Future Female Leaders

Nichole Harrop: Women's Leadership + Career Coach

The Future Female Leaders Podcast helps create more female leaders in the workplace. If you are working in an entry level role and are preparing for future growth opportunities, this podcast is for you. Future Female Leaders topics consist of building confidence, improving communication skills, becoming more self aware, learning how to proactively network, and expanding your mindset to best prepare you for that future leadership role. Let's get you promoted! Nichole Harrop is a Women's Leadership + Career Coach. She started at a call center in an entry level role and built her career from there without a college degree. Nichole was turned down for promotions many times before she was offered a leadership position and has led teams in different organizations from well established companies to new tech start ups for over 10 years. read less

233| Are You Feeling Overwhelmed at Work?
2d ago
233| Are You Feeling Overwhelmed at Work?
Check out the Future Leaders Program Buy a copy of My Career Journal Introduction: In this episode of the Future Female Leaders Podcast, host Nichole Harrop discusses the common experience of feeling overwhelmed at work after a holiday weekend. She reassures listeners that this is a normal occurrence and provides practical tips for managing overwhelm and prioritizing tasks effectively. Nichole introduces a simple exercise called the "Red Light Green Light" technique, which helps categorize and visualize work-related tasks based on enjoyment and energy levels. Episode Highlights: The State of Overwhelm: Nichole acknowledges the feeling of overwhelm that often arises when returning to work after a long holiday weekend. She emphasizes that it is a shared experience among many individuals and addresses the inaction that can accompany overwhelm. The Red Light Green Light Exercise: Nichole introduces the Red Light Green Light exercise as a tool to navigate overwhelming tasks. She instructs listeners to envision three columns: Green Light (tasks they enjoy), Red Light (draining tasks), and Yellow Light (challenging tasks). Green Light Column: Listeners are encouraged to identify tasks they genuinely love doing and consider how they can incorporate more of these activities into their work. Nichole advises communicating these preferences to direct leaders to foster a more fulfilling work experience. Red Light Column: The focus shifts to tasks that drain energy and create feelings of dread or procrastination. Nichole prompts listeners to evaluate whether they have communicated their aversion to these tasks with their leaders, emphasizing the importance of sharing honest feedback while still committing to completing them effectively. Yellow Light Column: Nichole introduces the concept of yellow light tasks—tasks that don't bring immediate joy but involve curiosity, challenges, and the need for clarification. She highlights the significance of seeking clarity and direction from leaders to ensure successful execution. Effective Communication: Nichole emphasizes the importance of open dialogue and effective communication with leaders. She encourages listeners to discuss task preferences, seek clarity, and align expectations to enhance job satisfaction and reduce overwhelm. Delegation and Support: Nichole suggests considering delegation as a solution for tasks that others might enjoy more, allowing individuals to focus on their strengths and find more fulfillment in their work. She emphasizes the need to communicate the desire for support and collaboration rather than avoiding tasks altogether. Journaling Resource: Nichole recommends her career journal available on Amazon, designed to help individuals advance their careers. The journal contains over a hundred unique prompts for ongoing self-reflection and personal growth. Conclusion: Nichole wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to try the Red Light Green Light exercise and engage in open conversations with their leaders about task preferences and challenges. By prioritizing tasks and aligning expectations, individuals can reduce overwhelm, improve job satisfaction, and create a more fulfilling work experience. Outro: Don't forget to check out Nichole's career journal available on Amazon—a valuable resource for tracking career progress and personal growth. Stay tuned for the next episode of the Future Female Leaders Podcast. Until then, keep thriving in your career journey. See you next time!
232| How to Start Setting Some Boundaries at Work
May 9 2023
232| How to Start Setting Some Boundaries at Work
Book your complimentary Leadership Assessment Call. Learn more about the Future Leaders Program. Listen to Episode 125 about Office Housework In this episode, Nichole discusses the importance of setting boundaries in the workplace, offering advice on how to identify and enforce them. She encourages listeners to book a leadership assessment call to help them better understand their current situation and where they want to go. Nichole emphasizes that awareness is key to setting boundaries and that it is important to recognize what boundaries look like for you in the workplace. She also advises against feeling the need to say yes to everything and encourages listeners to understand what actually brings them joy in their role. She uses the example of delegation as a way to set boundaries, noting that just because you are good at something does not mean you enjoy doing it. Nichole also discusses "non-promotable tasks," such as note-taking and recognition efforts, that may not help listeners get promoted. To further illustrate the importance of setting boundaries, Nichole suggests thinking about how your leader sets boundaries and whether they respond to messages or emails late at night or on weekends. She notes that it is easier to enforce boundaries when you see your leader doing it. In conclusion, Nichole encourages listeners to recognize their own boundaries and to say no to certain things that are not a right fit for them, as well as to understand the importance of a healthy work-life harmony.
229| How to Work Through Negative Perceptions at Work
May 5 2023
229| How to Work Through Negative Perceptions at Work
