Power² Leaderlab

09/19/2024

"Holding power means you become a target for others’ expectations and projections. When you step into a role of power, you are no longer seen as an individual, but as a symbol of authority."

Our latest Harvard Business Review article outlines the five main traps of power we've observed in our work as executive coaches, plus ways to counteract each. https://hbr.org/2024/06/5-traps-to-avoid-as-you-gain-power-as-a-leader

As you transition to a leadership role, your relationship to power changes: You gain more of it, and people start acting differently around you due to your authority. How can you avoid the hidden traps of gaining power, which shapes you in ways you may not realize? The authors outline five key traps...

09/13/2024

Is exclusion the cost of your expediency? Sometimes the pace of our jobs means we fail to include and develop the whole team. Read our blog on how to make sure you’re not playing favorites with your top performers. https://p2leaderlab.com/dear-coach-sometimes-i-gotta-play-favorites-to-get-things-done-2/

09/03/2024

In work and in life, knowing what motivates you gives you the power to make hard decisions. If you've ever faced uncertainty about a big career move, this post is for you:

What’s the Problem? Dear Coach, I am a 53-year-old woman—a senior VP—and I feel like I have one more big push left for my career, but I don’t see an obvious path forward at my current company. I feel loyalty to this place that has given me so many opportunities; on the other hand, I’m […...

08/25/2024

“The truth is, I’m afraid of my blind spots, afraid I’ll say the wrong thing or say it the wrong way and end up with an HR issue on my hands.”

While it’s vulnerable and uncomfortable to admit, the issues this leader is facing have become more prominent in recent years, both socially and in the workplace—and while they open us up to important things we may not have previously considered, over-caution in this space can create a constraint in your ability to lead.

Today on the blog, we unpack how to avoid letting your fear of the diversity police get in the way of giving direct feedback that’s vital for your employee’s career growth.

What’s the Problem? Dear Coach, I’m a VP at a Fortune 100 company and have always prided myself on being an empathic, inclusive leader. However, giving direct feedback has always been a challenge for me, and over the past few years, I’ve especially struggled to give feedback to women and emplo...

08/07/2024

What do you do when your top performer is bringing toxic energy to the workplace? In other words, what is more important to you: strong results or a positive workplace culture? Here's what we think:

Dear Coach, I have somebody on my team who has deep expertise in her field and is the one I can always count on to get sh*t done. She’s a very senior leader, heading the business unit responsible for close to half of the company’s revenue. She’s hardworking, and the company really needs people...

07/31/2024

Calling all senior female leaders!

Are you ready to transition from leading your teams to driving organizational outcomes? We're now enrolling for our fall P2 Leaderlab Amplify Program, which starts in September and will be held in person in Oregon. Participants from all companies, sectors, and industries are welcome to apply!

Want to learn more? Join us for a live Q&A session on August 13 from 12-1 pm PST.

Join us for an hour-long Q&A on the P2 Leaderlab Amplify program for senior women leaders. Learn more about our unique cohort-based program, and get your questions answered.

07/25/2024

As you gain power as a leader, your relationship to power changes, and so does the way others respond to you and your power. In our latest Harvard Business Review article, we've outlined five hidden traps you might easily fall into, plus ways to counteract each. We hope you'll check it out!

As you transition to a leadership role, your relationship to power changes: You gain more of it, and people start acting differently around you due to your authority. How can you avoid the hidden traps of gaining power, which shapes you in ways you may not realize? The authors outline five key traps...

07/18/2024

According to a recent SHRM study, one in 10 U.S. workers 50 and older said that in the past six months, they have often or always felt less valuable at work compared to younger workers – and in the world of tech and start-ups, that number is likely higher.

Maureen Clough, host of the It Gets Late Early podcast, even says that ageism is “an open secret in the tech industry.”

So, today on the blog we’re talking about it! Ageism, start-ups, and power; it’s all here.

What’s the Problem? I was a Chief Marketing Officer at a global technology company, and rather than take an early retirement, I decided to devote this last lap of my career to supporting a start-up. And…whoa..it was not at all what I expected. Of course, I realized there would be many difference...

07/12/2024

We’re excited to be enrolling for our fall P2 Leaderlab Amplify Program, which kicks off in September!

This in-person (in Oregon) leadership program is designed specifically for senior women who are ready to transition from leading their teams to driving organizational outcomes.

We hope to welcome leaders from all companies, sectors, and industries, so if you want to learn more or know someone who might be interested, please join us for a live Q&A session on August 13 from 12 to 1 p.m. PST. https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMod-Chrz4vG9KBLlODy1ruzBehp4VuI5ow

Join us for an hour-long Q&A on the P2 Leaderlab Amplify program for senior women leaders. Learn more about our unique cohort-based program, and get your questions answered.

07/05/2024

We created Leaderlab deliberately with one's circle of influence in mind, so with summer in full swing (Happy 4th!) and social calendars likely at peak busy status, we're revisiting these thoughts on the value of community. Thank you for being a part of ours!

James Clear, an author and habit expert, likes to talk about how context affects our daily habits. He says that people who have more willpower are in environments that tempt them less. If keeping to your good habits (or avoiding bad ones) means constantly fighting against friction in your environmen...

06/28/2024

Getting laid off is hard. And in today’s market, sadly, it’s all too common. Here are our thoughts on what to do if you find yourself in this situation and you feel helpless, unsettled, and unsure of what to do next.

What’s the Problem? Dear Coach, I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but… I got laid off. Ridiculously, I assumed I was protected because of my function, seniority, and tenure in the organization and because of the buzz and gossip I had heard swirling in the halls. I’ve been with the c...

06/24/2024

This leader runs a top-performing team within her organization and thought things were running smoothly--until the results of the annual survey came back and showed "burnout, disengagement, and a sense that team members feel under-resourced."

Here's why this is a power problem and how we suggest she navigates the situation:

Dear Coach, The results of our annual organizational survey just came back from my team, and they aren’t good. Answers point to burnout, disengagement, and a sense that team members feel under-resourced. Our reputation within the organization is as a top-performing team, and that’s always been m...