Self-Confidence

Impeccable personal grooming and a pleasing demeanor are important components of self-confidence. If a woman is not convinced that she deserves success, she will never achieve it; and conveying her confidence in herself is essential if she is to move up the success ladder.

Self-confidence can take a woman far, especially in a difficult work environment. If a woman is confident in her own capabilities and skills, she is much more likely to promote her own accomplishments and refine her skills for a brighter future.

Hone Your Skills

Once you know what your goals are, it’s time to start working on the things that will make it possible to attain them. For example, you must determine how to continue to learn new skills and improve old ones. The ability to interact with clients and fellow-employees is valued by employers and will aid in your upward climb.

Education

The most effective advantage that any woman can have is her education. She should always take advantage of every opportunity that comes along to gain more education and to enhance already-existing knowledge by keeping up with current developments through trade publications, conferences, and professional courses.

Once you have your education in hand, don’t just sit on them – make them known to your employer. This goes double for any executive-level or graduate degrees that you may have earned.

Far too many women have stellar educational records, but keep them to themselves. The fact is that you need to make your accomplishments public. This isn’t bragging – it’s being smart and savvy about advancing your career.

Focus On Your Strengths

When it comes to your career, your focus should be on a particular area and you should concentrate on developing your skills in it. Enjoy your work, find your specialty and talents, and work on them, keeping your knowledge as the base.

The person who is unable to work to their greatest capacity is not a professional; instead, she is just an employee working for a salary. Always remember that you can never excel in a field that does not hold your interest and that you don’t have a passion for.

Enthusiasm is the foundation for all your achievements; and you will not be able to pass on your enthusiasm unless you feel it yourself.

By: Tony Jacowski

About the Author:
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions – Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for six sigma professionals including, lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Nothing makes a woman’s daily work routine more pleasant than knowing her fashion choices are over the top. Whether your goal is to dress professionally, turn heads or make a statement, choosing the proper tights to match your work attire can help you reach your goals. Tights make great leg warmers for winter weather, but they can really be worn year round with so many colors and styles available. These tips can help you choose tights that are fashionable and comfortable to fit your style.

Fit and Comfort

There’s a fine line between the way tights fit and comfort. Each style has its own pros and cons. If you want supportive tights, opt for control top. These fit tightly at the tummy and waist to ensure maximum support for your hips and lower back. They also help hide some of that unwanted tummy fat. Be sure to buy control top tights that are not too tight at the stomach, as these can cause pain and discomfort with prolonged periods of wear during work hours. Regular tights may fit comfortably at the tummy, but do not offer the support of control top. There are also tights that support your legs, feet and ankles if you are constantly on your feet. If you do a lot of sitting at the desk or walking, buy tights that provide flexibility in any position.

If you prefer not to have tights fitted at your tummy, you’ll also find tights that are supported at the knees or thighs, or held with a garter such as suspender tights. Knee-highs or thigh-highs and holdups generally work well when wearing pants and long skirts to work. There are also footless tights or leggings that fit just above the ankle or below the knee.

Opaqueness

Sheer tights offer a little support but no color. They mimic bare legs, and are usually very thin. Sheer tights tend to snag or get runs easily, so choose your brand wisely and always keep a back-up pair in your drawer or purse! Choose opaque or thicker tights for wintertime warmth and durability.

Tights and Colors

Hosiery tradition says to wear tights that are black, white or tan. But today’s working woman can mix/match an array of colorful tights to create the look and feel desired. Tartan tights, for example, are a holiday season favorite with plaid colors designed to brighten any fall or winter apparel. These come in a variety of color blends with red, yellow, blue, green, brown and orange. Or, dare to add solid colored tights to your wardrobe. There are so many colors available today, especially when considering top brands such as Le Bourget All Colours. These come in gorgeous solid colors such as blue, cobalt, yellow, green, lily, fuchsia, purple, white, and red. If you dare to be different, opt for zebra or leopard prints, floral or striped prints…or even lace-up tights!

