MJ’s Alpha Girl Lessons

Discover your individual work life balance.

In this classic talk, former CEO of Coca Cola, Brain Dyson, imagines life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air:  Work, Family, Health, Friends, Spirit and you are keeping all of these in the air.  You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball that bounces back but the other four balls have the potential to shatter when dropped.  The most fragile ball in the air might differ for each of you but learn to find your balance.

Negotiate with your partner on how to fairly handle the responsibilities of the “unpaid work” at home.

On average, women around the world spend more than twice as many hours as men on responsibilities with home and family. Find a way to redistribute the work or figure out other means to make some of that work easier.

Avoid taking on an unfair share of the ‘housekeeping” type duties at work.

Don’t pour water for everyone at the conference table. Don’t put that dirty mug in the office dishwasher. And definitely don’t volunteer to take notes.

Understand the importance of male allies at work and cultivate their support.

Male allies can help give credit where credit is due. When you hear a woman at work being talked over, interrupted, or having her ideas co-opted by someone else, ask a male co-worker to speak up.

Develop a sense of humor and thick skin regarding insensitive comments at work, drawing the line when it really matters.

Sometimes being a little “deaf” is the right answer.  You can go around in this life looking out for every insult and snide comment. You can hang onto every time you’ve been wronged and investigate every case of possible bad faith. Or you can tune it out, be a little deaf to it and let things go. Not stupidly of course, not completely or utterly forgetful, but just enough that you can get along with people and function above the fray.

Don’t avoid conflict, learn to address it, make it your friend.

The ability to recognize conflict, understand the nature of conflict, and to be able to bring swift and just resolution to conflict will serve you well as a leader. The inability to do so may well be your downfall.  Don't fear conflict; embrace it - it's your job

Explore further

Home Alpha Girls Institute Alpha Girls In the News