EQUALITY Matters - 100 days for Change

CHANGE is our company Vital Leader's month of JULY focus and discussion theme for good reason. A new financial year. A time to review what's working, what's not. A chance to explore new initiatives and make positive changes.

In a world of continual change, driven by exciting developments in technology, science and different expectations from both today's customers and the next generation of employees; not changing is disastrous. Holding on to old practices is madness. Unsustainable; often leading to organisations becoming irrelevant, at a faster pace than ever before. Organisations can't afford to stand still or keep accepting poor, antiquated, change-averse leadership. Both scenarios are a death spiral.

Today's Leaders must possess a change mindset and be more than just willing to drive forced change; they need to be proactively creating an environment of change. They must excitedly espouse the need for change, to influence and willingly support others though the change process. Great leaders don't hide from the tough conversations; they lead them. Great leaders stand up and join forces with other change leaders and causes that match their personal values and organisational mission. 

Well - today, we are doing that. We're stepping up, standing out, speaking out, and walking our talk. We have joined the Women & Leadership Australia 100 days for change initiative, as proud champions of gender equality.

Both our Directors - Gary Kerr and I, are proud feminists, supporting equal opportunities for all people, and particularly, encouraging more women to step up into lead roles ... ensuring that women's views are heard and considered at the decision making tables. We know from experience that organisations with a good gender balance in executive roles, perform better and are more likely to build vibrant, inclusive cultures.

Both our Directors are IML Mentors, currently mentoring women in lead roles, as part of the Institute of Managers and Leaders Mentoring program.

Last year, we made the decision to incorporate my ElevateHER programs [initially run as a community development initiative, facilitating Lean In Circles after hours], with the intent to offer a broader range of leadership development programs and retreats for women. Watch this space ...

So, it was a no-brainer for Vital Leaders to jump on board with Women & Leadership Australia's - 100 days for change initiative, which commenced this week - 1 July. We are standing proudly to support this, not only in words, not only as 'just another feminist movement' ... but in actions. It's time for real action, not just pointing out the issue.

Over the next 100 days, we have pledged to:

1. Post 100 Inspirational Quotes [1 per day] on our ElevateHER - Leadership Community Facebook page. Check them out here > ... like, follow and share.

2. Roll out another Lean In Circle - our #3 leadership coaching circle for women in our local region - Cairns, Queensland. We kicked off two new Cairns Lean In Circles in February this year, with great success and importantly, positive results for our leading ladies [circle members]. So, we'll be commencing a third circle on 2 August. Expressions of interest have been over-whelming. Registrations will open next week, for 12 lucky ladies to secure their place at this Lean In discussion table. Check out more deets here >

Our CHALLENGE to you: What changes are your organisation doing during the next 100 days? It's not too late to register to be part of this great initiative. Go to WLA website and register your support - here >

I want to acknowledge our wonderful Australian pioneering feminists who fought for and won the right for women to be able to vote [1902], leading the way ahead of UK [1918] and US [1920] ... so that we could have an equal voice, not only at elections, but also at ALL decision making tables. That's 100+ years ago, peeps!

It's ridiculous that we don't yet have 50% women leading our country, our boards, our states, our local councils, our organisations.

We need REAL action. What are YOU doing about this? 

Written by Jilinda Lee - recognised leadership coach and mentor for leaders and managers, the Institute of Managers and Leaders, and champion partner of the Lean In global movement – encouraging and enabling more women to step up into lead roles.

Founder and Managing Director of Vital Leaders, Jilinda is a passionate presenter, thought-leading commentator, and writer on all things leadership related. 

Vital Leaders mission is to develop more dynamic, authentic, and emotionally intelligent, engaging leaders.