Fierce and Fearless: Elevating Women in Leadership Conversations (International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month special)

In alignment with the IWD 2024 campaign theme of "Inspire Inclusion," we reflect on the profound significance of championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly within leadership circles. Today, on International Women's Day, we stand in awe of the exceptional women leaders who are reshaping the contours of modern leadership. Their unwavering commitment to inclusivity serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to understand and cherish the value of women's inclusion. When women are embraced and empowered to participate fully, there's a palpable sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment that reverberates across communities and industries. From the boardroom to the classroom, women are not merely shattering glass ceilings; they're fundamentally redefining leadership paradigms with integrity, compassion, and visionary insight. As we pay tribute to their remarkable achievements and resilience, let us recommit ourselves to amplifying their voices, dismantling systemic barriers, and collectively forging a world where every woman can thrive and lead with dignity and purpose.

In our exploration of International Women's Day and the challenges facing women leaders, we confront a pressing question: Is trust in female leaders faltering? As we navigate through today's tumultuous times, it's crucial to understand the dynamics at play behind this concerning trend. Join us as we delve deeper into the complexities surrounding this issue and strive to unravel the root causes together. Let's ignite a dialogue and pave the way for a more supportive and empowering environment for women leaders everywhere.

Is trust in women leaders faltering?

In today's rapidly changing landscape, trust in female leaders appears to be faltering. This prompts a vital question: why are we witnessing a decline in confidence towards women at the helm of organisations?

Theories abound, pointing to a complex interplay of factors. Some attribute it to deep-rooted institutional misogyny, exacerbated by recent socio-political shifts and the upheavals of the pandemic. Others suggest that as societal norms are challenged, there's a tendency to revert to familiar, traditional structures.

Delving into the issue reveals intriguing insights. Could it be that the more unsettled we feel, the more inclined we are to gravitate towards conventional solutions, even if they no longer serve us effectively? It's a thought-provoking notion worth exploring further.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts on this pressing issue. Let's unravel the layers of complexity surrounding the trust crisis facing female leaders and work towards fostering a more inclusive and equitable future.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/eQnG3FJB

Believe in Yourself:

In the realm of leadership, confidence is key. It's the driving force that propels us forward, even in the face of uncertainty and doubt. Without a strong belief in our own abilities and potential, it's challenging to inspire confidence in others. Let's delve into the importance of self-belief and how it serves as the foundation for effective leadership.

Believing in yourself is the first step towards achieving your goals, but true empowerment lies in uplifting others along the way. As women in leadership, our journey is not just about our individual successes, but about creating pathways for others to thrive. It's about championing each other's accomplishments, supporting one another through challenges, and lifting each other up to reach new heights of achievement. When we believe in ourselves and in the potential of our fellow women, we become unstoppable forces for change, breaking down barriers and paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future. Together, let us harness the power of our collective strength and solidarity to uplift and empower women in every corner of the world.

Steps we can take towards empowering women in leadership…

Empowering women in leadership isn't just a buzzword – it's a vital step towards creating a more equitable and prosperous society. As nations worldwide strive to close the gender gap and promote economic equality, it's crucial to implement strategies that enable women to thrive in leadership roles. Here are five effective ways to create and maintain an empowered women leadership team:

• Enable Women to Lead and Undertake Decision-Making Roles: Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions. To address this disparity, it's essential to provide women with opportunities to lead and participate in decision-making processes. Initiatives like Leadership Development Programs can help cultivate leadership skills and attract talented women to key roles within organisations.
• Expand Female Employment Opportunities: Historically, women have faced barriers to entry in certain sectors of the workforce. By offering more employment opportunities to women and breaking down gender stereotypes, we can create a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
• Invest in Female Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurship can be a challenging path for women, with access to funding and resources often limited. Investing in female-led businesses, both financially and emotionally, can help level the playing field and unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs. Additionally, initiatives like Leadership Training can equip women with the skills they need to succeed in the business world.
• Combat Unpaid Labor: Unpaid labor, particularly performed by women, remains a significant issue globally. By addressing the root causes of unpaid labor and advocating for fair compensation, we can empower women to contribute to the economy and society on equal footing with men.
• Provide Guidance and Training: Balancing work and family responsibilities can be challenging for women, particularly in high-skilled sectors. Mentorship programs that offer both personal and professional support can help women navigate the complexities of leadership and advance their careers.

