Effective female leaders are assertive. Women in leadership are never passive and can’t afford to be aggressive like some men are, because of the double-bind dilemma (as per Catalyst study.)

I’ve analyzed the advice from the interviews from some of the female leaders at Philips (all available on their website, see sources below) and found a common theme on speaking up with assertive communication that underpins much of their advice.

Here’s the advice from 11 remarkable female leaders at Philips about speaking up, claiming space, and being assertive to be respected, valued, and empowered to contribute fully.

1. Sophie Bechu – Chief of Operations at Philips

Gender most definitely doesn’t stand in the way of my children’s dreams – they don’t see gender as an issue. Like many young people I see in business, they step in, hold their heads high and own their space. That’s something all businesspeople need to do.

It doesn’t matter who you are if you’re not performing well. So, don’t change your behavior or pretend to be someone you’re not.

Be yourself – It is interesting to see that sometimes people perceive the same behaviors differently when they come from women. For example, being stern makes a woman dictatorial, rather than powerful. My advice: ignore any scrutiny and remain true to yourself.

Assertiveness principles

• Own your space with your non-verbals
• Be yourself

 

2. Laurie Cooke, CEO, Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association

Laurie wrong several letters to her daughter:

Well behaved women rarely make history.
Don’t let the “might happen” block you from taking a risk; you can figure it out if it does happen.
Get comfortable speaking about your accomplishments; don’t underestimate your value.
Create your own board of directors with a multitude of mentor who can guide you.
Secure a sponsor who advocates for you when opportunities become available.
Never eat alone; every day is an opportunity to connect with people at all levels.
Define your limits and don’t be afraid to say no.
Ask for and embrace radical candor; feedback is a gift if you’re willing to really listen.
Don’t play into stereotypes; other people can organize the company party.
Ask for what you need to be successful; don’t be a martyr.
You deserve to be here; shut down the negative self-talk.
As they say in America, there’s no crying in baseball, so play hard and play to win.

Assertiveness principles

• Have the conversations to advance your career 
• Say no
• Give and receive feedback
• Don’t be office mom
• Ask for what you need
• Be self-confident

 

3. Ling Liu, Head of Finance for Philips Greater China and a member of the Philips Finance Leadership Team

But don’t be passive. As a female leader today, you need to claim your space.

Be more vocal. Grab attention. And speak up for yourself. It’s not about having a female view, it’s about calling out, standing out, as a female leader. Sometimes that just means raising your hand and saying: “Hey, there’s something you might have forgotten.”

That happened to me once in a strategic discussion – the team was leaping ahead with a plan, but I felt we were missing the bigger picture. So I spoke up. And it changed the whole discussion.

From that I learned I need to claim my space; if I don’t ask, people won’t give it. But once I do, the space is all mine.

Often, we say there are two types of leadership strength: male leaders are sometimes seen as tough and masculine, female leaders are perceived as tender and caring. Well I would say a strong leader needs to be both.

None of these are specifically male or female characteristics. They’re characteristics of leadership. There are different ways to lead, and you can and should learn from many different styles of leadership.

Assertiveness principles

• Be both strong/tough and warm/caring 
• Claim your space
• Don’t be passive 
• Ask
• Grab attention
• Raise your hand

 

4. Nevenka Dimitrova, Chief Technology Officer of Oncology Informatics and Genomics, Healthcare IT at Philips North America

It’s a challenge to be a leader without being seen as someone overambitious, overconfident and pushy. Especially as a woman where you often face different expectations about leadership. It’s a balancing act because you do need to have these qualities. Leaders need to push without being confrontational in order to work well with both peers and management. In the right doses, being pushy helps make the point and allows your team to thrive professionally and personally.

Assertiveness principle

• Speak up without being confrontational

 

5. Marlies Gebetsberger, Philips’ Personal Health Leader for DACH

Take a front seat at meetings – In many meetings, I see women sitting in the second row around a conference table when there are not enough chairs. Likewise, when a presentation is being made in front of a room, women tend to sit in the very back. I always tell them, go to the front. Men tend to do this more often – that´s how they manage to monopolize. Once you’re out in front, you also need to have a stake but at the same time, be yourself and have faith. If you trust yourself and are convinced of your strengths, it will be natural for you to speak up and contribute. When you accept you’re good, you will also perform in the meeting.

Assertiveness principles

• Be visible
• Speak up and contribute in meetings

 

6. Rachael Gatling, MBA,  Supply Chain Operational Excellence Leader at Philips

Adopting the curiosity mindset was critical in finding the way to meaningful work. There was a pivotal moment in the early days of her career. “I walked into these conference rooms and boardrooms and saw that no one looked like me,” recalls Rachael. “There were maybe one or two other women, but there was no one else who was a person of color.” The realization launched a self-awareness journey.

“It led me to start appreciating who I was,” reveals Rachael. “I don’t feel you can be truly appreciated until you appreciate yourself. Once you get that internal strength, it allows you to show your best self. It allows you to know the environments where you should be and find what works for you.”

Assertiveness principles

• Increase your self-awareness and self-appreciation

 

7. Selina Thurer, Senior Vice President for Philips Kitchen Appliances

Strong leaders know how to leverage their team and appreciate diverse views. But there are other qualities which should also be in the mix – decisiveness and the ability to follow through, a willingness to listen and a continuous and life- long openness to learning and improvement.

