By Jean A. Hollands

In its Oct. 16 issue, Fortune Magazine named the top 50 women in U.S. companies. Of the 50, 28 were CEOs, presidents or chairwomen of their boards. In the same week, the Wall Street Journal reported that public companies are seeking more women for public board positions.

While strides have been made, women still have a long way to go. Only 16 percent of women, by some counts, are in decision-making positions. Locals such as Carol Bartz of AutoDesk, Meg Whitman of eBay and Ann Livermore of Hewlett-Packard have raised the bar for women by taking on major responsibilities within their companies.

My advice to women crowned with authority:

• Congratulations.

• Go for it.

• Don’t forget the women who got you there. Don’t forget the men either.

• Take care of your health.

• Always keep a good right-hand person.

• Share the credit.

• Keep your chin up.

My advice to women who seek to be crowned with authority:

• Remember that you are not yet credentialed.

• Don’t step over others.

• Read your audience.

• Listen for political nuances.

• Know your friends and intimately know your enemies.

• Record your own voicemails and speeches and listen for overextension.

• Keep trying, carefully, with a delicate touch.

• Be patient.

Jean A. Hollands, M.S., is founder and chairwoman of the Growth & Leadership Center in Mountain View. For more information, call 966-1144 or visit www.glcweb.com.