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The topic of this episode deals with Tip #2 from Skirt Strategies: 249 Success Tips for Women in Leadership: Grow your credibility. Get certifications when you can.
You are always better off having irrefutable credentials, especially of you are a woman in leadership. And especially of you are in a male-based workplace. This won’t get you all the way there, but it will help.
Lifelong learning is not just a trite saying. It has to do with your continuous curiosity with life. More women are receiving college degrees than men these days, but don’t forget to trust your own innate intelligence and ability to learn anything.
What are some of the things you would like to learn more about? Begin your “bucket list” of lifelong learning goals. Here are some of ours…
PODCAST TRANSCRIPTION
Hello and welcome to the Skirt Strategies podcast, the podcast to help you get the support, validation and skills you need to accomplish your goals and really succeed in a male dominated world – all without having to give up your incredible female strengths.
Katie: Welcome to Skirt Strategies podcast. It’s another podcast.
Carol: And today, we are talking about our second tip from the book.
Katie: So this is a book tip.
Carol: And the book is?
Katie: The book is – Skirt Strategies: 249 Success Tips for Women in Leadership by Carol Wight and Katie Snapp.
Carol: That’s us.
Katie: And many of you have the book and follow along.
The podcast is intended to give you a little bit of audio support, regarding these tips. So we’re delving into Tip Number 2.
Carol: Grow your credibility. Get certifications when you can.
Katie: When we put this tip in the book, where do you think we were coming from? Because this is kind of, “Well, yeah.” Or is it even a – “Well, yeah.” Grow credibility.
Carol: Where were we coming from? Maybe a point of insecurity. Sometimes women are insecure about their knowledge, about their capabilities. And of course, everybody can be insecure about that and not just women. But is that where we were coming from?
Katie: Yes. Do you look back at what you’ve achieved? And you suddenly have a train of – “Wow! That’s good. Wow! You did that.”
I call them irrefutable credentials. You want to have irrefutable credentials. Now, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be an easy person to work with. It doesn’t mean you’re going to be a great leader.
Carol: Yeah. It just means you have a lot of titles behind your name.
Katie: You’re more likely to get the look, right?
Carol: True, true. Yeah.
Katie: I think that women can have irrefutable credentials to help them get the look. And we don’t mean the ogling look – we mean the serious look as somebody that’s up and coming in the organization or someone that takes their professional development seriously. And there were somebody else would be that’s maybe a male counterpart.
Carol: And you know what? I’m going to be a bit of a contrary in here and say that sometimes women think they don’t know enough. And they go back to school to get that credential and they still don’t know anymore. And I’m going to use one of my daughters as an example.
She got a BA Degree in Communications and got a job right out of college – working for a Communications Company. But she didn’t feel like she knew enough. So she went back and got her master’s degree in Communications and she still didn’t feel like she knew enough – even though she was working in the industry and probably one of the more talented people they had.
So that’s a degree of insecurity that I think is… All the credentials in the world won’t get you that degree of security. You’ve got to know that you don’t know some things and that’s okay.
Katie: So here’s where I came about it.
Because as an engineer, I didn’t have a master’s – I had a bachelor’s. So I didn’t have anything advanced. I did not get my PE – which is in Professional Engineering. I didn’t really need it for the job that I had, but many times that’s sort of the technical role and you do need a PE.
And I always kind of wondered. I had this little lazy bone in me. I was like, “No, I really don’t want to do it. Maybe I should go back and get my master’s.” I went back for one class and I was like, “No, I don’t really like it.”
So what hackled me more – was if I’m going to get something that means something, I want it to mean something. I want it to be maybe something that sets me apart.
For example, years after that when I was in consulting, I got a certification as a coach through the International Coach Federation.
And that served me right off the bat. I had two potential clients – that the first thing they asked was, “Are you certified?”
So that helped me and then I actually really did learn something about it, because I found out that the way I was coaching before – really needed some changes and I wouldn’t have otherwise noticed.
But what are some of the other credentialing’s or certifications that you can take or that you can add to a resume that looks like, “Oh! Isn’t that interesting?”
Carol: Right.
