Being a leader, being a woman......

It is heartening to see an increasing number of companies encouraging a healthy debate on what effective leadership looks like, leading to fundamental changes in how leaders are selected and developed. But let’s face it, the culture in which these innovative ideas and tools are implemented, remains - for the majority - the same. 

I have frequently rolled my eyes upwards at some of the discussions within corporate life that take place, when looking at both internal and external candidates for top positions. Inevitably for senior women candidates, the question typically is “she clearly has the skills to do the job, but does she have the guts to pull it off?”… and therein lies the problem. The benchmark of “fit for purpose” for top roles are set differently - and in most cases - higher for women.

Women are often perceived as successful, only when they adopt a leadership style that originates from a masculine culture, given that culture is defined by leadership which is still predominately male. Today’s leadership competencies strive to be inclusive and sensitive to a diverse talent pool but significant change will really only happen, once the numbers of women in leadership positions increase, to balance the masculine perception of what effective leadership looks like. 

It is what is it is.

So what can we do in the meantime? Play the game and leave our female traits at the door and undergo daily shots of testosterone? Or, do we acknowledge the unbalanced playing field, but remain true to our unique roles as women?

I am for the latter.

I recall many points in my long & international career, where playing the male-traits (win or lose) has won me the game but at times has left a distasteful taste in my mouth. It took me some time to recognise that my career low points always coincided with decisions or actions that I have taken, which neither reflected who I really am, nor supported the values that govern my life. A tough realisation but at the same time, both liberating and empowering. 

I did not need to be “fixed”. Instead I gave myself permission to stop playing the game and adopting the behaviours expected of me and started to embrace a leadership style governed by my own values and competencies. Trust me. Not easy, but I was blessed to encounter many inspiring women of achievement across the globe, to help me understand that it is ok to be Me and perhaps more importantly, celebrate the unique qualities we bring to the table. Not better. Just different.

It is my own transformation journey, paved with powerful insights & learnings that led me to launch the ExecTrack Academy (ETA), a leadership program, responding to a business' challenge as to how to develop & retain women of talent. It is a program designed exclusively for professional women spanning a period of 9 months, to address both mindset and behaviours required to succeed in corporate life. It’s time to learn, share and grow……..

www.exec-track.com