It’s OK to Be the Boss – How to be a manager and leader who helps your team thrive

These days our companies are trying to do more with less. We have fewer employees trying to do more work in less time. For your team to run at top speed, they need you to be an effective boss, mentor, and leader all wrapped into one.

But sometimes as women business leaders, we worry that “being the boss” means our team members will perceive us as overbearing, domineering, or even dictatorial. Because we’re afraid of being “bitchy,” we hesitate to take charge, give direction, track performance, or correct behavior.

Unfortunately, your team will never be truly successful until you accept your responsibility to be their leader, coach, motivator, and manager. It’s OK to be the boss! In fact, it’s critical to the success of your workplace and your company.

During WXW’s March 18th event, we will tackle this tough topic with practical advice and many opportunities to share ideas. The event will start with an interactive panel of three local business women who have learned to embrace their role as boss and are now leading their teams to success.

Then join us for our patented Exchange Sessions to talk about managing your own team effectively, creating a productive environment, and being the kind of boss that attracts and retains high performing employees.

Panelists include:
Terri Barlow, Vice President of Sales and Marketing atThomson-Shore, Inc.

Terri Barlow is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Thomson-Shore, Inc. (www.thomsonshore.com), a book manufacturer located in Dexter, Michigan serving the trade, religious, professional, and university press markets. She has worked in book manufacturing since 1984 and has been at Thomson-Shore since 1991. Over the years she has held various management positions before to moving to sales in 2002.

Her belief: “The Golden Rule”.
Her practice: “As close to the Golden Rule as she can get.”

Terri and her husband live in Dexter. She has three daughters and four grandchildren (with two more on the way scheduled to arrive this summer).

Megan Torrance, President at TorranceLearning

Megan began her career by designing & implementing changes to processes, teams and technologies…which almost always created a need for training and communicating with people throughout the organization, and all around the world. This is where TorranceLearning began to take shape. TorranceLearning is an elearning design & development company, located just outside Ann Arbor in Chelsea, Michigan. They partner with their clients’ subject matter experts to develop online training that is both engaging and effective. The team has produced courses on everything from how organic soy crisps are made, to CRM software, to spinal cord injury assessment, to marketing sustainability benefits, and the list continues to grow. The entire team is committed not only to delivering outstanding work to clients, but also creating a top-notch work environment based on trust, flexibility, compassion, and fun. (When we are happy, we are creative and efficient.) TorranceLearning is a Washtenaw County Waste Knot member, and has offset their annual carbon output through TerraPass. Visit the TorranceLearning team online at www.torrancelearning.com.

Dr. Kay Woodiel, Director of Diversity & Community Involvement at Eastern Michigan University, Associate Professor, Eastern Michigan University

Kay is the Director of Diversity and Community Involvement and a tenured Associate Professor of Health Education at Eastern Michigan University.  In her current position, she supervises 9 professional staff, 4 graduate assistants and 40 student employees and volunteers.  Before coming to EMU, she enjoyed two previous careers, an Athletic Director and Coach at the university level and a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.  She believes that a work environment should be productive, cohesive, and fun.  She also values the teaching component of her role as the leader in these three professions. 

WXW Book Club:
Meeting: March 24th
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Nicola’s
Westgate Shopping Center
Jackson Av. & Stadium Blvd.
2513 Jackson Av.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Anyone who mentions the WXW bookclub when purchasing It’s OK To Be The Boss, will receive 10% off the book. Books will also be available for purchase at the workshop.

Other Related Reading:
“The Girl’s Guide to Being a Boss” by Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio
“Lead the Boss: The Subtle Art of Managing Up” by John Baldoni