Styles of tights to consider are silk, wool, seamless tights, ultra sheer, wedding tights, fashion tights, sandal toe, full figure tights, and seamed tights. Also compare brands based on style, durability and comfort. Buy only one pair each from several manufacturers to make sure the tights will work for you. Some great brands for stockings and pantyhose that are UK based include Aristoc, Cette, Pretty Polly, Oroblu, Trasparenze, Leg Avenue, Gipsy, Jonathan Aston and Le Bourget.

For a variety of styles and colors, shop online to find affordable tights and hosiery. Expand your fashion world with tights that will make your co-workers say, “Wow!”

By: Chris Robertson

About the Author:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Comparison Shopping.

In order to succeed at work, it is important that we be conscious of our behaviors. Women in particular tend to engage in eleven common behaviors that prevent their success in the workplace. Identifying and modifying the following behaviors will help women build successful career communication.

o We don’t ask . . . therefore we don’t get

While men in the workplace often step up to the plate and ask for what they want, female colleagues frequently sit on the bench only to watch and fall behind in the game. Women let promotions, raises and better benefits slip through their hands because they never ask for them. You’ll never score a homerun if you don’t step up to the plate and ask for the pitch. Men are more likely to be assertive and direct with higher-ups. Therefore, they are more likely to get what they want than women. When women do decide to ask, they often ask the wrong people. Many women will seek assurance from friends and colleagues before asking. If your name is on the roster, don’t hesitate to play the game.

o We procrastinate

When women step up to the plate, oftentimes it’s too late. Not only does procrastination create unnecessary stress, it also puts you behind in the game. Many women and men experience what is termed “approach-avoidance” behavior. This is when you know what has to be done but you avoid it. Or, you get stuck in analysis paralysis, where you calculate every outcome before moving forward. Procrastination may seem like an innocent habit, however knowledge without action can lead to depression. Don’t be a bench warmer in the workplace. Step up to bat now. The longer you avoid what needs to be done, the more it affects self-esteem, self-confidence and ultimately your success.

o We say “I’m sorry”

Unlike men, women have a tendency to overuse the phrase “I’m sorry” in the workplace.
Not only do women say “I’m sorry” to apologize for what they’ve done, they also apologize for other people’s actions as well. Don’t bath yourself in other people’s dirty water. Also know that when you apologize your word choice is critical.
Rather than saying “I’m sorry” consider action words such as “I regret,” “I apologize for,” or “forgive me for” which are more direct and meaningful. Save the “I’m sorry” for when you’re shopping for a Hallmark card, not when you’re in the workplace.

o We say “I’ll try”

The difference between saying “I’ll try” and “I will” can be the difference between failure and success. By saying “I’ll try” you set the stage for procrastination. By saying “I will” you create a mental commitment to yourself, which ensures you will achieve your goal. In addition, by telling others that you “will try,” you communicate a sense of doubt. “I will” communicates a sense of certainty.

o We’re not selective with whom we spend our time

Face it – sometimes you end up in the company of people who are more negative than positive. Ultimately, this reflects upon you. Our relationships are our base network. They need to be strong and encouraging. Most people have a tendency to stay in a relationship when the perceived benefits outweigh the perceived costs. Think about what happens when you get back less than you give. Don’t waste energy on relationships that are counterproductive. Find people who encourage you, challenge you, and motivate you to succeed. Remember that sour grapes make for bad wine and a spoiled party.

o We use non-verbals that don’t work

Non-verbal communication conveys up to 90 percent of a message. By using strong and powerful non-verbals you can enhance your image and create the positively visible image you want. On average, women take up less space than men so it is important to claim your space. Rather than putting your hands in your lap, put them up on the desk. Rather than sitting along the wall at a meeting, sit at the table. If you have a desk at work, position it so you face the door and can easily greet those who walk in. Avoid using counterproductive non-verbals like eye rolling and fake smiles. People can misinterpret them or become distracted. It is also important to be direct with your non-verbals. By making eye contact, nodding your head and keeping an open posture you’ll make a positive impression.

o We criticize ourselves

Do you speak negatively about yourself? If so, it can hurt your self-esteem and impact the way people view you. Approximately 70 to 90 percent of the words our brain processes are unusable or negative. According to the Zeigarnik effect, people remember more negative events than positive ones. Therefore, when you talk negatively about yourself it sticks like a wad of gum on a shoe. If you can’t say something nice about yourself, don’t say anything at all.