Assertiveness principles

• Be decisive
• Follow through

 

8. Amanda DePalma, Global Marketing Leader for Ultrasound at Philips

Don’t be afraid to take risks and speak up. Claim your seat at the table, be confident in who you are.

As women we face pressure to be more masculine. But stay true to yourself, and cut yourself some slack.

Assertiveness principle

• Confidently claim your seat and take risks

 

9. Marlies Gebetsberger, Senior Marketer at Philips

Pitch your ideas – Exercise your entrepreneurial spirit and pitch your ideas, business cases, and ways to change your company culture.

Ask for what you need – I’m not afraid to say maternity leave was different than I had expected. I love my child more than anything else, but quickly realized that I missed work a lot. Philips let me decide when and how to come back.

Remember there are different ways to be a leader – You don’t have to be a female copy of the male leadersyou see in business today.

Do what’s right for you – People have very strong opinions. “Women should stay at home when they have a baby.” “Women should come back to work as fast as they can.” I think the solution is just to do what’s right for you.

Assertiveness principles

• Pitch your ideas 
• Ask for what you need 
• Be yourself 
• Take care of your needs

 

10. Dr. Eva Gattnar, Leader Of Philips Long-Term Strategic Partnerships

Focus on managing and leading yourself first. Then everything else will follow. Learn to market yourself. Build a strong network around you. Set boundaries. Ultimately, you’re responsible for how much you do and don’t take on.

As a woman in business, you might face pressure to become more “male.” But you don’t have to change who you are to succeed. Stay true to yourself and find your own leadership style.

Assertiveness principles

• Market yourself 
• Set boundaries 
• Be proactive with your career

 

11. Mona Shivaramakrishnan, Head Of Philips Innovation Campus In Bangalore

That’s what I tell women at work: approach every role as an equal. You’ve earned your place. Find your own style. Take risks. Learn to communicate well and enjoy what you’re doing. Set boundaries. I created a rule for my team: no meetings after 7pm.

Assertiveness principles

• Take risks
• Communicate well
• Set boundaries

 

 

Links

Sources

https://cdn.phenompeople.com/CareerConnectResources/PHILGLOBAL/documents/Philips_Careers_Notebook_upd-1608720941185.pdf

https://www.careers.philips.com/global/en/diversity-and-inclusion

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5 Easy Ways To Self-Promote Without Bragging: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/5-easy-ways-to-self-promote-without-bragging

32 Ways To Take Up More Space And Get Noticed At Work: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/32-ways-to-take-up-more-space-and-get-noticed-at-work

Why Women Are Blamed For Team Failures And Don’t Get Credit For Team Successes: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/why-women-are-blamed-for-team-failures-and-dont-get-credit-for-team-successes

Say No And Set Boundaries

Confidently Say No In A Respectful Way (In 7 Easy Steps): https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/confidently-say-no-in-a-respectful-way-in-7-easy-steps

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13 Bad Reasons Why You Don’t Ask For What You Want: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/13-bad-reasons-why-you-dont-ask-for-what-you-want

15 Ways To Groom Yourself For A Promotion When Nobody Else Does: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/15-ways-to-groom-yourself-for-a-promotion-when-nobody-else-does-0

Future Of Work Post Pandemic – What You Need To Know Now (Part 1): https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/049-future-of-work-post-pandemic-what-you-need-to-know-now-part-1

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How To Receive Feedback Gracefully (And What Not To Do): https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-to-receive-feedback-gracefully-and-what-not-to-do

How To Take Criticism Without Getting Defensive: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-to-take-criticism-without-getting-defensive

12 Questions To Know When To Ignore Criticism and Judgment (and not take it seriously): https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/12-questions-to-know-when-to-not-take-judgment-seriously

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Ladies: 10 Credibility Killer Mistakes That Undermine You At Work (And What To Do Instead): https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/ladies-10-credibility-killer-mistakes-that-undermine-you-at-work-and-what-to-do-instead

6 Big Differences In How Women And Men Speak Up At Work: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/6-big-differences-in-how-women-and-men-speak-up-at-work

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10 Steps To Be Both Assertive And Likable When You Speak Up: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/10-steps-to-be-both-assertive-and-likable-when-you-speak-up

4 Reasons Why It Is Important For Leaders To Speak Up: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/4-reasons-why-it-is-important-for-leaders-to-speak-up

10 Secrets to Heart-Centered Assertive Communication: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/10-secrets-to-heart-centered-assertive-communication

Speaking Up In Meetings

5 Myths That Hold You Back From Adding Value and Being Heard In Meetings: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/5-myths-that-hold-you-back-from-adding-value-and-being-heard-in-meetings

7 Tips To Confidently Speak In Large Meetings: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/7-tips-to-confidently-speak-in-large-meetings

How To Gain Support In Meetings By Building Strategic Relationships (with Diana Dreyer): https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-to-gain-support-in-meetings-by-building-strategic-relationships-with-diana-dreyer

How To Disagree Respectfully Without Being Disagreeable: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-to-disagree-respectfully-without-being-disagreeable