How do you set yourself apart from the crowd without stepping on people on the way up the corporate ladder? How do you show up in a way that gets the right kind of attention? Some people walk too heavily and some too lightly – how do you create the right balance? What are the behaviors that will get you the kind of attention and visibility that you want? Here are a few that I consider to be very important to your success.

1. When you make a decision put your whole self into it. If you take a committee position, lead a team or just take some time for yourself do it to the best of your ability. Go all out for it. Never let anyone say that you go about things in a half-hearted manner. That does not mean you have to do everything that comes across your plate. On the contrary! Pick and choose wisely but when you commit really commit.
2. Look for common ground on which to build relationships. This is especially true when things are controversial or adversarial. There is always something you have in common – look for it and leverage it to achieve a good outcome. A relationship that is poor today may need to be strong tomorrow. Never burn any bridges. That kind of behavior will come back to bite you eventually. » Read more: Women in Leadership – Behaviors That Set You Apart

Today, women in large corporations compete alongside of men for the top positions in the company. In fact, in almost any large Corporation you will find women executives, who are running the show, and they are running it well. Of course, it took a long time to get to this point, and things have changed a lot in the last 50 years. Perhaps, you’d like to read a book that was written in the 1980s giving advice to women that were destined to break the corporate glass ceiling.

If so, there is a very good book I’d like you to read, one that I have read, and it sits in my business library bookshelves at home. The name of the book is;

“Moving up – Women in Leadership” by Lois Borland Hart, 1980.

This is an American Management Association book that was very popular in the 80s. The first chapter is titled; So, You Want to Be a Leader? It explains to women who want to move up into the upper echelon of executive management exactly what they will be dealing with in the future. Often, women have to do better than men just to prove themselves or at least it was that way in the 80s. I realize this book is 30 years old now, and so much has changed, nevertheless, this is good all around advice.
» Read more: Women in Leadership and the Busted Glass Ceiling – A Book Review

Christian women today have many women mentors and role models from Bible days on which to base their business and leadership ventures. The qualities and characteristics of these women from long ago provide patterns for running successful enterprises as well as for being involved in government, legal matters, community organizing and even military operations. Most of these women were married and some functioned from their homes. The activities of these women are often not discussed, leaving some of the best means of motivation and encouragement for contemporary women unknown. This article presents a brief background along with the qualities and skills of only 7 top Bible women in business and leadership who have lessons to share for today.

1. Rahab: Joshua 2:1-22; 6:17-25. Rahab was a businesswoman who ran a lodging place and provided for her family members. Often misrepresented as a prostitute, there is no evidence of this in the Bible. She became known for her willingness to take great risks to negotiate with new people for the protection of herself and her family. Running a lodging facility meant being able to manage a staff of workers, keep clients happy and serve the needs of people from all backgrounds. It also meant being misunderstood by those who didn’t understand this nontraditional business role for women. The leadership qualities and skills of Rahab included being industrious and wise, having a business plan, management abilities and negotiation skills.

2. Lydia:Acts 16:14-15, 40. Lydia was a well-known businesswoman who dyed and sold purple cloth. Royalty and the wealthy wore purple cloth. That meant she had a high end target market. Her business had to provide a consistent, high-quality product to meet the standards and needs of a wealthy clientele. She also had employees, which means her company provided jobs for people in her community. Lydia was an entrepreneur who probably would have had a corporate structure. She displayed qualities and skills that included organization management and growth, employee training and development, and strong target market skills.
» Read more: 7 Women Business and Leadership Role Models From the Bible to Inspire Christian Women in Business