November 2018 Newsletter + Track Meetings

When I started thinking about this question, I went back to some earlier notions of leadership: being a visionary, strategic thinking, willingness to tell the truth, etc. Those are all, of course, very necessary elements of quality leadership. But it occurred to me that something we don’t talk about enough is what kind of person you need to be to be a great leader. Especially now, in this era of turbulence both politically and socially around the world, we see a great variety of leaders. As we observe them, it seems to me we have a right to ask ourselves, what kind of people are they?

If they are influential enough to be considered leaders, are they the type of people we feel compelled to follow?  My criteria regarding that question have changed somewhat over the years, mainly because some of the things we used to take for granted aren’t really the “norm” anymore.

I believe we still need to have a basic respect for others if we have any hope of influencing them to follow us, whether as their boss or as a leader of a work team or any other type of group. How we show that respect today is very much about listening to them, asking questions, learning what their values are. Once we know something about them then we can figure out if we resonate enough to really connect and work together.

We may not even be responsible for hiring them, or they may have joined a group we are leading of their own volition. We still have a responsibility to lead them, and that requires communication, and a reasonable amount of give and take.

We owe it to ourselves to rise to the occasion and bring our best selves to every situation.  Most people want to be proud of what they do. If we aren’t bringing a level of quality and value to the workplace or team, why would they feel proud to be a part of it?

Which brings up a very crucial aspect of leadership: self-awareness. If we don’t know ourselves, if we aren’t comfortable in our own skin, if we don’t have easy access to our inner voice that serves as a constant reminder of what we really believe in and want to do, how can we think we are going to come across as authentic leaders?

To be influential, we need to connect on a deeper level with people. Purely “motivating” is an empty premise without the element of inspiration. We need to be inspired about the higher purpose of what we are doing ourselves and then engage with others from that basis to have even a hope of them helping us execute our vision and goals.

So, I’ll ask you to think about this:  Who are you? Why are you in this leadership position? What is the bigger picture, your vision that you want to bring forth? Are you inspired or just trying to get things done?

How you answer those questions makes all the difference to what kind of leader you are.

Christina Collins attended the fall gathering of Great Girls Network at her boss’s recommendation and pledges she will be back. “There is so much power when women gather together,” she said and something those of us who have been members for awhile; can certainly attest to.

Christina was born and raised in Dallas and attended Baylor University. She studied English, pre-law and political science and was planning on law school until fate provided another opportunity.
She was having coffee at her local Starbucks and strictly by accident ( or design?) met a woman who was working in the Bush administration. She urged Christina to go to Washington DC and take her resume to the hill. Christina did just that and quickly found a job. She lived in DC for three years, but ultimately determined that she wanted to invest in her local community. She returned to Dallas with no intention of staying long term; but found a meaningful job as a Program Officer for a family foundation and a husband. “His mission was to get me to stay and I did! ” Christina and David have now been married for a year and a half.

“With a rapidly growing economy clashing with rising child poverty rates, concentrated areas of inequity, I knew Dallas was ripe with need, opportunity, activators, and thoughtful change-makers (many of them members of the Great Girls Network which I’m thrilled to have joined!).”

Christina currently works for 501ops- a technology start up that provides a program management software for nonprofits in the human service sector, called Bowtie. Bowtie creates a more connected experience for staff and clients while increasing data integrity. She is also a CASA Volunteer- “Child welfare is my passion; there is so much hope in this work and it is truly the beginning of healing.”

If you know of any nonprofits seeking technology that makes their work flow easier, feel free to reach out! ([email protected])

We are thrilled to welcome Christina to GGN and look forward to learning from and with her!

Thank you to Lynne Sipiora and Katherine “Tate” Ringer for contributing this profile interview.

Workshops,  information, and opportunities to share from our members to you!!!!

We are taking up a suggestion from one of our members to turn one of our Track meetings into a conversation specifically about #MeToo. We want to have a safe space to talk about what you’re thinking, maybe sharing some experiences. This isn’t about being victims, this is about all of us growing in awareness and our ability to move forward.

