Leadership Coach, Consultant, Author and Speaker
Cheryl Rice is a seasoned leadership coach, consultant, author and speaker. She has been working with clients to improve individual, team and executive performance since 1990. She works with high performing managers eager to enhance their leadership impact. Cheryl has a special expertise in working with women leaders in one-on-one coaching and group coaching formats.
Tell us what your greatest personal challenge is, and how you’ve achieved success in spite of it.
Saying yes when I really mean no. For a long time I thought I achieved success because I said yes when I really felt no. But finally I realized that pleasing others at my own expense serves no one. Any success I achieved with that strategy only reinforced the harmful notion that I was valued because of what I did rather than who I was.
Name something that guides both your personal and professional development and helps you to regain focus during challenging times.
Believing that everything that happens to me, actually happens for me. This belief leads me to cultivate meaning, growth, and opportunity in every experience whether “good” or “bad”. If I can learn from a challenging experience then I have succeeded.
What do you believe is at the core of why women hesitate to “lean in” and pursue leadership roles where they are?
In my coaching practice I have worked with many talented, smart, capable women who hesitate to “lean in” because in their bones they don’t believe they are talented, smart, or capable enough. And they don’t feel worthy of success. They doubt themselves and their deservedness.
Tell us one of your greatest professional accomplishments, and why it meant so much to you?
Writing and publishing my memoir. I am a very private and shy person. I make a living helping other women claim their own voices and celebrate their strengths. Telling my own story forced me to do the same for myself in an unprecedented way. It was scary and ultimately liberating.
The world is a scary place-how do you manage fear in both your work and personal life?
I take the advice of Audrey Lorde whose quote sits in the middle of my desk. “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strengths in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
What do you believe will be the greatest global benefit to having more women in leadership roles?
Peace on earth.
What have you found to be the most effective way to motivate and energize your team?
To connect their passions and talents to the work at hand and to let them know as often as possible that they matter. Chocolate helps, too!
What is at the “core” of your drive and work?
My drive stems from my commitment to live my values of authenticity, beauty and connection to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Currently I’m doing this through the You Matter Marathon (no running required!) whose goal is to enrich and create meaningful connections between people and within communities by collectively sharing 10,000 You Matter cards during November. I invite anyone interested in lifting their own spirits as well as the spirits of others to join. Learn more at www.YouMatterMarathon.com.
