BoomerGirl Diary

If you're reading this — you're an awesome woman. By that I mean you are online and have an interest in things greater than yourself. You're not ready to stop being productive, but maybe you aren't quite sure of what direction to take next.

Jill Konrath and her professional gal pals — Faith Ralston, Marci Heerman and Rita Webster — felt the same way. For awhile they met just to try out new ideas and articulate them to each other and then they realized that other women may want to do the same thing.

They started www.awesomewomen.org in Minneapolis to build a community of new women leaders. Its goal is to strengthen individual voices, help women establish connections and celebrate their strengths and unique wisdom. Awesome Women groups (or circles) meet regularly around Minneapolis, with 3,500 other women virtually participating through their growing e-mail newsletter.

Do women really need a reason to talk? No. But we do need useful feedback and place to practice and learn if our message is having an impact or not - whether that's communicating to a spouse or a client.

At its core, Awesome Women circles consist of three or four women. A typical "meeting" has one woman speak her truth, slowly and clearly, expressing what is on her mind for about five minutes. Afterwards she receives about 10 minutes worth of feedback from the other members and then she is allowed another five minutes to reflect on what she just learned from that experience. Sounds pretty simplistic, and yet, when was the last time you were given the floor for a whole five minutes to articulate what was on your mind, open yourself up to feedback and then be allowed to respond?

It's a touch of civility mixed with learning your worth and then owning it. Writing a blog provides a similar experience, but not so instantaneous nor as "human."

Awesome Women isn't all "voice lessons," it also includes meetings with bigger groups for dinner, entertainment or to hear educational speakers.

For me, just speaking to Jill and having her "call me" on my fast pace was an eye opener. I talk fast partly because it's my style, but mostly because I've been cut off so many times in business that I feel I have to get-it-all-in. Jill's remark of "Just speak your truth slowly," really hit home.

Awesome Women is creating a legacy of women speakers and doers and reigniting boomer women with experience to share. If you want to start your own group, go to the AwesomeWomen.org Web site and see how they set up their guidelines. Officially join them, or become your own version of Awesome Women. Get talking and get building your legacy.