S1 Ep168: Episode 168 - How to Be Recognised and Feel Empowered

Lara Arden

Lara Arden is a multi-talented professional with expertise in various fields, including Business Awards, Sales, Modelling, and Dancing. Lara started her professional dancing career at age 10 with the Queensland ballet company’s on-tour performance of Les Miserables. But it was later in her work life, that she finally achieved notable success at age 32, when she broke a 50-year-old insurance company’s sales record in one week, amongst 600 national sales agents. Then at age 48, as a mature age student, she won an international scholar award for being in the Top 100 of 29,000 university students for academic excellence. 

Lara is known for her optimistic enthusiasm, strategic creativity, commitment to excellence, and lasting love for her family and friends. 

And yet whilst Lara’s had the thrills of being a high achiever in her life, success hasn’t always been easy. She’s endured many times of being overlooked, undervalued, and unappreciated. This is why these days, she’s an Ambassador for Appreciation. At Business Awards Coach, Lara loves seeing people be recognised and appreciated for their great accomplishments. 

She also believes, as William James once put it that, “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”

Lara believes in the importance of appreciation in the workplace. She values personal and professional growth and resilience. 

She believes in the power of recognition and celebration, and in being appreciated. 

In this episode, Lara shares some potential issues or challenges that award nominees can face when applying for business awards? 

These include:

1. Tall Poppy Syndrome: What is it, where does it come from, and why does it affect people who want to apply for recognition of excellent outcomes, through business awards nominations? 

2. Imposter Syndrome: What is it, why does it stop people from applying for business awards opportunities, and how can they overcome it? 

3. Mindset Challenges: What are they, why do they stop us, and how do we address them? 

4. Work-Life Balance Struggles: Do work-life balance issues and caregiving responsibilities impact women's abilities to dedicate time and effort to preparing for business awards competitions? Yes. So, what strategies can be considered? 

5. Mentorship and Support: If workplaces have an absence of mentorship or support systems that would otherwise help encourage women or others to apply for business awards, what strategies can be implemented to alleviate this, so that people are better supported to enter in more business awards? 

6. Visibility and Representation: Does the underrepresentation of women or other marginalised people in leadership positions and decision-making roles affect their visibility and recognition in business awards competitions? If so, in what ways, what are the consequences? And what strategies could be implemented? 

7. Implicit Bias & Judging Criteria: Can unconscious biases and stereotypes impact the evaluation and selection process of women and others in business awards competitions? If so, how can awards organisations align judging criteria with diverse leadership styles, to better support women and others in showcasing their strengths and achievements? 

8. Advocacy & Empowerment: What initiatives and strategies can be implemented to help advocate for gender equality to empower women and others to actively participate in business awards competitions?

Lara provides strategies to Overcome Self-Doubt and Challenges and how to Seek Support and Mentorship.

A must listen if you have ever considered applying for a business award. (And you should)

Business Name: Business Awards Coach
Email: [e-mail] 
Best Contact Number: 0488884869
LinkedIn: @lara-arden