Together, by implementing these strategies and fostering a culture of empowerment and inclusivity, we can create a brighter future where women thrive as leaders and contribute fully to the success of organisations and societies alike. Let's continue to champion women's leadership and work towards a more equitable world for all.?

Ways Women Can Uplift Other Women at Work!

Love this article by Shanna A. Hocking , focusing on 6 easy Ways Women Can Uplift Other Women at Work!

I’ve written extensively about this before (see my piece on the Voice of Women: https://bit.ly/3wHfX47 ), and I totally share her views and central themes that are very clearly laid out:?

1. Amplify other women’s voices and ideas—with credit;?

2. Ask if you can bring someone you’re mentoring or supporting to an event you’re invited to;?

3. Talk with other women about your experiences;?

4. Share salary information

5. Walk the walk—even with the little things;

6. Champion working Mums, something even more passionately about as I see our daughters Gemma and Alive raise their young sons whilst having important and meaningful jobs?

I particularly like the extra advice Shanna gives about talking with other women about your experience!

“When you allow yourself to be vulnerable and share about what you’ve faced in your career, you can give other women insights they can learn from—and help them feel less alone. While this may start in the little moments in individual conversations, it’s also important that you’re prepared in the bigger moments—especially as a leader or manager.?

In 2018, for example, the Chronicle of Philanthropy announced on its front page that one in four fundraisers had experienced sexual harassment at work, primarily from donors. I brought my team together to talk about this article, so they could hear me say that their safety and well-being always comes before the work. I also opened up about my own personal experience as one of those statistics and we had a candid conversation about how to handle it if they ever personally felt uncomfortable in a situation.?

People often ask me how to know if they’re disclosing too much. For me, I ask myself, “Will this help me build a relationship or connect more genuinely with this person?”?

Read the full article! https://bit.ly/3Y9I0ou

Are you currently building on relationships? Bringing energy, honesty, and a little more of yourself into every relationship? Love your advice and input.?

Let’s talk women's entrepreneurship

A while back, my dear friend, colleague, and mutual mentee, Sharena Shiv, shared some insightful thoughts on the topic of women's entrepreneurship. Her words resonated deeply with me, sparking a profound reflection on the invaluable role that women play in shaping the entrepreneurial landscape. As we continue to celebrate and uplift women in leadership, it's crucial to recognise the unique challenges and triumphs that accompany the journey of female entrepreneurs. Sharena's perspective offers a glimpse into the resilience, creativity, and determination that define women's entrepreneurship, inspiring us all to forge our paths fearlessly and with unwavering resolve. Take a moment to delve into her profound insights and join me in celebrating the remarkable achievements of women entrepreneurs everywhere.

#ThisGirlIsMe - I thought I would reshare a few thoughts on ambition!

The girl on the left wanted to be invited to at least one party ?? have some fun, buy a New Shop Till & run the Andoversford Post Office ??.?

?Remember the dreams of our younger selves? Simple yet full of hope. From being invited to a party to running a local post office, each aspiration carried a spark of excitement and possibility.

?But as we've grown, so have our dreams. Today, we strive for more: to make a meaningful impact, lead with purpose, and pave the way for a brighter future. Whether it's raising funds for vital causes or shaping the digital landscape, our ambitions know no bounds!?

?? Let's take a moment to heed the words of wisdom from Maeve Binchy, who reminds us to embrace life fully:

Learn to type. Learn to drive . Have fun. Write postcards. (Letters take too long and you won’t do it; a postcard takes two minutes.) Be punctual. Don’t worry about what other people are thinking. They are not thinking about you. Write quickly (Taking longer doesn’t usually make it better.) Get up early. See the world . Call everybody by their first name, from doctors to presidents. Have parties. Don’t agonise. Don’t regret. Don’t fuss. Never brood. Move on. Don’t wait for permission to be happy.

?As we celebrate International Women's Day, let's honour the resilience, strength, and determination of women everywhere. Share your stories, inspire others, and let's continue to empower each other to reach for the stars!?

Market & Brand Yourself:

Just like any successful brand, effective leadership requires careful branding and positioning. Your personal brand is a reflection of your values, commitments, and promises as a leader. By crafting a clear and compelling brand identity, you can influence how others perceive and engage with you in the workplace. Let's explore the strategies and principles behind successful personal branding in leadership.

Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History! ?

This graphic really resonated with me. The lovely Angela Kurien Murze sent it to me on a week where I had been repeatedly labelled as “assertive, “difficult”, and adding “too much energy in the room!”. On this special week when women and girls have been celebrated all around the world, I am proud to be paying tribute to the extraordinary women who do NOT behave, and act outside of the norms assigned to them by the patriarchy. I salute all of you, particularly the female fighters in Ukraine. I am proud of you, and I encourage you to keep fighting, and misbehaving!

