Session: Elbow Sharpening
Young boys spar in the sandbox for sheer entertainment. Girls engage in crafts, house playing, and covert power networking. As adults, women see conflict and backlash as signs that something went wrong. Our guts tell us to minimize error by avoiding messy confrontations. Ambition must be subtle, and under the radar. Evidence shows this comes at a cost: we earn less because we adon't ask for more. Those in power are never challenged; the glass ceiling stands.
This session will cover: whether we should override our gut's veto; when to do it - recognize signals that a "no-win" fight is disguised opportunity; how to be aggressive with style and precision. The dreaded labels of "emotional" "upset" or "unhinged" damage credibility. We will study examples of power plays and their subsequent results; sometimes the labels had sticking power, for others they quickly melted away - what made the difference?
Finally, the leaders will discuss which short-term consequences to prepare for - is backlash and reaction a sign you're doing something right? Should you dignify ridicule with a response, or hold your head up with a silent smile? Set up a scoring system where small losses, in addition to tiny victories, build an overall win.
