Supplier eBooks

9 | Subramaniam believes one way to inspire your team is to stop perpetuating the victim mentality: "When faced with a challenging situation at work, resist the temptation to play the victim. Instead, take a step back, analyze where things went wrong, and allow yourself to process your emotions. Then, channel that energy into finding a solution." In most cases, Subramaniam says she could see that the situation had started poorly. By using this self-awareness technique, she can better lead her team, influence them to be productive and make good decisions, and be a role model for others. Jacqueline Olson, head of Americas Automotive Sales at Wolfspeed, inspires and influences by putting herself on the same plane as her team members. "As soon as I feel like I'm an authority, I feel the loss of connection to the team," says Olson. "Instead, I see myself in a position of service and responsibility. I have a responsibility to show the possibilities and remove obstacles to allow the team to be successful." Olson says that when her team succeeds, she succeeds—a win-win for everyone. Empower and Motivate Your Team to Take Risks and Make Decisions To empower your team to take risks and make decisions, Foust suggests leading by example and communicating the value of learning through failure. "Perfectionism and fear of failure are inherent to many women engineers," Foust admits. "As a leader, I encourage my team to embrace 'failing forward'—learning from mistakes and using those lessons to grow. Failure, with the right mindset, is the best teacher." Olson shares her advice for empowering her team to take risks and be more productive: "For people to take risks, they need to feel safe to make mistakes. This is where the learning and growth comes in. As leaders, we have to be supportive in this process." Dr. Jane Yun, a principal system architect at TE Connectivity with over twenty years of experience in academia and industry, believes that setting the right expectations is critical for leaders who want to motivate their teams in today's work environment: "Effective decision-making requires the right tools and methods. Before starting a project, teams should clearly define what failure looks like. By understanding the consequences upfront, you can prevent or mitigate the impact of missteps. Empower your team to make the right decisions by clarifying what to avoid." Make Personal Connections with Team Members To lead confidently and influence others, Alice Martins, a VP and GM at Sensata Technologies responsible for nearly 20 percent of her business's total revenue, recommends creating person-to- person relationships with team members. "I'm personable, and having a personal connection with team members is critical," says Martins. "Collaborate on problems to strengthen team bonds. Solving challenges fosters relationships, builds trust, and accelerates progress while engaging everyone." Mitra Tayareh, the director of application design engineering at MACOM, offers similar advice. While communicating as a leader to your direct reports can help speed up productivity and increase employee satisfaction, bonding with each other is just as critical—and it's the leaders' responsibility to make that happen. "We have open lines of communication within my group and with other team members," says Tayareh. "More often than not, talking to other people solves problems. I advocate for my team to communicate openly— that's how we get more done." Prepare Future Leaders Overcoming challenges in your career is difficult. Many women struggle to quiet their inner critics, step beyond fear to make empowered decisions, and stand up for themselves or others in the workplace. Our experts have advice for future leaders on these specific challenges. Know your worth Foust shares that throughout her career, she often participates in conversations that—on the surface—seem outside of her scope. "But I've learned to recognize my worth. I take a step back and think about why I'm here. I'm likely here for a specific purpose," says Foust. "I think through what I bring to the table and let others fill the gaps I don't have."

• Cover