o We over-communicate

Are you a talkaholic? Women use about 3,000 to 4,000 more words per day than our male counterparts. While communication is critical for success, too much talky-talky can be counterproductive. When you ramble, people become distracted and confused. You also can loose the idea you were trying to communicate. It is more important to be clear and concise with your communication. Why use more words than necessary?

o We over-commit

Many working women feel pressured to succeed at everything. However, remember that if you bite off a large chunk, you’re going to be chewing on it for a long time. You will put yourself in a better position if you are successful at a few tasks rather than mediocre at many. Say no just as much as you say yes. When asked to take on a new task, take a step back and breathe! Evaluate your personal and professional schedule to find a comfortable balance.

o We don’t provide 3-step positive feedback

What are you doing to create a “good old girl network?” It is important to remember how hard the journey was that brought you to where you are today. Don’t get distracted with your own success and forget to say “thank you” to those who have guided you along the way. Realize that you have the ability to mentor others, so ask yourself, “Who can I help?” and then do it.

o We don’t toot our own horn.

Positive impressions create positive results. Unknowingly, many working women quietly watch from backstage as their male colleagues take center stage. Go for the lead role. As a professional it’s important to step out from behind the curtain and become more positively visible. Don’t fixate on negative traits and previous failures. Let people know about your accomplishments, talents and strengths. Actively create the positive image you want people to see. Voice your talents in the workplace and you’ll receive an encore.

By: Susanne Gaddis

About the Author:
Being conscious of your behaviors is the first step towards a positive change. Remember, improvement comes with time. When addressing these issues be patient with yourself. For more information about how to improve your communication skills visit Dr. Susanne Gaddis’s Website at: http://www.CommunicationsDoctor.comSusanne Gaddis, PhD, known as the Communications Doctor, is an acknowledged communications expert who has been speaking and teaching the art of effective and positive communication since 1989. With a specialized expertise in healthcare communication, Susanne delivers workshops, seminars, and keynote presentations across the United States. To book Dr. Gaddis for an upcoming conference or event call 919-933-3237, or for more information visit: http://www.CommunicationsDoctor.com where you can download her e-book Communication Booster Shots: Prescriptions for Effective Communication.Dr. Gaddis would like to acknowledge Carly Salvadore for help in researching and writing this article.Statistic in the introduction was found at: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/rnpopulation/preliminaryfindings.htm

A lot of women around me seem to complain about career advancement, and yet most of these professional working women fail to realize that they fail to advance not because of gender, but due to the fact that they underestimate their own worth and have no idea to take advantage of their accomplishments and skills.

Professional women with high career advancement aspirations need a sound plan to help them be prominent from their coworkers and peers. They need their employers to recognize their talent, strengths and worth in their profession. There are several ways for women to seek career advancement opportunities and make it into a reality.

Instead of focusing on their individual talents, strengths, skills, accomplishments, and own worth in specific areas, many women focus on trying to improve in areas they do not do well.

For women to enjoy career advancement success, identify your strengths, talents, and focus on those positive strong attributes.

Get noticed by becoming a problem-solver instead of just pointing problems out or blaming others. Think about problems in the workplace that need to be address and figure out ways your team or you can help to solve them.

Effective, excellent communication skills help to improve your career advancement chances. Effective communication helps not only in career advancement opportunities but also during job interviews.

On a job interview, it helps you market yourself in a clear, concise manner. Although effective communication helps improve women and career advancement potential, they need to add new skills continuously to keep refining and improving their communication skills.

Dressing professionally and having a polished image could make the difference between the corporation or company offering you career advancement and them overlooking you. Women need to dress appropriately to present positive impressions in the workplace, even if the company has a casual dress code.

Be sure your business attire presents the image you want to be visualized. You cannot go wrong with conservative business clothes that present a professional look. You never want to appear over under dressed.

Be sure that any business clothes you buy are good quality and coordinate well with other business wardrobe items to save you both time and money. Shoes should be stylish, in good repair and most importantly, comfortable as it is very difficult to accomplish anything when your feet are hurt.

