Scrappy Street Fighter or Gracious Queen: Women Need a Balance of Power - by Dr. Karen Otazo

Scrappy Street Fighter or Gracious Queen: Women Need a Balance of Power - by Dr. Karen Otazo: "At a recent Washington fund –raiser, a former female CEO arrived in a dazzling designer suit while a female senator was dressed in the business attire stated on the invitation. Why is it that many women have to be the “smartest” in the room whether in clothes or comments? Very smart women abound. They achieve so much and often get recognized for their achievement. Many of us have asked why there aren’t more women in leadership positions in organizations of all kinds.

Women are often walking a tightrope in how they are perceived in leadership positions. Learning balance is a key for us as well as men, but women really need to be aware of everything they say and do. We are more noticeable and often fewer in number. Our secret weapon is preparation and forethought. The art of preparing for everything that is public in any way, a meeting, report or conference is what we need. We need to be thinking about the balance of power in asking, telling, giving and taking everything we do or have done."