WOMEN & LEADERSHIP
Each an everyone of us has the potential to be a leader, regardless of whether it's in the workplace or on the sporting field.
You don't need to be the loudest and proudest. But you do need to believe in what you are trying to achieve.
You need to communicate, connect and cooperate with people in an authentic way, so that they want to follow your lead. So that they want to feel engaged an excited.
I was recently asked to speak at the Women & Leadership symposium in Perth.
I spoke about shifting the way we view "Life balance" and managing our expectations (particularly as women) away from the notion of "having it all and Having it all NOW" - to that of the idea that; We absolutely CAN have it all ~ just not all at once.
As women we all wear many hats - we are daughters, sisters, MOTHERS, career women, athletes, scientists, WIVES, authors, artists, musicians, CEOs, (the list goes on) ...
But we can't be all of those things at the same time, and we certainly be leaders in all of those areas at the same time.
The more we strive for the perfect balance, the more likely we are all to fall short .. because it doesn't exist.
Yet in our pursuit for perfection ... we put so much pressure on ourselves .. and ironically the end result is exactly what we do not want ... we end up stressed, sick, under performing and we communicate less .... internalising the negative.
Having it all - requires balance, but that balance doesn't have to be equally distributed all of the time. It can't be. Because we cannot possibly give 100% of our time and energy to more than one thing!
We must manage our expectations ... of others, but more importantly manage the expectations we place upon ourselves.
When I am at an event speaking, aka 'working' - it means that I'm not writing or working on my next book, it also means that I'm not at home cooking or cleaning, and it also means that I'm not with my husband or my daughter (although I am always thinking of her).
When we allow ourselves 'permission' to prioritise our life (and that means putting either our career first and our relationships second or Vice Versa) then we allow ourselves the freedom to give 100% of our time and energy to the right area at the right time.
Being an inspirational leader, is someone who is able to step-up when needed, but also step aside when the time is right.
Being a leader requires exceptional communication skills - usually a lot less talking and more listening.
When you become a good listener, and when you ask questions because you actually want to hear the answers ... that is when you become a good communicator ... and that is when you can begin to lead.
