sphinxx news alert    
18 November 2009 | www.sphinxx.com.au   

This week we have a fantastic success story for those of you contemplating a board role as well as some great insights on preparing for paid parental leave in your workplace, a special offer for intrepid women travellers and the opportunity to get in early for our 2010 Ascend development days before they sell out like the last 3 have!

1. Taking your leadership to the next level with board positions and volunteering - a success story
2. Are you being heard?
3. Why women can have it all!
4. The coffee's on me! Catch up with the SheEO of sphinxx in Brisbane
5. Join in the fun at the Working Women Awards night & gala dinner
6. Another sell out sphinxx development day

If you have an idea for a topic we should include in a future news alert, please let us know - we’d love to hear from you!

All the best,

Jen Dalitz
Founder & The SheEO, sphinxx.com.au

Last month I had an article in the Working Women magazine published by Women's Network Australia about the potential benefits to your career of taking on a board role. The women who I mentor will know I'm a long time proponent of this strategy, although I think it's particularly wise to consider these options in the current market environment, where promotional prospects are more limited and organisations are holding over vacancies instead of making new appointments.

So it was particularly exciting for me to meet in Adelaide last week with one of my mentees, Birgitte Sorensen, who shared with me the wins she's had this year through her board positions and volunteering activities. Birgitte has stepped up this year to take on the Chair in a not-for-profit organisation, Victim Support Service, that provides information, support and advocacy to victims of crime and has also been a founding member of the Friends of Rostrevor (school), which involves students in a range of environmental activities as part of the broader Friends of Parks network that undertakes volunteer work in National Parks.

You can click here to read the full article from Working Women, and here is a snap shot of what Birgitte had to say about the opportunities her board position and volunteering have created for her:

1. Birgitte attended a Law and Order Advocacy Day in Parliament House (Adelaide) where she had either one-on-one or small group discussions with numerous Members of Parliament from the various political parties on victims of crime. It was part of an inaugural advocacy day to enable small not-for-profit organisations to have access to Members of Parliament and to infleunce their policy directions on matters relating to law and order (in Birgitte's case it was specifically victims of crime).
2. She was the key note speaker at a reception hosted by the the Lord Mayor of Adelaide (Honourable Michael Harbison) for the 30th Birthday celebrations for Victim Support Service - and addressed about 180 guests, including past and present Members of Parliament.
3. Birgitte was also interviewed on ABC Radio regarding victims of crime and the Victim Support Service
4. She was also a Panel Member at the National Victims of Crime Conference
5. Then she had the chance to Chair the Annual General Meeting for Victim Support Service, presenting awards of recognition
6. Birgitte Chaired the monthly meetings of the Board of Management for the Victim Support Service and had the opportunity to show leadership to staff and volunteers of the organisation. Of course this was noticed by Members of the Board, who often commented and complemented Birgitte on how well the organisation is running under her leadership.
7. Finally Birgitte presented at the 25th Friends of Parks Annual Forum to showcase how the the Friends of Rostrevor are in the forefront of environmental education. The former Environment Minister, Honourable David Wotton, and senior staff of Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) congratulated Birgitte and the students and teacher, and this presentation was reported to be the highlight of the Forum. This has led to negotiations with DEH, regarding partnership arrangements on a number of projects, and with a private company, regarding potential funding.

These opportunities have created opportunities for Birgitte to develop her skills and confidence outside of her important career, and has given her additional exposure to influencing and negotiating outcomes, public speaking, dealing with the media, setting the future direction of organisations and effective chairing of meetings, which have valuable in both her volunteering and paid work. And of course she's had the opportunity to network and meet a range of people that she wouldn't get in her paid work while contributing to the community on issues she is passionate about.

This is Birgitte's story... and I bet there's many more of you who've had similar outcomes. So let's hear your story too - post your success story on this blog... and let's put all you tall poppies on display and show how wonderful the women leaders are in our community.