GGN and Margery Miller are part of the Sponsor team for Bold Strokes!

Member Gabriela Morlett, Development Director for AVANCE invites you to attend Bookworm. All GGN Members are welcome, with free admittance to all children they wish to bring! During the Brunch children and parents will enjoy hands on activities that are literacy based, meet children’s book authors, enjoy the day with classical book characters, a petting zoo, and could win prizes. Mention the code GGN at the Registration table.
Click here to buy adult tickets

From The Minds Journal, shared by Toni Portmann:  What have you been up to? Just redesigning my DNA, freeing myself from ancestral trauma, mastering my soul lessons. You know… cultivating space for the abundant flow that I am. Giving thanks for it all!!!

From Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich:

Join Brass Tacks Collective For a two-hour workshop on mindfulness.

Saturday, November 3 from 10 AM to 12 PM CDT

Click here to register

Join Brass Tacks Collective + WeWork Labs for a two-hour workshop on workflow and organization.

Thursday, November 8 from 6 to 8 pm CST

Click here to register

Join Brass Tacks Collective for a two-hour workshop on Social Media for content creators.

Saturday, November 10 from 10 AM to 12 PM CST

Click here to register

Join Brass Tacks Collective for a two-hour workshop on the basics of a video production set.

Saturday, November 17 from 10 AM to 12 PM CST

Click here to register

To register for a Track meeting, log onto our website as a Member.

To take advantage of these amazing Track meetings, you must join GGN! Each one is an event or happening in itself. Some members come frequently, some come only once in a while. Whenever you attend one, you will find out things you didn’t know, connect with women who will challenge and inspire you, and you will leave with some new perspectives.

Growth Track
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* November 7, 2018
* 6:30pm – 8:30pm
* Some of us, no matter what our age or status in life, still experience Growing Pains from time to time. This is an opportunity to bring up any challenges and/or difficulties you are having, or to celebrate successful growth. As always, it is so great to have input from the wise women in our group!

Click here to join us at our next Growth Track meeting

Special #MeToo Conversation in lieu of our usual Transitions Track
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* November 14, 2018
* 6:30pm – 8:30pm
* This is an opportunity to talk about, learn about, share and get support from others around the difficulties women face in the workplace and in all sorts of relationships and encounters in their worlds. We want to keep moving forward, which sometimes requires revisiting and understanding past experiences. We hope this will be as inspirational as it is helpful.

Click here to join us at our Special #MeToo Track meeting

Be Well Track
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* November 28, 2018
* 6:30pm – 8:30pm
* Each time the Be Well subject comes up, we have an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and what we need to enhance our lives. The wisdom shared by other women in invaluable. Join us!

Click here to join us at our next Be Well Track meeting

We have an open Great Girls Network page which we would love for you to go to and “like” us and “follow us first” to keep up with our events and also perhaps spread the word about our group.
Click here to “like us” on our FB page and “follow us first”

If you join GGN, you will have access to our closed Great Girls Network Group which serves as a forum to ask questions, think about new ideas, and share updates with our members. We have such a talented group of women this gives you access to whatever they have to offer that might help you grow.

The private group on Facebook can’t be accessed by anyone not in the group, so you will be in a safe environment with women who are committed to our values and our pledge to end the comparing and competing that gets in our way out in the big world.

Great Girls Network is our way of being the opposite of the Good Ol’ Boys Network (which is still very much alive and well!). Even if you don’t go to Track meetings, your membership gives you a way to support our existence and be a part of a growing group of women who really appreciate each other. And the Semi-Annual Gatherings are unlike any other “networking” event! We know women don’t network like men. We want to build relationships, we want deeper, more meaningful connections. That is exactly what GGN provides.

We created a digital card that helps people understand what they can get from joining GGN so click here to see the card.

Your membership helps give us that foundation, the strength to grow and have an impact on the lives of so many more women.