rock the boat”• Fails to stand up for others• So flexible, it’s hard to know where they stand• Refuse or delay facing the tough people issues• May prefer to be liked over taking independent action

Leadership implications – “Dutiful”

33

Understand Your Derailers

34

Know what the buzz is about you

35

Know what's holding you back

Jane, you are notquite ready to

move to next level yet….

36

Be aware of what your friends & family says

37

Get feedback from others about what happens when you are under stress

38

Preventing Derailment

39

1. Know your “stress” – situations or people2. “Rewire” your self-talk3. Replace current behavior(s) with alternative

behavior (s)4. Practice, practice and practice

40

Example

Ask

questions

70% of the

time

41

Example

42

Example

43

“Awareness of your Derailers doesn’t mean you have to dwell on how “bad” you are. When you learn to

manage your self-destructive traits, you allow your strengths to emerge”

Why CEO’s Fail - David Dotlich and Peter Cairo

THANK YOU

Deborrah Himsel