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Women have faced a glass ceiling for years in many aspects of their lives, most notably their careers. While progress has been made in closing the gender gap, women often feel they must go the extra mile to prove themselves worthy of their leadership positions. With female representation on boards within the FTSE 100 exceeding 39%, the awareness of the importance of women in leadership roles is growing.
The perseverance of women leaders is unmatched. Powerful women are paving the way for those who desire a leadership role, and we are here to tell you that you can turn your dream into a reality. Dive into our blog to discover the attributes that set iconic women leaders apart and how to integrate them into your personal leadership journey.
Let’s discover the true meaning of female leadership:
Adapting as necessary to your environment is a skill that comes naturally to most women, as women are often tasked with taking on multiple roles in their professional and personal lives. Most women have become experts at balancing their careers, household responsibilities, and families. This juggling act enhances skills that enable women to compartmentalise and adapt to different situations. Good leaders will adapt themselves to find the perfect solution when faced with a new situation or challenge.
Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to identify and manage your emotions and the emotions of others. Successful women leaders are emotionally intelligent as they can control their emotions and build strong connections with their peers. Emotional intelligence is connected to higher team engagement, performance, and productivity levels. Women with high EI can lead through inspiration while appreciating the perspective of others.
Open communication is an essential skill of a leader. Maintaining open and honest communication with peers enables female leaders to build trusting relationships. Opening up in the workplace can feel daunting for women as they climb the corporate ladder and are surrounded by fewer female peers. However, an influential female leader must be authentic and comfortably show vulnerabilities to connect with colleagues, promoting trust and productivity.
Women business owners are most likely to discard their egos in decision-making processes. To be a successful leader, women should approach situations honestly and sensitively. By approaching any situation with humility and open-mindedness, peers can openly express their perspectives, allowing leaders to make necessary adjustments to improve their work environment.
Historically, women have been advised to stick to the status quo and receive advice from others before making a decision. A vital attribute of a female leader is the confidence to conquer their fears and step out of their comfort zone. By running towards fears instead of running away from them, women can create new opportunities for self-improvement, making them even more powerful as leaders.
While progress is being made, the odds are currently against women achieving top leadership positions. Powerful females are used to experiencing the challenges of climbing the leadership ladder. Still, they continue to show resilience as they believe in the value they can provide, and the truth is that they belong at the top. Successful female leaders dare to back their abilities and continue to fight for that top position without getting distracted by others’ opinions.
Self-confidence is a core skill of any leader. Women leaders have worked exceptionally hard to achieve their leadership roles. Although it is easy to underestimate their abilities, confidence in their competence and skills allows females to stand out in a crowd of male leaders. Confident leaders inspire confidence in their whole team, encouraging them to take risks and innovate to achieve their goals.
Successful female leaders inspire creativity in the workplace. Female leaders foster a creative working environment by adopting an innovative mindset to employee preferences and suggestions. Women tend to be more creative than men in supporting different working styles and problem-solving processes.
Being able to understand the needs and feelings of others is an excellent leadership quality. All successful women in leadership are empathetic. While this compassion does not necessarily mean that leaders must agree with others’ views, they must appreciate and understand peers’ views and feelings. Adopting an empathetic approach showcases authenticity and allows employees to open up and build a trusting relationship with you as their leader.
Empowered women empower other women. In the workplace, where few females make up leadership roles, women must support other women in achieving those top leadership positions. Leadership skills are not solely about managing a team of people but how to inspire them to reach their full potential. Successful female leaders are proactive in fostering a women-empowered workplace, instilling the mindset that they can achieve what they set their minds to.
Comparison kills creativity – comparing your journey to others will only set you back. A positive attitude is an essential ingredient to becoming a successful leader. Remind yourself how far you have already come and how worthy you are of being a leader in your industry, so don’t allow unnecessary comparison to ruin your momentum.
The women around you face the same workplace stigma as you, so applaud them for their hard work! Celebrate those around you and their small wins to give them that confidence boost they need to excel in their journey. Pave the way for a future of empowered, successful women in leadership positions and become a role model for future generations of aspiring women leaders.
Coaching can empower women to handle the unique challenges that leadership roles can present. The right coaching will help you build confidence to break through the glass ceiling, enhance your leadership skills, foster personal growth, and create a diverse, inclusive workplace that empowers all.
Female role models are evidence that by facing barriers in the workplace with confidence, you can push through and reach your dream role. Role models inspire other women by showcasing their journey, providing education and resources, and supporting others to reach their full potential.
Men tend to have access to a more extensive network of mentors and peers that can support them in their leadership journey compared to women, which lends to their ability to achieve those leadership roles more frequently than women.
If you dream of becoming a women leader, do not underestimate your abilities. Passion and positivity are two significant attributes of a successful leader. As long as you have passion and a positive attitude to keep going despite various obstacles, you can become an exceptional leader.
Become the role model you would love others to look up to with AWL. We appreciate the importance of having powerful women to admire, giving you the confidence to follow in their footsteps and embark on your leadership journey. Enhance your leadership abilities and empower women around you with our specially designed courses. Dive into our packages offering masterclasses and personalised coaching, and sign up to unlock your potential today.