By Jennifer Ian, MBA, CAE
Among those attending NYSAE's July Executive Women in Nonprofits SIG were (left to right): Chymeka Olfonse, Founding Regional Executive Director, BUILD NYC; Joan DeCamp, Office Manager, New York State Osteopathic Medical Society; and Mary Jacobson, Former Executive Director, Executive Programs, The Conference Board.
This was the inspiring theme of NYSAE's Executive Women in Nonprofits SIG (EWIN) on July 15, a terrific topic to reflect on at over fruit and bagels at this mid-summer meeting. Helen Dayen, CEO and Founder of the Dayen Group, talked about effective ways to self-promote, persuade and influence without showing off.
What are some of the obstacles to self-promotion?
- Concern that it is bragging, which many of us see as a negative;
- Fear;
- A tendency to perfectionism, which, she says, causes us to feel something isn't deserving of self-promotion if we feel it isn't perfect, in which case we see it as a "B" instead of an "A;"
- Beliefs that may stem from our childhood about self-promotion, causing us to avoid it.
Success, said Dayen, comes from self-confidence and networking. Self-promotion comes out of that.
In order to self-promote, we must also quiet the negative voice inside. This relates to the perfectionist dilemma above. Dayen also suggested we use our name in place of "I" to reduce that inner voice. Not "I failed" but "Susan failed." (And Susan will try again!) And practice mindfulness.
When you self-promote, it's not about you. Make it about them. Knowledge is power. Ask questions, particularly what and how questions to learn more about your audience. Avoid why questions as they often come across as judgmental. Build your knowledge of your audience's needs, wants, what they do.
Self-promote: Tell what you can offer to fit the needs of your audience. Along the way, your excitement and passion will arise, even for introverts, and you and your value proposition will shine through. So much of the buy-in, Dayen emphasized, is about the relationship, and what and how will help to build that. She also mentioned the importance of bringing your authentic self to the workplace.
EWIN SIG Announces Schedule for the Year
EWIN provides an opportunity for women in leadership roles, including CEOs, COOs, Executive Directors, Vice Presidents, Directors, and Board Members, to engage in interactive high-level discussions with like-minded peers. EWIN's goal is to build relationships, test new ideas, receive feedback, and inspire one another. Together we face the challenges of managing our careers by sharing practices from multiple perspectives.
Participation is free as a membership benefit of NYSAE. Guests may attend three SIG meetings and are then invited to join NYSAE. Guests who do not join may continue to attend SIG events for a fee.
Executive Women in Nonprofits will meet:
September 16, 2016
November 11, 2016
December 2, 2016 (special partnered event between Executive Women in Nonprofits SIG and NextGeneration SIG)
January 13, 2017
March 10, 2017
May 12, 2017
Invitations are sent out and up on the NYSAE website six weeks prior to the next SIG event.
Among the great topics planned for this year are:
- The Top Things Bringing Greatness to a Board;
- Emerging Models and Structures for Nonprofits;
- Futurists and Future Trends—An added dimension to strategic planning;
- New Membership Models;
- Generating Revenue Models; and
- Conflict Resolution with Your Board, Members, Employees, Relationships—A woman leader's perspective.
The Planning Committee is also exploring a possible half-day SIG event.
The Planning Committee is comprised of: Marsha Block, CAE, CFRE, CEO, American Group Psychotherapy Association; Valerie Cammiso, CAE, Executive Director, International Council of Shopping Centers Foundation; Mary Jane Eimer, CAE, Executive Director, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies; Linda Ferm, CAE, President, Ferm Strategies; Jennifer Ian, MBA, CAE, Director of Member Services and Chapter Relations, American Thoracic Society; and Holly Koenig, Vice President, Kellen.
For more information, contact Linda Ferm, CAE, SIG Chair, at fermink@nyc.rr.com.
Jennifer Ian, MBA, CAE, is Director, Member Services and Chapter Relations, American Thoracic Society. A member of NYSAE's Board of Directors, she also is a member of EWIN's Planning Committee. She can be reached at 212-315-8697 or jian@thoracic.org.