- Introduction by Women of NATE Committee Member, Loui McCurley
- WON Profile: Areanna Novaes Sabine
- Where will you find the Women of NATE?
- Upcoming Events
- Recent Event Highlights
- Feature Article: 5 Smart Things New Bosses Do to Instantly Become Better Leaders, Backed by Considerable Science
- Book Recommendation
Release:
December 7, 2022
Women of NATE Today Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 12
Today
My dad used to remind me regularly, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”
Drove me crazy.
But it was also a great reminder to not live in the past, and especially to not let past failures dictate future effort. If you are like many Women of NATE, you have grown (or perhaps even been thrust into) your role as a result of unexpected twists and turns in life. However it is that you have arrived at your present situation, it is not unusual to have doubts, or even to feel insufficient to the task – at least some of the time.
But you ARE enough. You CAN make a difference. In their international bestseller, The Confidence Code, Katty Kay and Claire Shipman argue that women are less confident than men—and that to succeed, confidence matters as much as competence. So, today is the day to start acting like the trailblazer you are! If there are things you have been meaning to do, today is the day to start.
Today, what if you picked one leadership principle to practice?
The featured article in this newsletter offers loads of practical advice for becoming a better leader. Author Jeff Haden offers five solid principles that anyone can implement immediately - regardless of experience or skill level, and regardless of the role you have.
Today, what if you tried a new approach to an old problem?
We all get stuck in a rut from time to time. This happens in life, and it happens in business. Rather than finding a new place to dig, maybe today is the day to find a new way of viewing the situation. What can you learn from this challenge? How can this challenge be an opportunity? And how can you delight yourself and your team by sharing your new perspective?
Today, what if you expanded your circle of influence?
Finding our comfort zone, it is easy to become a creature of habit, and to carry out the same routines day after day. But our circle of influence is always expanding - even if we do not realize it. In The Athena Doctrine, John Gerzema and Michael D’Antonio present the results of a 64-country study that found the world increasingly believes feminine values of collaboration and empathy make businesses more effective. So, take this opportunity to connect and collaborate!
Today, what if you asked a question during a staff meeting, instead of assuming that you don’t know enough - or that you already know the answer?
As women working in the tower industry, our response to insecurity is often found in one extreme or the other - we either withdraw and assume we aren’t enough, or we assert ourselves so strongly that we fail to ask questions. Find that balance, and remember: we are ALL working to learn and grow. Maybe you will be surprised at how often the ideas you get from others are even better than the ones you had.
Today, NATE is working diligently to provide its members with a number of resources and events to inform, educate, and empower women in leadership in the tower industry.
So... give yourself some credit, and do not wait for someone to give you permission to succeed. YOU don’t need anyone’s permission... because, as my dad always said, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life!”
Loui McCurley is a member of the Women Of NATE Committee and the NATE OSHA Relations Committee, and is the Chief Executive Officer of PMI Rope and Vertical Rescue Solutions, with offices in LaFayette, Georgia and Denver, Colorado. She can be reached at lmccurley@pmirope.com.
WON Profile: Areanna Novaes Sabine
Areanna Novaes Sabine is the Chief Executive Officer for Birdzoff, a small family-owned business that offers industrial bird deterrent devices and is based out of Los Angeles.
While completing her MBA at Goizueta Business School, Areanna was selected as the Emory University 2020 Student Entrepreneur of the year. Areanna is passionate about women and minority empowerment in industries where these populations are historically underrepresented, small women-owned businesses, family businesses, STEAM education, and environmental justice.
What are three career lessons you've learned thus far?
1. Ask for help. No one has all the answers, so no one expects you to know the answers either. Even if someone says no, they will often provide you with alternative options.
2. Try to think about how you want to feel on a daily basis when considering what you want to do professionally. Work takes up a significant amount of our adult lives. It is worth finding something that makes you feel how you want to feel.
