Your Power Quotient (PQ) is your ability to scan your mental chatter and intentionally choose an empowering response to disempowering stimulus, such as your own voice of fear, for example. The term was coined by former IBM vice president and TEDx speaker, Shelmina Babai Abji, and is something she says every woman needs.
“When you exercise your PQ, you never give your power away to any stimulus; you own it by intentionally choosing your response,” says Abji. “Sitting in a meeting, witnessing a debate in my head about whether to speak up or not, I realized that fear and courage were voices in my head, but they were not me. I could intervene and manage these voices. I had the power to determine who won this debate. I spoke to my voice of fear: ‘Fear, I hear you loud and clear. I know you mean well and are trying to protect me. But this time I won’t let you stop me. The rewards of speaking up are life changing. I must take this chance.’ My idea was well received. I was creating value, and it was being noticed. That tiny moment taught me a powerful lesson: I owned the power to manage the voices in my head and intentionally choose an empowering response. This was the day I coined the term ‘Power Quotient.’”
Abji defied the odds as an immigrant of humble beginnings and a first-generation college grad who rose up to become one of the highest-ranking women of color at IBM. She details her journey and shares inspiring experiences from others in her book, Show Your Worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work. It’s a proven blueprint to accelerate career success and fast track into leadership roles―especially for women who are underrepresented in their fields.
The eight strategies include:
- Success: Define what success means to you
- Attention: Develop your personal success plan
- Work-Life Balance: Achieve work-life balance in our disrupted world
- Value Creation: Overcome fear, find your voice, and contribute at your maximium capacity
- Growth: Seek relevant and meaningful growth
- Relationships: Connect meaningfully with first-line managers, peers, mentors, and sponsors.
- Leadership Branding: Build and preserve your reputation as a leader.
- Promotions: Be strategic about earning a promotion.