Who is your woman of the month??

My Women of this special month include Khun Sarah, our incredible Teaching Head of The Academy for Youth with Potential in Thailand

The strong, Intelligent, warm and kind Women of Gressenhall, my friends who are new mothers, grandmothers, Vicars, Doctors, Nurses, Environmentalists, Performers, Musical Directors, Bakers, Tennis Players, Agronomists, Teachers, Forces for good at every turn of? life!?

The new brilliant women I meet weekly to whom I listen carefully and learn so much from - this week Dr Jan Peter’s and Mary McCarthy as we herald brilliant female engineers in the Electronics Weekly Awards Judges Meetings

And here's to our future leaders and CEOs, the Gemmas, Ellas, Khun Sainees, and Khun Toons, Alices, Constances, Emmas, Nehas, Rosies, Sigourneys, and Masoomas of my world, in whom our futures will be in better hands.

Take Care of Yourself Emotionally and Physically:

Leadership can be demanding, both mentally and physically. To perform at our best, it's essential to prioritise self-care and well-being. Emotional fitness and physical health are cornerstones of effective leadership, enabling us to navigate challenges with resilience and vitality. Join me as we delve into the importance of self-care and discover practical strategies for maintaining balance in our lives.

Women in the Workplace? - Burnout, Leadership, Hope & Your Role ??

I thought this McKinsey research was interesting based on a year's findings during the pandemic. IT? examines how women have really been doing in the workplace and there are a few key elements that struck me very hard.

- While women have made small gains at almost every level of the pipeline, including the C-suite, women of colour continue to be dramatically underrepresented at high levels. Because of the persistent ' broken rung' at the first step up to manager, there are not enough women in middle management to be promoted to senior leadership.

-Women are stepping up to support employee well-being and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in their companies - but the problem is, they aren't rewarded for it.?

You can read the report in full below https://lnkd.in/g5MVgeau

Many leading companies have made great headway in creating new relevant actions plans but more needs to be done at an individual level. “You won’t have sustainable inclusive growth if you’re not rewarding the type of work that drives that outcome,” she adds. “What gets measured, rewarded, and recognised is what ultimately gets done.”

So what is our call to arms - what should we be asking and doing??

Psychology

1. What is your organisation's published EDI plan with a clear end in mind, goals, deliverables, who owns what by when? Are you communicating great stories, successes and amazing stories that inspire others??

Physiology?

2. What are the processes that underpin the EDI plans execution, for example, mandatory mixed slates for hiring, Quotas, clear targets plus Progression and Retention Data. Is there equal pay for equal work? Is this data visible and discussed regularly? Is there a consumer-grade employee value proposition that includes Family Supportive Policies from cradle to grave??

Anatomy?

3. What does the employee base, management team and leadership cohort look like in your gig? Are people selected because of their age, sex, colour creed physical/cognitive ability? Are teams happy and productive manifestly bringing 200% of themselves to work?

?

If not, why not? Ask some of the questions I posed above?

Be the change that you want to see in the world. Start activating for the change you feel your organisation should move to. Especially one that is worthy of us all, who care about Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace

Trust = Empathy, Authenticity and Logic?

In my extensive experience leading businesses and driving purpose-led initiatives globally, I've come to recognise the pivotal role that trust plays in achieving success and personal fulfillment. As Professor Francis Frei eloquently articulates, trust encompasses more than just reliability; it thrives on the pillars of empathy, authenticity, and logic. Building trust requires not only demonstrating competence and consistency but also fostering genuine connections with others, staying true to oneself, and approaching challenges with a rational mindset.

Hope this is helpful in my newsletter as you go maybe and embrace a few of these initiatives:?

• Go find a mentee today?
• Offer a Shadowing experience to a person in your team?
• Form a youth board for an area of your responsibilities?
• Offer to talk and coach women in your local school or youth group

As we draw to a close on this edition of our newsletter, I want to extend my warmest gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and engagement. Your participation in these important conversations surrounding women in leadership is invaluable, and it's through our collective efforts that we continue to drive positive change in our communities and beyond. Remember, our journey towards gender equality and empowerment is ongoing, and your dedication to this cause is truly inspiring. Thank you for being a part of this movement.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this newsletter. I trust you found it informative and insightful. Warm regards, Harriet