Deborah May produces the Advancing Women newsletter and has the following tips for how you can use action words to make sure you are heard at work:

Deborah advises that women can dilute the impact of their message by being too indirect and avoiding verbs and provides the following tips:

1. Use more verbs. They generate action.
2. Don't say, 'I was the director…' Do say, 'I directed..'
3. Don't say, 'I need you to complete that by noon.' Do say, 'please complete this by noon.'
4. Don't say, 'I made a contribution by..' Do say, 'I contributed by ...'
5. Don't say, 'it would be helpful if lunch were served at noon.' Do say, 'please serve lunch at noon.'
6. Don't say, 'is the mail in?' Do say, 'please bring in the mail.'

Find out more at www.deborahmay.com

Why women can have it all!

Maureen Frank, founder of Emberin and a truly sphinxx leader, has penned an article in this month's Dynamic Business Magazine about Why women can have it all!

Frank reports that with paid parental leave due to start in 2011, businesses need to help their female staff plan for their time off and help them come back to work afterwards.

"Many women don’t make it to board or senior executive level because they choose motherhood over advancing their careers", says Frank. "This choice also leads to a reduction of their own financial independence and economic security, with them existing on lower incomes and lower superannuation." Research shows this is sadly also contributing to the creation of a growing gender gap in society, with female poverty statistics in Australia at an alarming level.

Earlier this year, the Australian Government finally committed to a paid parental leave scheme, to come into force in 2011, going some way to helping women take time out to have a baby. "Hats off to the Government", says Frank. "They’re at least putting their money where their mouth is."

Frank points out in her article that some Australian organisations have been ahead of the game for a long time, offering paid maternity leave and other flexible workplace incentives. "These organisations are the female-friendly ones" she says, and as a result they have solid senior women executive numbers at higher levels to their industry peers.

Click here to read the full article.

The coffee's on me! Catch up with the SheEO of sphinxx in Brisbane

I'm coming to Brisbane this month and will be hosting an open coffee meeting on Monday 30th November. In these sessions you can share your ideas, ask questions, seek advice or simply discuss with me findings from the sphinxx survey on working women (and what sphinxx and Westpac are doing together to support women in leadership in Brisbane in 2010).

Click here to contact us and reserve your spot.

Join in the fun at the Working Women Awards night & gala dinner

Would you like to celebrate wonderful working women who are achieving great things in business and in life? sphinxx SheEO, Jen Dalitz, is the guest speaker at the Working Women Network awards dinner in Killara (Sydney) on Tuesday 1st December.

The Working Women's Network Awards have been established to recognise and celebrate the success of local women in business. Join us at this Gala Event which doubles as our Christmas Networking function and help us to applaud the fabulous achievements of local businesswomen as we announce the winners of each award category. You'll be enjoying pre-dinner drinks and canapes before being seated for a fabulous 2 course dinner with wine, beer and softdrinks throughout the evening.

A number of places are still open to the event - mention sphinxx when you book and Jen will have a special gift for you on the night. Click here for more information and to register for the event.

Another sell out sphinxx development day

Congratulations for those of you who have registered to attend our sell-out Ascend development day in Sydney this Friday. It's going to be a fantastic day and we have loads of surprises for all of you.

For those of you in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney - make sure you save the date for our next development days in each of those cities. These will take place in February with loads of ideas and practical tips on the theme of Reinventing Yourself - A new year, a new you, a new leadership style with sessions and speakers this quarter focused on helping participants to define and then communicate who they are and what they want, and to set their priorities, preferences and goals for the year ahead.

These events are sure to book out - so save the date now and you can even register now for the special earlybird rates:

- Adelaide: Wednesday 10th February
- Sydney: Friday 12th February
- Brisbane: Wednesday 17th February
- Melbourne: Tuesday 23rd February

Registrations are $445 per person for the full day event, or register before 15th January for the special early bird rate of $295 per person.

Group bookings are $3,500 for a group of 10, or register before 15th January for the group earlybird rate of $2500 per group of 10.