3. Humility and confidence should co-exist. As women, it is easy to feel like confidence is the opposite of humility because of classic stereotypes that paint women as feeble. Find your confidence. Humility does not mean you cannot assert yourself. Be both!
What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?
The aspect I love most is also the aspect that challenges me the most. Since I started working full time, I have done something new that I either have never done or do not know how to do. I used to enjoy the routine items because they gave me a sense of accomplishment and instant gratification. Now, I find myself feeling more driven and fulfilled by problem solving a novel task every day.
What does true leadership mean to you?
I follow the servant leadership model. People will follow you because you are making decisions not based on furthering your own agenda, but rather by listening to your followers and identifying a path that serves the community. Anyone can be a leader in whatever role they play in an organization or in life. Being a leader means that you celebrate your followers' successes and support them in their failures in the same way you would do for yourself.
How does your education connect to your professional career? What about personal experiences?
I studied Environmental Sciences in undergrad and am currently getting my MBA. When I initially went to undergrad, I had set out to be a field biologist. Then I kept changing my mind between jobs starting with an environmental consultant, then a physical therapist, then a research scientist, and I finally landed on the Peace Corps. I never did make it to the Peace Corps and instead got a job as an academic advisor at Emory.
In the meantime, I was also working with Birdzoff doing bookkeeping and marketing part-time. While my undergraduate degree taught me some invaluable lessons about the environment, it really taught me how to think about systems. What are the inputs and outputs? How can you optimize a system/organization? These lessons made me curious about how the business world works. I always knew I wanted to get a master's degree and the business degree seemed to answer the questions I wanted to know more about.
The business degree has undoubtedly taught me lessons that would have taken me years to learn on the job. That said, much of my education that shaped how I think about the world happened while I worked with my dad when I was a kid. He always encouraged me to be curious and ask questions that had not been considered before.
Name three words that you describe you.
Goofy, Authentic, Grounded
How did you first learn about WON Women of NATE?
Paula Nurnberg had been in touch with my business partner who also happens to be my dad, Gordy. She had told him about WON and how it might be a good community for me to participate in. I did some research and found out about the WON scholarship. When Andy Page Lee contacted me to let me know I was one of the recipients of the award, I knew immediately from our conversation that I wanted to be involved.
How do you define success?
While the specifics of my definitions of success varies for the different areas of my life, generally speaking I know that I am successful when I am using my gifts to support growth and empathy for the people and organizations who I directly and indirectly impact. In my professional life, I see myself constantly challenging myself to learn more about my role and develop both hard and soft skills. I create goals, adjust them, and either achieve or fail. Along the way though, I make a point to be kind and generous to the people I work with. In my personal life, I strive to make genuine connections even with people who I interact with in passing. A smile or a compliment goes much farther than most think. Achieving success is not a final step in life but rather a constant opportunity for us to step up to the plate to make decisions. We are presented with endless decisions which dictate how we live our life and how others perceive and receive us. It's both the little and big decisions that define success for me.
Name one short term goal.
I am looking forward to getting back into hot yoga after I recover from my latest knee surgery. Exercise is so important in my daily routine.
Nicknames?
Safareanna - I dressed up in a safari outfit for Halloween one year and it stuck!
What problems do you consistently solve for your clients?
We help clients keep birds off of their equipment. Hence the name Birdzoff. Telecom equipment requires serious attention to details when identifying a solution to keep birds from perching or nesting. Most nesting issues can be solved with one of our products, and we always make sure to evaluate alternative products when deciding on the best solution.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I love this question because the answer can change every year if not every month. As of today, I see myself feeling even more confident in my work and in my personal life in five years. Ideally I'll be living in California near my parents and maybe even starting another business. I see myself residing among a strong community and professional network where I can mentor and support others in their personal and professional journeys.
Where will you find the Women of NATE?
Take Women of NATE with you!
Are you traveling for work or taking a leisure vacation?
Take a creative photo holding a Women of NATE (WON) logo in front of a landmark that lets us know where you are.
