The Extreme Joy and Challenges of being a Woman in Leadership
I honestly don't know if I can say anything more powerful than this scene with the great America Ferrera...
But I will try.
Take a moment and think about the last woman who was an impactful presence in your life. Many will think of their mothers, others of extended family, and some of bosses, coaches, or teachers.
Now ask yourself, was this woman a leader?
Many times "leader" is not the first word that comes to mind when we think of women in our lives, even if that is exactly what they are.
Now let's define "leader." There are so many, many definitions of leader. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a leader is a person who leads1. To lead means “to guide on a way especially by going in advance” or “to direct on a course or in a direction”
So now, go back to the thoughts of the influential woman in your life. In what ways did/does she:
Do the hard things first
Set you on a path (even if you can't see the destination)
Course correct you when you need it (we all do!)
Encourage support and mentor you
Shape the environment around you to support you (Hello Moms!)
That should clear up any confusion about the leadership role that women play in everyone's lives.
Now let's talk about the stereotypes assigned to women in leadership, some of which America Ferrera touches on in the video above. Women in leadership, are often considered:
Bossy
Emotional
Pushy and Aggressive
Lower Intelligence
Careless about their family
Less capable
These stereotypes not only impact how society as a whole sees women leaders, but it is often true for women ourselves! I love this video by Alexis Kanda-Olmstead which outlines just how impactful our mindset about women as a society and of ourselves actually is.
Now for the action portion. Alexis has some great action steps for women leaders and those around them. What else can you do to support women leaders and aspiring leaders, including yourself?
Talk. Ask questions. Encourage. Celebrate. And most importantly, give them a chance. Performance Consulting Services offers workshops that can help teams of all make-ups support each other and bring out the best in each other. Click the links below for more info.
Women have an incredibly impactful role to play in every life. How we choose to show up and how we are supported shape our world.
I am personally fortunate to have MANY women in my life who have helped shape who I am today. My family is bursting with strong, smart, capable women who've had a tremendous impact on my life. In December I lost the best one, my mother. I want this to be an uplifting post, so I won't dwell here, but it would be remiss not to share how caring, strong, willful and inspirational she was. I could not have asked for a better mother and friend and the ache of grief is at times overwhelming.
Thank you for reading. I would LOVE to hear about the women leaders in your life in the comments!!
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