Book your complimentary Leadership Assessment Call here. Learn more about the Future Leaders Program here. The Future Female Leaders Podcast is a show dedicated to creating more female leaders in the workplace, hosted by Nichole Harrop. In this episode, Nichole talks about how to work through negative perceptions at work. She offers a complimentary leadership assessment call to help women understand where they are currently in the workplace and where they want to go. Nichole describes how perceptions can lead to bigger issues and create negative self-doubt thoughts. She shares a personal experience of applying for team leader roles and being turned down multiple times. She explains that this was a sign that there might be a perception issue at work. She realized that there were office politics at play, and some leaders only hired people who they were friends with or who they saw as part of their inner circle. Nichole emphasizes that it's essential to work on self-awareness and to be aware of the perceptions others have of you. She suggests taking on additional responsibilities, showing up as your best self, and having open and honest conversations with your manager. Nichole shares how working through negative perceptions at work takes time and effort but is worth it to achieve your career goals. By doing pulse checks with other team members, you can gain insight into how to approach difficult situations with tact and strategy. Rather than placing blame, it's important to get curious and understand how to best move forward. Perception issues can lead to disengagement and poor performance, but by asking for guidance and clarity, you can overcome those struggles. Nichole shares personal experiences of having to set boundaries to avoid being seen as a social butterfly and not being taken seriously. The Future Leaders program is highlighted as a resource for live one-on-one training and real-time feedback to help individuals grow and work towards their first leadership position.
224| Improving Your Communication Skills in Email, Meetings, and With Your Boss With Shanenn Bryant
Apr 19 2023
224| Improving Your Communication Skills in Email, Meetings, and With Your Boss With Shanenn Bryant
Book your complimentary Leadership Assessment Call Learn more about the Future Leaders Program Follow the Jealousy Junkie Podcast hosted by Shanenn Bryant Nichole and Shannon discuss ways to improve communication in the workplace. One way is to ask questions separately in bullet points instead of in long paragraphs within an email, allowing the other person to answer each question next to it. Another way is to present information and requests in a table format to allow for more detailed responses and easier communication.  These methods help make communication more concise and prevent misunderstandings. Additionally, Shanenn encourages people to ask for what they need in a clear and direct manner. Nichole and Shannon discuss how to approach a conversation with a supervisor who is not a good communicator. They recommend making a list of questions, including when the task is due, who needs to be involved, and if there are any specific instructions. It is also recommended to set up one-on-ones with the supervisor and discuss expectations and how to communicate better. Additionally, they suggest proactively communicating what type of learner you are and how the supervisor can accommodate that. In meetings, women get interrupted more often than men. To prevent interruptions, a woman can politely say a couple of phrases like "I have just another point to make and then I'd love to hear your feedback," or "As soon as I'm finished, I'm gonna open it up, and we'll be able to hear everyone's feedback." Women can practice these phrases to feel more comfortable in the moment. If interrupted, a woman can use visual cues like putting her finger up or reaching out physically to get the speaker's attention and say that she wasn't done speaking yet. People interrupt because they're thinking of their response and not because they're rude.
223| Do You Have Good Communication Skills?
Apr 17 2023
223| Do You Have Good Communication Skills?
Book your complimentary Leadership Assessment Call Learn more about the Future Leaders Program Connect with Nichole on LinkedIn In this episode of the Future Female Leaders Podcast, Nichole discusses how communication skills are developed over time through interactions with different people in different organizations throughout one's career. She emphasizes the importance of considering whether the intended message is being received by the person or people being communicated with, and whether everyone is on the same page in terms of expectations and goals. Nichole suggests self-reflection as a key tool for improving communication skills, and encourages listeners to get curious about their own communication style and effectiveness. She recommends seeking feedback from trusted sources, such as bosses and team members, to gain insights into how others perceive their communication skills. Nichole also highlights the importance of providing context when seeking feedback, so that others can rate communication skills based on specific criteria. Overall, this episode encourages listeners to reflect on their communication skills and take proactive steps to improve their ability to communicate effectively in the workplace. Key Points: Communication skills are essential for success in any role.Communication skills are developed over time through interactions with different people in different organizations.It's important to consider whether the intended message is being received by others and whether everyone is on the same page in terms of expectations and goals.Self-reflection and seeking feedback from trusted sources can help improve communication skills.Providing context when seeking feedback allows others to rate communication skills based on specific criteria.
220| Meditation: Gaining More Male Allies at Work
Apr 7 2023
220| Meditation: Gaining More Male Allies at Work
In this episode, Nichole focuses on the power of meditation and deep breathing for gaining more male allies in the workplace. She encourages listeners to take a few minutes to calm their breathing and relax their bodies in order to create a space for reflection and self-awareness. Nichole guides listeners through a meditation session, prompting them to focus on their breath and release any tension or stress they may be holding onto. She asks listeners to reflect on their day and their emotions without judgment, and to become present in their bodies and the moment. She then asks listeners to envision a future version of themselves who has built strong relationships with male allies in the workplace. She encourages them to imagine how these male allies are supporting them, whether as mentors, sponsors, or advocates for their promotion or projects. Nichole emphasizes the importance of clear communication with male allies and the willingness to share vulnerabilities in order to build deeper connections. Nichole leads listeners in affirmations, encouraging them to believe in their worthiness, confidence, and ability to communicate their needs with male allies. She reminds them that building relationships takes time and practice, but it is a valuable skill that can lead to a better work environment. She encourages listeners to take moments for deep breathing and self-care when feeling stressed at work, and to remember that tomorrow is always a new day to do better. As the meditation comes to an end, Nichole prompts listeners to come back to their physical awareness by wiggling their toes and opening their eyes if they had closed them. She encourages them to recognize the benefits of meditation and deep breathing in building relationships with male allies and creating a more supportive workplace environment. Tune in to the next episode of the Future of Female Leaders podcast for more insights and tips on empowering women in the workplace. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review to support the show!