Mother’s Day is only 4 days away so today ‘Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg’ celebrated by discussing how to parlay the soft, natural leadership skills of motherhood into the hard skills of the business world with Erica Keswin—Founding Principal of Organization Performance Relationships (O.P.R.), a boutique consulting firm that works with both individuals and businesses to address ways to cultivate meaningful and productive relationships in this growing tide of digital distraction.
“We don’t want to take three steps back as women.”
“People want to connect with an actual person. You just want to hear a voice.”
“If we give a Twitter account to someone who would say interesting things and have an interesting perspective, then I could see the benefits.”
“There are always going to be people watching TV.”
“Once women decide to leave the workforce a fear of technical proficiency will stop them from going back.”
“When you re-enter the workplace think about ways your currents skills transfer into a new job.”
“Technical skills can be learned, online or at night. But the softer skills—active feedback, listening—mothers have those naturally.”
“Actively listening, putting your phone away and listening are becoming increasingly critical skills because Millennials are demanding their managers know them personally.”
“You can’t learn about an employee in an email.”
“The iPhone Effect is real study. If your phone is on the table, it makes conversation more trivial. Even if your phone is in your peripheral vision, it will have the same affect.
“Attention is currency. Just because you walk into a room does not mean people are really there.”
“We’re addicted to email, each time we get one we get a shot of dopamine. We need help managing it. We need protocol. As mother’s we establish that.”
“The softest skills are the hardest to teach and the hardest to find.”
“The issue with empathy is the impact of all this technology on it.”
“People want the people with whom they’re speaking to understand what they’re saying.”
“Match the message to the medium—many people default to a technological response.”
“It’s easier to feel empathy through social media.”
“’Reclaiming Conversation’ with Shelly Turkle helped me learn the role of communication within the workplace and how technology was affecting that.”
“Figuring out ways to connect with people in your business is great for the bottom line.”
“My interest and passion around relationships started with Barbara Reich—time management guru.”
“With technology, no one can ever be caught up, the good news is Barbara and I can show how to increase productivity and lowering stress.”
“Managing your relationships isn’t just with other people, it’s also with yourself.”
“When Warby Parker is hiring people, they hire for empathy.”
“Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn talks about ‘compassionate management.’”
“Women who want to re-enter the workplace who realize they have empathy skills can ask how they can start the process of going back.”
“Apres Group helps women re-enter the workplace.”
“Think through the skillset you used to be successful in your different roles. Do a gap analysis.”
“Mothers are constantly juggling.”
“No one other than you is going to be able to build your network. Start with a plan.”
“I make a goal for myself to have lunch or coffee with a certain number of people to build and strengthen relationships.”
“Every time I focus and engage with other people something great comes out of it.”
“Maternity policies are starting to change. One of the challenges is the senior women in company aren’t taking leave. What messages are we sending?”
“If someone wants to be their own boss and freelance, there’s no better time than right now.”
“My advice is to decide what you want to do. Think about your strategies to build and grow the business.”
“Template your time, maybe Tuesday is business development day and Wednesday is marketing day.”
“You have to really be very disciplined and strategic about your time.”
“Work / life balance is much harder when you run your own business.”
“The negotiation skills moms have carries over well into running their own businesses.”
“Multi-tasking does not work for anyone. But women tend to be better at it.”
“I find reading fiction or going to the movies helps me relax. People feel guilty doing something where their mind goes somewhere else.”
“Organization and relationship building are the two traits I want to pass onto my kids.”
“My kids teach me about business every day. I can pause before reacting and responding. Taking a mom time-out.”
“The number one trend companies are trying to integrate into the workplace is working from home. Millennials are demanding it.”
“Most managers or leaders don’t have these discussions with people. Employees need to ask what the guidelines are.”
Read more about Erica Keswin HERE
Join ‘Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg’ next Wednesday at 12pm ET when first female network TV founder, Kay Koplovitz, joins the show! Only on SiriusXM Business Channel 111!
Happy Mother’s Day!!
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