Katie: “How about authoring a book?” Isn’t that cool?
Carol: Oh, huge.
Katie: Now, it’s becoming more and more common, because it’s easier to do – printing on demand.
Carol: Right. But not very many people. I mean, still to this day – not very many people sit down and write a book.
Katie: Right.
Carol: So yeah. That’s a huge credential.
Katie: And I remember a colleague of mine who is a PHD. And as soon as she heard I had a book – she was like, “Oh, I’ve been teaching in the industry for 35 years and I don’t have a book.”
Carol: Right. Probably written numerous articles and papers, but never published.
Katie: Published in a different way. Yeah. I would say… here’s a great way of going about this. Start with a bucket list.
Carol: I love the idea.
Katie: A bucket list of maybe the standard credentials.
What do some of your colleagues have that you envious of some credential that they have?
But be careful. Are you envious of it, because it has served them well and it gives them a level of authority or expertise or blah, blah, blah?
So ask yourself that first. Or can you find something that’s different that makes you unique and sets you apart?
Carol: Interesting.
Katie: Like, “Are you certified in hypnosis?”
Carol: That would be so fun.
Katie: I know. Wouldn’t people say, “Oh! That’s really interesting.”
Carol: I’m going to put that on my bucket list.
Katie: Think of people that are unusual in your workplace and what is it that makes them unusual and dynamic.
Carol: Right. I like it. I like the idea that you’re not just going back for another three initials behind your name.
Katie: Right.
Carol: But you’re going back to get those pieces of information that really make a difference to you.
Katie: I’ve always wanted to be certified in Pediatric First Aid. Because when my kids were in soccer and stuff – somebody hurt them. So I wanted to be the one that had the little kit in my trunk that came in to help.
Carol: Oh, how cute!
Katie: I just wanted to help.
Carol: You just want to be the center of the attention.
Katie: Really, I want to help. I want to keep a kid from being in pain.
Carol: Sure. Oh!
Katie: So there’s something now. Is that the sort of thing that could be helpful in a workplace?
Yeah. Because now you’re seen as a resourceful person, you’re seen as helpful or you’re seen as dynamic, you’re seen as somebody that’s growing constantly.
So if I’m a manager in a department and I look around and I see Katie over there and, “Boy! I know Katie does this and this and this.” I’m going to see me as a more potential grower in maybe a new position or lead a new project because I’m always stretching myself.
Carol: Right.
Katie: It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s because I was getting my master’s degree in engineering. In fact, it really sets me apart that it was something else.
Carol: Interesting. Well, you know me. I’ve always kind of wanted to become a spiritual leader.
And there’s a few of those. They’re like coaching programs, but they’re first spiritual leadership.
And someday, I shall do that. That’s on my bucket list.
Katie: Okay, a spiritual leader. Okay. That’s cool. I get that.
Carol: Yeah.
Katie: If a woman is struggling with where she’s going. Like we first talked about – the self-confidence issue anyway.
What does she need to look out for? (Like your daughter.)How does she keep herself from going down the wrong path for the wrong reason? Or maybe going down that path of the master’s degree, but now embracing it and really using it in a way that markets her and makes her feel better about herself.
Carol: I don’t know, honestly. You know, same daughter, wonderful, fascinating, fabulous women is now kind of in that same realm.
She’s in the communications realm. And communications is one of those soft kills.
So she is using it. And she probably knows more because of her master’s. But I don’t know that she had to go back and get that master’s in order to be doing exactly what she’s doing right now.
But it’s nice. She has it behind her. She’s got the credential. She feels good about it. That’s fabulous.
So I’m definitely not saying anything against that. I’m just saying, “Don’t do it because you feel insecure. Do it because it is the next right step for you.”
Katie: Yes, exactly. Well, and we’re kind of downplaying the fact that she might actually learn something that’s useful in the master’s.
Carol: Oh, there’s that too.
Katie: But I’ve look back at engineering degree. I’m using very little of… And even in my engineering, I use very little of that.
So, so many degrees are about the discipline and the theory and the general application and blah, blah, blah. But when you actually get the real job – it has nothing to do with what you went to school for.
