13 Takeaways From Watermark’s One-Day Leadership Conference
Watermark is an organization dedicated to connecting, developing and advocating for the advancement of women in the workplace. They organize and host nearly 50 events each year that support and inspire women throughout all aspects of their careers (including their annual hallmark event, Watermark Conference for Women, which we attended earlier this year).
This year’s one-day Watermark Leadership conference boasted thoughtful and engaging speakers like Jeffrey Hayzlett and Ruth Sherman, as well as a hands-on Insights workshop geared toward improving self-awareness.
- You gain nothing by holding back, whether it’s an idea or your authentic self. The opportunities only come from pushing through the fear, the system, or even yourself. And the strength comes from taking care of yourself and surrounding yourself with people who also look out for you.
- Successful leadership and management is about authenticity. You can’t be effective if you’re not authentic. — Amee Cooper
- Invest in yourself. Men invest in themselves without blinking an eye about the cost. They know they’re worth it. While woman hesitate, think about it, and are less likely to invest in themselves.
- Don’t confuse management with leadership. You can be a leader at any level of the organization.
- Good leadership means finding a balance between being you (authenticity) and knowing when to moderate “your” reactions to adapt to the setting/audience.
- Two of the best ways to navigate bias: develop resilience and be assertive. Both cases are supported by not taking things personally. — Monique Tallon
- One of the most important skills for women in the workplace is the ability to command a room. The ability to have a presence is not inborn, it’s learned. — Ruth Sherman
- You will never be “ready” to be a good manager. Most likely you will struggle, but if you’re willing to learn and be vigilant about it, you will get there.
- People join companies, but they stay for the bosses. They stay for the community. If there is no community to tap into then it’s hard to build trust and makes the job harder to do. — Amee Cooper
- If you want to do it and you’re willing to commit to it, do it! Women often wait … To check the boxes [that they’re ready] before doing something new. You’ve got to just do, then evaluate and keep moving. — Christine Heckart
- Men and women in the workplace: Men are judged on their potential and women on their accomplishments. Men are rewarded for being fathers; women are penalized for being mothers.
- Body language matters. Non-verbal communication makes us believable, e.g., the way we look, the way we sound and the way we move. Hand gestures help us to think.
- Brand is nothing but a promise delivered. — Jeffrey Hayzlett
