How do you define a “Power Woman”? Or “Woman in Power”? Is Honesty a Test?

Last week, President Bush appointed Tammy Longaberger, CEO of the Longaberger Company
Chair of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), succeeding Marilyn Carlson Nelson, CEO of Carlson companies.

Empowering Women Enterpreneurs Share The Following Different Views:
Read More!

• Family Business Owners Gain More Political Clout, Laurel Delaney’s Escape From Corporate America blog: Money = Political Campaign Contribution = Power Women Positions
• Kirsten’s RE: But Daddy Said I Could! Where rich daddies hand over businesses to their baby girls.
• USA Today’s article states that “Longaberger’s GOP gifts have continued this year; she gave $25,000 to the Republican National Committee in late March.
  Asked if her gifts were a factor in this week’s appointment, White House spokeswoman Erin Healy said: “We base personnel decisions on the most qualified person.” Longaberger declined comment.”…Why are we feeling guilty?
• Columbus Business First, Longaberger picked for national women’s biz council : Longaberger “won’t disclose its revenue levels for last year.”…What’s up with that? Could’ve Longaberger experienced an even greater dip in sales that Carlson companies after 9/11? Since they’re not a billion-dollar company yet…I highly doubt it. So who cares what your #s are?

Why decline the turth?

Now, I don’t want to be too critical of someone I’d love to build a power network during her next 3-year term…I learned that whenever I chose to “decline” to answer, I lost trust, honor, and respect from those below me and alongside me.

While I aligned “well” with my bosses and advisors…I risked months of pain and suffering with those who I had to work with on a daily basis…my team of employees. It out-right stunk, becuase I had to “earn” their trust, honor and respect…and it’s VERY hard to do when I started off with silence.

My staff did NOT trust, honor or respect what I had to say…AND it did NOT matter that my silence was in the department’s best interest…by “declining to comment”, the worse case scenario was always assumed.

What I learned is that when I shared the turth, and shared my own story (not in a defensive or matter-of-fact arrogant way)…no matter what the answer was…I landed on higher ground.

It’s how you tell the story and share the answer that matters. I believe that honesty even during controversial times, IS a true test to leadership, becuase trust, honor and respect lays the foundation rather than deceit, doubt or “behind the scenes–fishy business” going on.

I think honesty is a bigger test to a Power Woman, then one’s money, linage, or political clout. It’s unfortunate that all these articles (and I read at least 2 more) assumes that Ms. Longaberger’s money, linage and political savvy helped her with her present appointment.

As she has HUGE shoes to fit, following Marilyn Carlson Nelson’s dramatic successes…TIME will only show if her honesty and women entrepreneurialship skills (leadership, business savvy, etc.) catapults her to the role Power Woman at National Women’s Business Council (NWBC).

As an ultra-optimist, I have faith in your abilities Ms. Longaberger…but to most doubting-Tom’s/Tanya’s, sounds like you’re off to an unfortunate start.

Please share your support, rejection or indifference!

Technorati Tags: Power Woman, Honesty, Woman in Power, Tammy Longaberger

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Posted on May 20th, 2005 by ponnsabra
Filed under: Entrepreneurialism