Wendy McManus is an executive leadership coach and founder/CEO of Connect2Potential. Her accomplishments are many, so we asked her for some sage advice and tips for success.
Many of the challenges for people trying to move up within an organization are universal. Early in our careers, we’re rewarded for doing great work, but the skills that make someone a strong individual contributor are not the same skills that make a great leader. The transition from doing to leading is challenging for nearly everyone, even the so-called ‘born leaders.’
The number-one piece of advice I give to any ascending professional, male or female, is to pay attention to the transition. Learn to let go of your death-grip on the details. Foster your own skills so you can coach and mentor your team to do great work—and then get out of their way. You will be buried by the work if you don’t learn how to effectively lead others.
Where I see a difference in men and women is often in their confidence level. Men are generally more likely to ask for more responsibility, a bigger title, and more money. Women are generally more likely to believe their hard work will be noticed, and they’ll eventually get a seat at the big table.
I’ve coached women who are smart and talented enough to make the next move, but their self-doubt holds them back. Women are more likely to reason that since they don’t yet know how to do the next job, they shouldn’t go for it. Somehow, they have the idea men are showing up fully trained and ready to own that new role, and it’s simply not true. We all learn as we go.
Clearly, it can be challenging to get ahead as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Old ways of thinking are slow to fade—but there’s good news on several fronts. First, more women are moving up, and bringing more women along with them. Opportunity begets opportunity. Second, we’re witnessing a demographic shift, with younger men and women moving into positions of power who are far more openminded and aware of gender equity.
Third, there are plenty of conversations about how women are great for business. This awareness is slowly filtering into the old guard and changing minds. Finally, walk through any produce show in 2020 and take note of how many women you see—you’ll be shocked at how much the industry has changed in the last decade. The biggest shift I see is women owning their value, building their confidence, showing up, and getting results. We overcome bias one day at a time by doing great work and not staying quiet about it.
This is a multi-part series adapted from a profile in the March/April 2020 issue of Produce Blueprints.