(Above) Women of NATE member visits Milano in northern Italy. It is the leading financial centre and the most prosperous manufacturing and commercial city of Italy.
(Above) The NATE Administrative Team refreshed their first aid skills and became CPR Certified with Alex DeFea of Watertown Fire Rescue.
(Right) NATE participated in the 2022 Feed the Need food drive sponsored by KXLG Radio. Donations were taken to the Salvation Army to be available for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Submit your photos along with your name and location to nikki@natehome.com for a chance to be showcased in an upcoming Newsletter or social media post.
Upcoming Events
Register Now for Ditch the Resolutions Webinar
It's that time of year again. That time in January when we sit down and think about what we want to achieve over the next 12 months. We make a list and resolve to meet our goals thinking, this year it will be different. But will it?
Here's the catch, making a resolution or setting a goal is good in theory, but for 80-90% of people it isn't enough. You need tools that will enable you to change your habits and hence, achieve your goals for sustained results.
This webinar will present basic concepts from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, focusing on making small changes which lead to new habit formation. We will review the 4 Laws of Habit Change and Habit Stacking so you can learn how to add small positive habits into your current routine and make 2023 your best yet!
Recent Event Highlights
Women of NATE Announces 2023 Education Scholarship
Women of NATE (WON) is pleased to announce the 2023 WON Education Scholarship. The scholarship was designed to encourage and inspire more women to enter the tower and communications infrastructure construction, service, and maintenance industry or advance their current roles within the industry.
Women play a prominent role as leaders and visionaries in the advancement of wireless and broadcast communications. Through the establishment of the WON initiative, the Association is delighted to recognize the vital contributions of women in the diverse tower and communications infrastructure industry. Two scholarships valued at $1,000 each will be awarded to two different applicants.
Application documents must be received in the NATE office by January 20, 2023. In addition to the one-page application form, applicants must provide an essay describing how the WON Education Scholarship will help them achieve their goals, a high school transcript, a letter of acceptance from the college or technical school the applicant will be or is attending, and a letter of nomination from a current NATE member company.
To find out more about the WON Education Scholarship, please visit http://natehome.com/women-of-nate/won-education-scholarship/. Award recipients will be announced on February 20, 2023, in conjunction with the annual NATE UNITE 2023 event in Orlando, Florida.
(Left) Leticia Latino-vanSplunteren, WON Committee Member, Jessica Cobb, and Todd Schlekeway are pictured with Neera Signh, one of the four recent inductees into the Wireless History Foundation Hall of Fame (and the only woman this year).
(Right) NATE Team Members Kari Stein and Kimberly Elliott attend Susan Harwood Grant Training at the United States Department of Labor in Washington D.C.
(Left) Kathy Stieler, NATE Director of Safety, Health & Compliance, Steph Petri of Elevated Safety, and Women of NATE Member Heather Gastelum of T-Mobile attend a GME Event at Petzl in Salt Lake City, Utah.
5 Smart Things New Bosses Do to Instantly Become Better Leaders, Backed by Considerable Science
Simple, sure. But also, extremely effective. For any leader.
Great companies, and great teams, are built by great leaders. That's why Google spent considerable time identifying the key behaviors of its best team managers.
But what if you don't have any leadership training? Or -- more crucially, since everything I learned about leadership I learned the hard way --any leadership experience?
While it takes time to gain skill and experience, there are a few things you can start doing right away.
Be present, but not just in the way you think.
Being "present," giving people your full attention, is obviously important. But so is simple presence.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that physical presence matters. You don't have to talk a lot. You don't have to interact a lot. You just have to be there.
As the researchers write, "Mere exposure had weak effects on familiarity, but strong effects on attraction and similarity." Which is a fancy way of saying the more often we see you, the more we will like and respect you.
Granted, that's hard when you're a new leader. You're unsure. You're uncomfortable. You might be asked questions you can't answer. You might be asked to handle situations you don't know how to handle. It's tempting to spend less time with the people you lead, not more.