Carol: True.
Katie: So I often look at the advanced degrees and I think, “Is it just the credential or did you really get something from it?”
Carol: Great information from it.
Katie: So there’s a part of that that you definitely need to wait.
Carol: Well, I consider myself a lifelong learner. I mean, if there is a learning opportunity out there – I’m going to be there.
I love workshops. I love learning. I don’t really like going back to school and having to be in a class. And you know, there’s a…
Katie: I don’t sit still well.
Carol: Yeah. It’s not right for me at this point in my life. But I really do love those one day, two day workshops – that I can really get in some deep learning and be with a group of people.
I think that’s fabulous and fascinating. And I’m going to start working on my bucket list a little bit more.
One of the things my father did – he used to teach at the Elderhostel. He put together Elderhostel’s at Lake Powell and would bring in Native Americans that did weaving and all sorts of things. Like geologists, like photographers.
That just sounds like fun. And I don’t know if I’m going to put them together or if I’m just going to go to Elderhostel’s everywhere when I turn… I think you can be 60, 55 to start going.
Katie: And start staying there?
Carol: Yeah, very fun.
Katie: There are some in Europe.
Carol: Oh, yeah. There are.
Katie: Okay. I’m digging that. What are the variety of certification/credential/maybe just a class that says you’ve completed? What are the variety of different media?
So let’s say that I’m creating my bucket list – which we recommend for all of our Skirt Strategists followers. And it’s probably an ongoing dynamic changing bucket list.
What are some of the variety of channels or things, ways to look at getting those credentials that you would want to look at, that you would want to consider?
For example, where I’m going with that is – open up the Continuing ED catalogue. You’ll get tons of ideas from that.
Carol: Oh, yeah. Underwater basket weaving is not all they offer.
Katie: I’m thinking the sommelier class.
Carol: Oh, yeah.
Katie: And actually, I don’t think there is a sommelier class.
Carol: I could teach that.
Katie: But my sister and her husband and my husband all want to… I shouldn’t give it away because somebody is going to steal my idea. So never mind on that. But wouldn’t it be cool – if there was like a sommelier ish type class?
Anyway, look at sources like the continuing ED catalogue and see what’s there that will give you a full range.
Carol: Right. There’s something called – The Great Courses Catalogue.
Katie: Are those audio?
Carol: Yes, most of them are audio.
Katie: Because they look heavy. They look neat. I’ve never heard of anyone that took one of those. Have you?
Carol: I haven’t. I’d get the catalogue and I go through it and I’m like, “Wow! That would be interesting. I think.”
Katie: Or they just described it really well. It’s very good marketing.
Carol: Yeah.
Katie: Online, in person, at the library, something off the shelf…
Carol: I do audio books. I mean, that’s where I get a lot of my learning. Just listening to those as I’m driving. I read a lot.
You know, you’re not getting a credential from that. But if somebody asked you what are the last three books you read, you can tell them.
Katie: Yeah. In fact, I had that conversation with some friends over around the dinner table recently. “What’s everyone reading right now?” And so I heard.
Carol: Right.
Katie: And some of them – half of them were… somebody said, “Oh my, gosh! You’ve got to get this book.” And so I’ve jutted it down real quick and then, I’ve got a nice little list.
But those aren’t necessarily credentials or certifications. They do make you richer. They enrichen you especially if it’s historical fiction or business books.
Carol: We have our certification program at the university here. And anybody can take the certification program. And they do a great job at outlining and having different teachers.
Katie: You’re talking about like the certificate courses at the management school?
Carol: Yeah. So I did their certification program for non-profit and I have a certificate in non-profit management.
Katie: And you get networking that way?
Carol: Yes.
Katie: I just did one in project management. I love that. It was very eye opening.
Carol: So the other place you can get certifications – is through your trade organization.
Katie: Good idea. Become more involved in that.
Let’s go back to just kind of a wrap up thought perhaps. I think what’s a deeper point here is the credibility.
I mean, one of the reasons we say, “Get the certifications when you can.” Because we want something that looks, “On paper is inarguable.” Right?
