Hello High HeelersI am tapping away today with ugly, broken nails. In my quest to be more elegant like Natalie, I did my nails. They looked amazing – on day 1. On day 2 I managed to whack my thumb on the edge of my hot chocolate mug, after knocking it off my side table. You may think I was concerned about staining my new cream carpet (and I was) when I bravely caught the cup, but the truth is that I was more concerned about losing my yummy (forbidden) chocolate drink. So much so, that I didn’t even feel the nail come off and almost swallowed it when I kept drinking. I am officially a glutton. With unelegant nails.
Somehow my near ‘death-by-false-nail-swallowing’ experience did not stop me from continuing to go with my colleague and new friend, Danell to our nail technician. So in no time, I had lovely nails again. Until Wednesday. While carrying my groceries up to my 3rd floor apartment I managed to drop all my bags, breaking the pickles jar and 3 of my nails. I cannot begin to describe the pain. I jumped up and down hissing for at least 5 minutes before I could get my key in the door. My strangely-silent neighbour walked past me like I have the plague. Note to you high heelers: if you are a clumsy klutz like me, do not ‘do’ your nails. Being elegant is more than just getting your nails done it’s a whole behaviour change. Oh dear!
On the topic of elegance, on Thursday night I went to the Top Women Awards at Sandton Convention Centre with Natalie and Irwin (he’s one of our Managing Execs). Natalie looked amazing in her black mermaid dress and I must say, Irwin was pretty dashing in his tux – my management team know how to look good! It was humbling and most amazing to be surrounded by some of the top businesswomen in South Africa. Our women are really making us proud. The evening made me want to learn more, do more and be more. It was so inspiring. I have never felt more motivated to go out with my head held high in high heels.
On Friday we hit the salsa studio in Rosebank for a teambuild with all the colleagues. The ladies in the group definitely outdid the guys (well, that’s my opinion and it counts!) I was so chuffed to come away with the best dance group prize – yay! And I won the runner –up ‘most promising dancer award.’ I hate losing, but coming second to Natalie is ok. I can proudly say that Natalie, Bathabile, Danell and myself did it in heels. We have the blisters to prove that we are true High Heeler sisters.
In between all the chaos this week Natalie told me that I need to push myself into the foreground more and take credit for my work. She wants me to be seen by the business as a more prolific person. I should be putting pictures of myself into our company newsletters and should claim my title as ‘Editor’. I found this weird. Someone as elegant and vivacious as Natalie should surely want to stand out more herself – but she’s encouraging me to push myself more (little limelight-hating me!)
High Heelers, did you know that in a study in 2007 carried out by the Workplace Bullying Institute in the U.S. (yes, this organisation really exists – sad!) the results shows that 37% of people are bullied at work and that 71% of these are women bullying other women? This is really quite disappointing. Further research shows that women will only help other women if there is a larger than 10 year age gap between them. All of the research points to the fact that women are really threatened by other women at work. But not my boss! (Who is, in fact, less than 10 years older than me).
So this brings me to this week’s tip. Given the nature of us ambitious girls, it’s a tough one! But the truth is, real women leaders create other leaders. They don’t climb the ladder carefully in their stilettos alone; they pull their employees up with them through mentoring, guidance and high expectations. They know that through empowering their staff, they are empowering their business for the future.
What makes us High Heelers this week, is our ability to put away our bitchy thoughts and competitiveness against our colleagues (competition is good, but only when it’s WITH the team, not AGAINST them). This week take the attractive new accounts lady for coffee and explain the company politics (be honest – don’t manipulate!) Give useful tips to the ambitious young girl in the corner who insists on being a sycophant. And just be a woman who ADDS VALUE to the women around you – like Natalie does.
Have a great week my High Heelers and keep aiming higher!
1 comment:
What a great read! The dancing was an awesome experience!And I can agree wholeheartedly with you- We are true High Heeler sisters with an amazing leader!The weeks tip is really fabulous! I think we often forget that as women we need the women in our lives to cheer us on and to inspire us to become the best women we can be!
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