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 We would like to pass on our thanks to all who attended "What's Stopping You is You - Why Success is a Matter of Self Belief" co-hosted with Bank of America Merrill Lynch on Monday 20th June 2011. This popular topic was proven with the event 'selling out' in just over two hours of the invites being sent out and by us having a lengthy reserve list! Special thanks go to Bank of America Merrill Lynch for kindly hosting the event with us, our keynote speaker, Michael Tipper and to our Q&A panellists Margaret Hassell and Jane Phillips from Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Cecille Rousseau from J.P. Morgan Asset Management,
The event was chaired by Maggie Berry, Managing Director at womenintechnology.co.uk
Michael Tipper was our keynote speaker whose approach was lively, practical and engaging. Michael's presentation was about using memory as a vehicle to challenge some beliefs.
Key points from his talk included:
- Our drivers are based on feelings.
- A question was asked when people signed up to attend the event. 'What one belief do you have that you perceive is impacting your professional success the most?' The responses were classified as: 24% positive, 15% neutral, 61% negative - mainly lack of confidence.
- Beliefs will hold you back but a belief is not always a logical thought.
- The majority of our beliefs are formed before we're six years old.
- We feel we don't have any control over our beliefs but we do have control over what we say and what we do.
- Cycle of performance (belief - action - results - feedback) - can be virtuous or vicious.
- The words we say in our mind can impact our behaviour.
- Say positive things about yourself - our bodies respond to the words we say to ourselves.
Michael's presentation was followed by a lively and interactive Q&A session which included Michael himself, Margaret Hassall, Senior Vice President and International CIO of Global Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking Technology at Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Jane Phillips, Chief Operating Officer, Global Rates & Currencies Technology, Global Markets & Research Technology at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Cecile Rousseau, Executive Director - Chief Business Technologist IM Equity Europe at J.P. Morgan.
The panel answered a number of different questions about how to instill self-confidence and increase positive self belief and this is some of the advice they shared:
- Understand that there's a difference between being competitive and being ambitious.
- Being too self confident can be off-putting to others including prospective employers.
- Have a can do attitude.
- Don't dwell on problems and don't view something as a failure, rather see it as a lesson learned.
- Remember to 'act as if'.
- Be clear about what you want to achieve.
- If you're looking to make a move in your career - e.g. promotion - undertake a gap analysis of your skills and gaining 360 feedback from peers, colleagues, bosses, direct reports will be very helpful.
- Go the extra mile - do more than you've been asked for.
- Don't give yourself the option of not succeeding.
- Believe in what you're saying.
- Accept that you can't be good at everything.
- We can be our own biggest critics - remember to be kinder to yourself.
We continue to work with Bank of America Merrill Lynch who are committed to developing and retaining their female talent and if you are currently looking for an IT job, you can check out their live job vacancies here. |