Women and career advancement success means being punctual, reliable, and adhere to attendance policies. Management often overlooks women that constantly arrive late when a career advancement position becomes available.

By: Ray Baron

About the Author:
You can also find out more on Women and Career Advancement [http://findyourdreamcareer.info/advancement] by visiting our Career Advancement Guide website.Click here [http://FindYourDreamCareer.info] to discover everything that you always wanted to know about Careers and Recruitment but NEVER dared to ask!

Many, many women I know are self sufficient, successful and capable. They spent many years getting a degree or advanced degree and are now in a very successful and rewarding career. They’ve bought houses, gone on trips and own businesses, they’re beautiful and are amazing human beings.. but they have no idea why they can’t get a man to stay!!!

I’m not talking about the women who don’t WANT a man in their life. They’ve been there and done it! I’m talking about the woman who WANTS a man, a companion and a friend to share their life with. And I don’t mean a gay man!

Many of these women are teaching in universities, running businesses or partners in a law firm. They’re content on the outside, but very much would like to have a man at their side. They’ll NEVER admit it to anyone, because they’re often teased about being single and are always showing up to events with friends and not a companion. They’re tough on the outside, because they’ve had to be.

But when they get together with their closest friends, or their coach, they confide in each other and this is what they’ve shared:

They don’t NEED A man.. but they WANT one.

I’ve learned so many amazing things from being around these women. They are truly incredibly self sufficient and can run their house better than most women I know. But there is one thing they lack and it’s what I have taught them:

Warmth with people and of course.. the all important FLIRTING SKILLS!!!

Now before you go and stop reading because I went and wrote something so incredibly basic, let me ask you this:

*When did you last make the person you were talking with, feel good about themselves?

*When was the last time you let the person you were talking to, know that they were needed?

*When was the last time that the person who was talking to you, walked away with a smile on their face?

If the answer to any of these questions was “I don’t remember”… then that was TOO long ago! If the answer was “just yesterday”.. then you’re doing a good job!

Today’s world is so busy, that we rush through life just trying to squeeze all of the necessary things in. Often times we don’t give the actual people we come in contact with a second look, let alone a thought.

When I’m working with the people who want to develop warmth in their life the first thing I do is to send them out with a different set of eyes. When they go to the store, their ASSIGNMENT is to greet the people behind the meat counter or cash register and make THEM feel special.

How is a person supposed to do THAT you ask? Two days ago, I decided to make Cuban Sandwiches for lunch. So, I went to the 17 year old boy behind the counter and started asking for his recommendations… for meat, for condiments, and for cheese. Before you knew it, he was telling me OTHER dishes he wanted to make or had made recently. We were having a terrific conversation and when I left, I told him this: “I can guarantee that you’re going to make a great husband!” When I left, I knew he felt great.. and I did too.

Practicing in low risk situation is always the best. So when you’re in that situation of really wanting to show a person of the opposite sex that you’d like to get to know them BETTER, then you’ll have LOTS of practice of making a person feel special.

Okay, yes, flirting does also involve dressing up a bit, using the long linger of the eyes, glancing sideways at the person you admire and quickly away with a smile, and all of those little things that we can do when we like someone. To some people, these come naturally, but to others, they have to learn them all again.

Other suggestions for the ALL IMPORTANT flirting are to briefly touch the man on his arm, laugh at all of his jokes, and keep your body very casual, not so professional, stiff and unrelaxed. He’ll REALLY get the drift if you say something like, “oh my gosh.. you’re so silly” while you laugh with him and give him a little push on the arm just for good measure!

But the best one is to really make a person feel special and NEEDED. If you’re incredibly self sufficient then GREAT. But don’t let your “being a complete human without a man” side of you forget that MEN NEED TO BE NEEDED. They want to feel and BE special to that special woman, and they want to know that to the outside world, you’re competent, successful and beautiful… but at home?

All you need is HIM!

By: Mary Gardner

About the Author:
Mary Gardner is a communications consultant and coach. She’s coached dozens and dozens of women on this topic alone and has spoken nationally about dating and relationships. She enjoys being able to teach powerful women the basic skill of flirting… is able to break it down so it’s easy to learn. WWW.marygardner.com