But shying away actually makes your leadership life harder: Not only do you get fewer chances to gain skill and experience, but you also lose out on the positive effect of just being present. So, if you are nervous about not having the answers, flip it around and ask questions. If you are unsure you can handle certain situations, ask people for advice. Let people help you lead.
Not only will you become a better leader, you will also build a better, more engaged team.
Yet at the same time, hold a lot fewer meetings.
Ninety percent of employees feel meetings are "costly" and "unproductive," and they're right: Employee productivity increases by over 70 percent when meetings are reduced by 40 percent.
Why? Fewer meetings give employees more time to get things done.
And makes them smarter; one study found that when employees attend meetings, the average IQ of each individual drops by between 15 and 20 percent. For one thing, if you feel like a "junior" member of a group, your IQ drops. (As in most situations, confidence matters a lot.) If you feel your contributions won't be valued, your IQ drops more. And if other people criticize (overtly or implicitly) your contributions, your IQ drops even more.
That's why great bosses hold fewer meetings, especially when the goal is to brainstorm or problem-solve. Idea generation dramatically improves when people first come up with ideas by themselves, or with at most one or two others. That typically leads to greater diversity in ideas, better analysis of the pros and cons of those ideas, and much greater odds of a larger group -- if you eventually decide to convene a larger group -- eventually identifying the best idea.
So be present, but in the real work world. Not the make-believe work world of meetings.
Never serve the dreaded "feedback sandwich."
You've probably heard you should deliver constructive feedback by starting with a positive, sharing the negative, and then closing with another positive.
But you should not because feedback sandwiches are really tough to swallow. According to a study published in Management Review Quarterly, a feedback sandwich almost always fails to correct negative or subpar behaviors. Three out of four recipients feel manipulated. Nine out of ten feel patronized.
And only 7 percent actually change the meat described in the feedback sandwich.
Instead, just be clear. Be direct. And be encouraging. While few employees want to hear how they can improve, good employees appreciate the knowledge.
And they will respect you for being open and candid, especially when you don't patronize them in the process.
Yet at the same time, focus mostly on positives.
No matter how it's delivered, though, research shows that after a few days -- or even a few hours -- people typically forget the negative feedback they receive.
But they remember positive feedback for a long time.
Not just the positive ("You did a great job improving fulfillment process flow") but also the facts accompanying the positive ("And as a result, our shipping costs are down 7 percent, and our on-time delivery rate is up 11 percent").
Want employees to be more patient when dealing with customer complaints? Praise them when they take extra time to make things right. Want them to spend extra time training struggling employees? Praise them when they step in, unasked, to help a person in need.
In short, focus on positives. Tell people you appreciate their hard work, not just in general but in specific. Explain why that makes a difference, not just to your business but to you.
They'll remember how good it feels to do something well and will want to experience that feeling again.
Which also makes it a lot less likely you'll need to share negative feedback.
Most of all, say "thank you." A lot.
Studies show that nearly nine out of 10 people wish they heard "thank you" in their daily interactions. More specifically, other research shows a direct link between gratitude and job satisfaction: The more "thank you" becomes a part of a company's culture, the more likely employees are to enjoy their jobs.
But wait, there's more: Research also shows that grateful leaders motivate their employees to be more productive.
In short, pay is an exchange for effort. It's a transaction. You pay people to do their jobs.
But you should also thank the people you work with -- as often as possible -- for how well they do their jobs. For being responsive. For being proactive. For being cooperative, helpful, and supportive.
Because every employee is also a person, and every person wants to be thanked more often.
And because we all flourish in environments -- whether at work or at home -- where expectation does not preclude appreciation.
Jeff Haden
Jeff Haden is a keynote speaker, ghostwriter, LinkedIn Top Voice, contributing editor to Inc., and the author of The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win.
Article previously published on Inc.com on September 13, 2022. https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/5-smart-things-new-bosses-do-to-instantly-become-better-leaders-backed-by-considerable-science.html
