Paying it Forward: Practices for Women Navigating Leadership

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For this week’s Workplace Intelligence Newsletter, I interviewed Janet Foutty, executive chair of the board for Deloitte US. Janet has held this role since 2019 after serving as chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP. Janet is also a member of Deloitte’s Global Board of Directors and chair of the Deloitte Foundation.

In our conversation, we discussed Janet’s new leadership book, Arrive and Thrive , which she co-authored with Simmons University’s Susan MacKenty Brady and Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten. The book is an impactful guide for women in leadership positions, offering actionable practices and personal stories to help pave a smoother path to success.

Read on for Janet’s insights on some of the key challenges and opportunities facing today’s female leaders—to receive the full Q&A, subscribe to my FREE Workplace Intelligence Insider newsletter.

And be sure to join me and Janet during our live audio event TODAY (April 4) at 11am EST, where we’ll continue our discussion on this important topic.

Although leadership authenticity is critical, female leaders are often less comfortable with being open—especially when it comes to sharing their struggles with balancing their personal and professional lives. What advice do you have for women who want to be more transparent leaders, while still mitigating the perceived and real professional risks that can result from embracing authenticity?

There’s so much I could say on this topic! But I’ll boil it down to two key attributes: vulnerability and consistency. I’ve found that when we don’t bring our whole selves to work, which includes being vulnerable about the things we are facing personally and professionally—whether it’s a health issue, a caretaking challenge at home, or a tough business decision—we overcompensate in other ways. That leads to moments of inauthenticity.

I also believe that sharing bits of ourselves in contextually appropriate and honest ways helps build followership. By modeling that vulnerability—sharing the challenges we face, the successes we’ve had, and principles we believe in—we’re showing the next generation that they can do the same.?This is where consistency comes in: showing up and sticking to our principles not just on our best day, but in every interaction with every person. For me, that means holding to a consistent level of intensity, clarity, and directness in how I interact with others.

As you advance in your leadership journey, there will be moments that challenge your sense of who you are and what you care about. But if you start leading with vulnerability and consistency now, it’ll be second nature to return to those principles—not to mention, you’ll have a team of people to remind you of them, and help you along the way.

In general, studies have shown that women tend to be more risk-averse than men. How can female leaders cultivate more personal courage?

It begins with advocacy—for ourselves and for others. Whether it’s determining what’s important to you and communicating that or making a bold decision on behalf of your team, every experience is an opportunity to practice abandoning our comfort zones and calling upon courage to make our voices heard. What I wish I knew earlier in my career is that I don’t have to have every possible solution or to have figured out every possible risk to take that leap of faith. Admitting that you don’t know the answers, and committing to work collectively with your team to find them, is courageous.

Lastly, especially as I advanced in my leadership roles, I have learned the value and importance of having courageous conversations, even when it feels uncomfortable. Conducting honest, even difficult conversations in a thoughtful, gracious manner is one of the best things you can do to foster your own leadership—it’s the ultimate form of courage. And being straightforward with people in a well-informed manner about the things you think are important, is also the most helpful thing you can do for someone else, too.

Want to read the full article? You can access it in the?Workplace Intelligence Insider Archives . To receive the new edition every Monday morning,?subscribe ?for free.

And don’t forget join us for our live audio event TODAY (April 4) at 11am EST.