Join our new Women Leaders‘ Group
A new Women Leaders‘ linkedin page has been developed to allow women in middle and senior management roles to share ideas and build mentoring relationships. Initially this group was set up following the Knowledge Cafes for women, run in Christchurch, New Zealand. This is an initiative of the NZIM Southern. However, any women in middle or senior management roles anywhere are welcome to join our community. Click on the heading to take you to the linkedin group then register your interest to be part of the group. We will be back to you in no time!
One of the current subjects for discussion in the WomenLeaders forum is:
What processes/ideas have you found most useful in setting and reaching your goals?
This discussion was started during the Knowledge Cafe when Astronaut-to-be and Real Estate agent Jackie Maw was our catalyst speaker. She certainly has some big, hairy, audacious goals and is literally going up in the world! Many of us though, have less lofty goals. It is useful to share ideas about goal setting and discover how others have set and achieved goals. Please share your ideas on our linkedin site and learn from each other.
Cheryl Doig facilitates an NZIM Women's Knowledge Cafe
Knowledge Cafe for Women Leaders
In April 09 the first Knowledge Cafe for Women was held in Christrchurch. This event catered for those who are working in middle or senior management roles, and grew out of an emerging need identified for mentoring and support at this level. Fifty six women turned up for this event and it was an outstanding success. Why was that?
1. The event took place from 5.30-7.00pm, with the opportunity for meeting before this, and an opportunity to stay afterwards to continue the conversation. Keeping to time is really important. Do what you say you will do!
2. The knowledge cafe format was a successful formula. Vicki Buck spoke for 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of questions. Following this two group dialogue sessions took place, with participants talking in groups of 3-4 people each time. This was followed by sharing of common themes and emerging ideas, then the chance to contribute to a post-it brainstorm to help develop ideas further. The knowledge cafe format provides structure, but allows flexibility in dialogue – the conversation goes where the group decides.
3. Feedback was collected, collated and will be sent out to attendees within a few days. The organising group will meet to evaluate the evening and to review the ideas suggested. This will be used to develop future programmes and conversation opportunities.
In summary, keeping to time, having flexibility within structure, giving timely feedback and acting on the new knowledge gained are essential in order for this group to grow. NZIM Southern can be proud of its first attempt to meet the needs of this group. If you have ideas to share, or want to find out more contact Patricia at NZIM Southern.
David Gurteen defines a Knowledge Cafe as:
a means of bringing a group of people together to have an open, creative conversation on a topic of mutual interest to surface their collective knowledge, to share ideas and to gain a deeper understanding of the subject and the issues involved.
If you want to find out more about these ideas, or have material/research on women in management let us know through the Contact page of this site.
