What is the most important piece of business advice anyone has ever given to you?

Isch: Always do your job with integrity and to the best of your ability.

Smith: The best piece of advice that I ever got was from my freshman English professor in college. On my first literature analysis, I got a nicely-written B with not one other red mark on my paper. I thought, “How can this be?” I asked my professor why. He replied, “Your paper didn’t have one bold, original thought. Tell me what you really think about the book.” So in my very nervous, freshman voice, I told him that I actually hated it and why. He said, “If you had written that, you would have gotten an A. No one thinks exactly like you do. Original thoughts are what set you apart.” After that, I wrote and said just what I thought in class, on paper and later did the same in the business world. That piece of advice has served me well.

Crosby: “Make the most of change. Embrace it and its opportunity.” Too often we adapt to change with an ‘OK, if I have to’ thinking that gets in the way of seeing the positive possibilities. Seeing change as positive and adopting it opens the door to potential gain we would otherwise miss.

Springer: One of the most important pieces of business advice comes from the book I am currently reading, “Switch: How to Change When Change is Hard.” Authors Chip and Dan Heath say that while it’s critical to know your business well, you have to be open to change. It is no longer enough to know your business, understand your competitors and live with your markets – you have to look ahead, be open for change that can come down the road and be ready to embrace it. I think this is particularly good advice for today’s constantly changing economic and business environments.

Baker: The best business advice I’ve gotten was really pretty simple – never stop learning. When I’m asked what I like most about my job and career, that’s always my first answer. I love the fact that I learn something new every day. I also meet someone new just about every day and that’s part of learning too!

Sieger: When I started at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation in 1987, the board leadership helped by reminding me to stay focused and be true to myself and the foundation. They would tell me that as much as I wanted to accomplish so much in a relatively short period of time, to remember that sustainable change takes commitment and a longer time horizon. It takes time to make meaningful changes.

Patridge: The most important business advice provided me was to “Lead by example and never ask anyone to do something you yourself would not do.”

Borchers: Three things: Focus on transferable skills in the marketplace; find a role in your organization that contributes to the bottom line of the business; and never take credit for work that isn’t yours. When I was graduating from Hope College, my father encouraged me to consider jobs in which I would gain skills that transferred across many industries. How else does a psychology major with a minor in dance end up selling IT consulting and engineering services?

Naffie: Delegate and don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone more experienced. Also being able to have a mentor to guide you and support you helps you not only be successful but prepares you to be a mentor for someone else someday – it supports the “pay it forward” philosophy. WMBW

How can women better prepare themselves for both current and future leadership roles?

Smith: Listen carefully to what others are saying. At Southwest Michigan First, I focus on our communications, marketing and media efforts. All three are closely related and require me to listen carefully to any and all requests to make sure that I respond exactly to what someone is asking, not to what I think they are asking or what I’d rather give them. Careful listening allows you to do things correctly the first time and make smart connections. The result ultimately leads to excellent customer service, something that we take very seriously.

Crosby: Know yourself and your strengths. Be open, straightforward and transparent. In total, be authentic. In this age of instant information, Facebook, Twitter, and multi-tasking, it is critical to leadership that we are our best self in all aspects of our life. It’s the best path to building trust and gaining influence – keys to effective leadership.

Springer: There are several things that women can do to prepare for leadership roles, including:

• Step outside your comfort zone. Be willing to participate and volunteer time to have exposure outside of your core career. Be open to how business gets done beyond your office or boardroom. Participating on a non-profit board will open you up to new ways that people solve problems and set goals, allowing you to gain skills from business leaders outside of your profession.
• Look to other women who are successful, but be careful not to use their career path as your roadmap. Create a path that works for you.
• Keep reading – we’ll get to that one in a minute.

Baker: People are rarely born with leadership skills. Life’s experiences definitely help to build leadership skills but you need to do more to excel as a leader. Build a network of outstanding individuals and watch and learn from them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s okay to admit that you don’t know how to do something or how to handle a certain situation. Build close relationships with a select few in your network and ask them to mentor you. Go to seminars, read books and be a sponge!

Sieger: Seek out a good mentor, a go-to person who understands your challenges and opportunities. Realize that discrimination against strong women leaders still exists and is many times subtle but can be quite damaging. But keep on going because your success is the best remedy to negative voices. Really do your homework and identify your strategies to move in a positive direction. If you lead a business, an organization and/or a department, keep the vision, mission and key goals prominent so everyone knows their role in making the vision come true!

Patridge: I’m a firm believer that nothing prepares you better for leadership roles than experience. Get involved at all levels and continue to challenge yourself and develop those leadership skills and experiences, they will gradually pay off. And always lead with integrity. It is the building block of a successful leader.

Atkinson: Women can prepare themselves for leadership by knowing what they bring to the table and how to surround themselves with people who complement them. And then be strong enough to know when you need help and ask for it. Empower the people around you to take initiative. Let them shine. Encourage teamwork. Reward their accomplishments.

Borchers: Get involved and network! Organizations like Inforum West Michigan and local chambers of commerce are diverse in their members, with many industries participating and many roles within those member companies. If you take the time to participate in these organizations, you expand and multiply your network while learning valuable leadership skills, which directly apply to your career.

Naffie: Being able to express yourself verbally and with the written word is an important skill that gives any leader an edge. I have seen so many talented women who refused to share their opinion and expertise because they were terrified of public speaking. Taking a public speaking class and being part of a women’s organization where women work together in service to the community and discover and share each other’s stories help women give voice to their desire to lead. WMBW

What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership in organizations in West Michigan and beyond?

