Conscious Business.

A more junior woman (or man) can also intervene in the situation when a female colleague has been interrupted. She can gently but firmly tell the group, “Before we move on, I’d like to hear what [senior woman] had to say.” This action not only benefits the senior woman but can raise the stature of the junior woman as well, since speaking up for

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”

Every so often, Clara would contact me, always with an interesting point or a thoughtful question. She never asked to get together to “catch up.” She never asked a question that she could have found the answer to on her own.

(Although Fred would caution my son to take out the “but” and everything after, since it tends to deny the preceding statement.

“I want to do that—and I’ll learn by doing it.”

“What have I done for you lately?”

it’s better to focus on specific problems with real solutions. Most people in the position to mentor are quite adept at problem solving.

A long-term dream does not have to be realistic or even specific. It may reflect the desire to work in a particular field or to travel throughout the world. Maybe the dream is to have professional autonomy or a certain amount of free time. Maybe it’s to create something lasting or win a coveted prize.