March 2023
Greatest lesson learned
B
elieve in yourself. As a woman in leadership, it is important to have confidence in your abilities and trust your instincts. Don’t be afraid to take risks and make decisions that you believe are right. And, a big part of believing in yourself is fully embracing your differences. To cultivate unstoppable self-confidence, recognize that those qualities and characteristics that other people may consider to be your flaws, actually hold the key to what makes you incredibly special. Sometimes, being flawed, and being very open and transparent about it, can be the most attractive trait of all. In fact, most people want to follow leaders that are brilliant, despite being human and having flaws. Too often, we are uncomfortable with what makes us different. But, it’s time to shift that mindset and begin parading those weaknesses, those flaws, those differences without shame. Ironically, it’s being imperfect that makes us real and relatable. We often connect with others
over our insecurities, quirks, and struggles. People who are truly interested in you and care about you, don’t expect you to be perfect; they want you to be authentic. Embracing your imperfections and letting others see the less than perfect parts of you, allows you to connect more deeply—to love others and be loved fully. Once we’re able to embrace our differences, we’re able to deeply believe in ourselves, our potential, and have confidence in our abilities - while fully trusting our instincts.
Why women need successful role models in business: We know that norms about women’s appropriate roles and leadership capabilities can shape both aspirations and opportunities. Women need successful role models in business to show them that they can achieve success in the business world. Role models can provide inspiration and motivation to women who may feel discouraged or overwhelmed by the challenges in a competitive work environment.
Seeing successful women in business can help to show that success is achievable. In fact, a lack of women in high-powered positions may affect perceptions of women’s ability to lead in certain industries and sectors. Without effective role models, both men and women alike are likely to question or doubt the ability for women to lead at the highest levels, which affects the ability for women to win elections. Importantly, research has shown that diversity matters because it brings a broad collection of experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and viewpoints that lead to better decision making. And, when half the planet is female, having women in positions of influence in business is an obvious benefit to all enterprises – both large and small.
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