Carol: Right.
Katie: “She’s certified. She does it. We know she’s qualified. She’s legally convolve.” Whatever that is.
But what’s behind that – and are you using that to help enforce yourself and your competency and your self-confidence?
That’s a big question. If I had a ton of certifications, but I was only 25 – I think the experience is going to speak stronger than the certifications.
Carol: At that point. Well, the fact that you went on and got the certifications…
Katie: Got me started.
Carol: Right.
Katie: Yeah, makes me understand what’s out there – just a little bit more.
So maybe we leave our listeners with an action item on this – which is creating that bucket list.
I haven’t looked at mine in a long time. But I’m not sure what’s… You know, I’m constantly chipping away at something. I’m not sure what’s on my bucket list right now.
Carol: I need you to hold me accountable to putting one together and then to doing more. Because I don’t think I’ve been in a classroom or a workshop or a certification for a while.
Katie: Aha.
Carol: I think the last certification I got – was my alcohol server certification.
Katie: Back in 19?
Carol: No. It’s been fairly recently.
Katie: I have a value space leadership course coming up.
Carol: Oh, that’s right.
Katie: You should be in that.
Well, the enrichedness of the extracurricular activities – I love.
I would love to be a cheese expert. I don’t really want to be a cheese expert.
Carol: No, I got it. Just to have some expertise behind it. It’s fun.
Katie: Yeah. And then it goes with the wine.
Carol: True.
Katie: And doesn’t that make you just a little bit more well-rounded?
But we talk about in other places in the book – is having a social life, having a spiritual life.
Whatever that is for you – maybe that’s your four minutes of meditative silence being a Skirt Strategies subscriber.
Carol: Maybe that’s as spiritual as you want to get?
Katie: Maybe that’s a spiritual, maybe it’s a walk with your dog that cleanses your head, maybe it’s attending church once a week or more. But what is it for you?
So there’s that spiritual side, there’s that community side, there’s that artsy personal enrichment side, there’s where your friends are, there’s where your families and there’s where your work is.
Women are not individualistic in one or more area. We’re really very holistic. So when we talk about getting certifications – pick any of those realms.
Carol: Sure.
Katie: Sophie – my youngest daughter, she is a freshman in college right now. But when she was a junior or senior in high school, she did tell me that she just got some sort of (what’s it called when you can perform religious ceremonies?)
Carol: Oh, minister?
Katie: Well, I’m a minister now.
Carol: She’d get online and become a minister.
Katie: Yes. But she said, “Mom, but it wasn’t an online…”
And I started getting a little worried about who maybe she was hanging around with.
But she said that she could perform… and she was indoctrinated or whatever.
Carol: Weddings and…?
Katie: That she could marry people.
Carol: She could officiate.
Katie: Yeah, yeah.
Carol: Interesting.
Katie: Exactly.
Carol: She can do that?
Katie: Yes.
Carol: I love it. She’s a doll. She’s so fun.
Katie: She joined the rugby team at school last weekend, by the way.
Carol: Oh my, gosh!
Katie: Which now I’m worried, because she’s never done hardly any sports since she was about eight.
Carol: Oh.
Katie: But she’s just one of those. She’s a perfect example of somebody that just goes out and does something kind of corky and off the wall.
Carol: I like that. Everybody – put that on your bucket list. Become official.
Katie: Ordained was…
Carol: An ordained minister.
Katie: She became an ordained minister.
Carol: Interesting.
Katie: And I thought maybe it was something she’d applied for – online. But she said it was more in person than that.
So this is how good of a mom I am. I just kind of left in the battle and like, “Oh, I don’t think I want to know.”
Carol: How funny!
Katie: But stretching yourself in all those different ways – it’s just a way to soak up life more.
Carol: Sure. Absolutely! Alright, so figure out what you’re going to do – go do it.
Katie: Let’s get that bucket list going.
Carol: Get your bucket list and get your certifications.
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That’s it for this episode of the Skirt Strategies podcast. Thank you for joining us and please be sure to leave a question or comment at skirtstrategies.com. Remember that success comes when you lead, using your natural female strengths.