AW was on the leadership track within Microsoft but realised her fears of being found out as a fraud were holding her back.
Stepping up to a bigger challenge
“I’d been very successful in my career in technology marketing but often worried about whether I was “good enough” and compared myself unfavourably to others. I’d noticed this pattern of thinking and how it hindered me but didn’t know how to change it.
What I’ve learned through this programme has really helped – the ‘I’m not good enough’ thinking now happens less and less. And, if it does, I have an approach to deal with it. I’m much better at noticing when unhelpful attitudes are operating and hindering my performance – e.g. not fully contributing in meetings or holding myself back from networking – and can eff ectively challenge my own thinking.
The techniques I’ve learned to use are simple but powerful. When any negative thinking does kick in, I’m able to see that the judgements I’m making are rarely true. Once I’ve ascertained the facts of any given situation, I have a much clearer picture of what to do and new choices become apparent that I couldn’t see before.
I’ve also learned how to value my worth/talents. I notice and acknowledge my many achievements, however small or big – whether diffusing a potentially difficult conversation between colleagues or organising a house move at a critical time in the business and still achieving my targets – stuff I didn’t acknowledge myself for before. When I start saying “it was just…” or “I only managed 3 miles in my run today, when I really should have done 5”, I catch myself and stop, asking myself “is that true, was it ‘just’ or ‘only’?”. This has really helped my confidence.
And, my performance has definitely benefited as a result, as have my team relationships. I managed to turn around team performance on a difficult metric, alongside moving house and running a marathon, and have recently been promoted to a much more senior role! I feel on top form.”
AW, Senior Marketing Manager, Microsoft
I know myself better than I did before, which is hugely empowering. I understand why I react to events the way I do, and have the tools to adjust my mentality and respond in a positive and engaged way.
- Caroline has become a trusted partner to Siemens UK over the past few years. She and her team have run a number of sessions for our Women’s Network focusing on topics such as Imposter Syndrome and Strengthening Personal Authority. The members of the Network have found these sessions extremely helpful and thought-provoking. Caroline’s style is relaxed, friendly and candid. She draws on her own experience of working in senior roles, encouraging participants to open up and share their own stories. Personally, I have found these sessions invaluable and I draw on the lessons learned almost on a daily basis. I would highly recommend Caroline’s approach to anyone wanting to help women in their organisation fulfil their potential.
- When I talk to Caroline, a big problem becomes a small one.
- I’m now living deliberately every day in every decision. I feel more empowered; I feel more alive.
- It seems an age since I did your Power of Purpose programme but it has only been two years. In that time, I have gutted & renovated two houses, retrained as a community mental health worker and also gone
back to part-time study, as well as made a bunch of meaningful friendships
and re-connected with family. So, I'd say the work you had
me do before I left London for my new life in Australia was
successful!
- The work I did with Attitude Coach helped me understand what it was that I feared and gave me the tools to help me tackle self doubts and stresses which I was heaping upon myself.
- The team are much more positive about what they’re capable of and encourage and support each other to take on bigger challenges.
- Every week, I grew in confidence, just by being me. Not only could I see the benefit that working with Caroline was having but my colleagues could, too. So, I feel fortunate to have had the chance of working with Caroline and would recommend her without hesitation.
- My boss used to lead all our client meetings but I now take charge so he’s free to focus on other priorities.
- This training has had a dramatic impact on the productivity of our business – women who used to hold back are now stepping up and taking charge so I’m freed up to focus on other business priorities. A remarkable result from an investment of just three hours of the team’s time.