Isch: I think things have changed greatly during my career in terms of women in the workplace and their ability to be promoted. Today, women have a much different experience and I believe that you can do or achieve whatever you dream. Honestly, it’s not about gender; it’s about talent. Men and women working together in the workforce can only bring great things for companies around West Michigan and the U.S.

Smith: After living on both the East and West coasts before moving here, I quickly realized that the low cost of living and relatively high wages in Southwest Michigan allow many families to keep a caregiver at home. Typically, that role is filled by the female in a household. Despite a college degree and having worked before children, once a woman stays home, that decision puts her at a great disadvantage when she returns to work both from an experience and technology standpoint. One way to combat this is to keep up on your skills while at home and work part time if feasible. Otherwise, be as aggressive as possible and take every opportunity that comes your way once you re-enter the workplace.

Crosby: Regardless of location, we are our most significant barrier. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, said it well in her TED talk in December 2010. She said women need to sit at the table, not be content in a chair against the wall. Speak with confidence and negotiate for themselves. Own success.

Springer: I do not agree with the old standby that West Michigan is too conservative to allow women to secure significant leadership roles within organizations. A couple of factors may hold women back. While men are great at taking credit, that does not come so easily for women. In fact, we are quick to take blame when things go wrong. It’s important for us to believe that we have the skills to do the job. Secondly, women often bring a unique perspective to their roles. Sometimes, though, organizations want their leadership team to be singing from the same page, so it can be difficult for someone with a unique perspective to get a seat at the table.

Baker: I don’t know if I can pick one significant barrier. The glass ceiling still exists in some industries and in many organizations. But even in the male-dominated CPA world, some women are excelling and rising to the top. Women accounting grads outnumber men, so why aren’t there more women partners in CPA firms? There are many more than in the past, but a lot of women CPAs change jobs and even careers before they reach the partner level. Traditionally women have had to juggle more priorities than men when they start families. Thankfully, more men help with those family responsibilities nowadays than in the past. Women are great at multi-tasking but often they just burn out before they get where they wanted to go.

Sieger: The perception of women in leadership positions is still not on par with that of men. In fact, when discussing this with other colleagues, there is agreement that this has not improved significantly in the last decade or so. I am still stunned when male colleagues do not understand why females may express their concern about being excluded. Sometimes I hear, “you are being much too sensitive.”

Patridge: Women are still not provided opportunities to lead organizations in many industries. They are part of the management teams but often not selected to be the ultimate leader.

Atkinson: Many men are still a bit intimidated by women who are assertive and confident.

Borchers: West Michigan has many small to mid-sized companies that do not have structured mentor and leadership programs. Although this can be perceived as a barrier, small to mid-sized companies tend to be less hierarchical and at times, more entrepreneurial and nimble. Therefore, as opportunities for leadership arise, employees can step up and assume those roles quickly.

Naffie: So many women lack self-confidence. These are women who are smart, capable, and responsible. I think women in general underestimate their contributions to a community. And despite our strides toward equality, women sometimes have to be more than competent – they have to be better – which may contribute to the idea they have to be perfect – instead of good. There is nothing wrong with being “just” good at what you do. Women take for granted what they do – the planning, the organizing – the execution of an event or project. They don’t see the incredible focus and collaboration it takes. So sisters – recognize and embrace the strengths you have – our community needs your leadership. WMBW

What’s on your current “must-read” list?

Isch: “The Help”

Crosby: “Alone Together – Why we expect more from technology and less from each other” by Sherry Turkle; “The IDEA Hunter – How to FIND the best ideas and make them happen” by Andy Boynton and Bill Fischer; “ReWork” by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson.

Baker: Nothing on the current bestseller list! My must-read is “The Professional’s Guide to Value Pricing” by Ron Baker (no relation). Our firm is in the midst of an exciting transition from being paid by the hour to being paid for value. This approach fosters communication because our clients no longer fear the ticking clock. They stop being afraid of opening our bill because they know how much it will be ahead of time. Ron Baker is the national guru in this area and the book is guiding our value pricing team in implementation of this change.

Sieger: “Leap of Reason: Managing to Outcomes in an Era of Scarcity” by Mario Morino; “Creating Philanthropic Capital Markets: The Deliberate Evolution” by Lucy Bernholz; and for recreational reading, anything by Anita Shreve and good mystery novels.

Patridge: “The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” by Stieg Larsson; “Greater than Yourself” by Steve Farber; “10 Greatest Gifts I Give My Children: Parenting from the Heart” by Steven Vannoy; and “Share Save Spend” by Nathan Dungan.

Atkinson: “How To Become A Rainmaker,” “The E-Myth Revisited,” “Good To Great,” and “What Women Want, The Global Market Turns Female Friendly.”

Borchers: “The Maxwell Daily Reader: 365 Days of Insight to Develop the Leader Within You and Influence Those Around You” by John C. Maxwell is on my coffee table and I consult it regularly over my morning coffee.

Naffie: I love to read – for enjoyment as well as to learn. I always have a fiction book in progress and usually a nonfiction as well. I love mysteries and legal thrillers – just finished “One Good Turn” by Kate Atkinson, a mystery and family drama. Even though she has been around for a while, I just discovered her writing and look forward to reading more by her. Michael Lewis has a new book on the financial crisis coming out in October and Robert Massie has a biography of Catherine the Great to be released in November. I look forward to reading both. WMBW