Last Friday, my company celebrated international women's day with an internal event. The half day event was specially dedicated to women and only held for women. I was glad I signed up for the event as it was a different setting. It gave me a chance to realise as I had earlier, how women appreciates this sort of camaraderie. Albeit even if it is just simply a good excuse to not work the whole morning, it was definitely an opportunity for me to appreciate how hard we all work.
The guest of honor was a woman from a client organisation. She spoke passionately about her struggle and how focussed she was in accomplishing her goals. I had no doubt from the very first minute she spoke that she was very young and ambitious, and had gone through a lot of proving herself sessions and had all the tribulations of success, failure and exposure. She carried herself well and showed a tough exterior, but also an aura of a great passion for success. Her leadership style was definitely about her drive and ambition.
And then I ask myself, what makes a woman a leader? To be honest, it is no different than my impromtu answer to my EA when she asked me whether I was attending this event two weeks back.
I feel to be a good woman leader, it takes courage to know and realise that we really do have to work harder than our male counterparts. It is the truth - I realise there is no point about gender equality, and expecting our male counterparts to understand. There is inequality. The reality is that today's women, tend to have more responsibilities - those who are married have accountability to spouses, households, children. Regardless of married or not, all women behave and react to corporate responsibilities with a different approach. I look at all my client counterparts, women at senior positions, and they all work VERY hard.
Do not deny that fact. Because women have occasionally that society viewpoint of being able to compromise for family, there is expectations for women to be weaker at management and making decisions. This has caused women to work twice as hard to win over the conviction of male counterparts, and then still have to go home to take care of the family.
However, once you acknowledge this truth, it is entirely up to you to deal with it. Do not look for equality where there is none, but instead look for the balance where you can. It means we will always carry the genetic symptoms of being more vulnerable, sensitive and caring. It does not make us less effective. Recognising that we need to work harder does means that we also recognise our struggle and allow ourselves the space to continue to grow in our own way.
In retrospect, learning to let go and not set such high expectations for your ownself is not an indicatation of failure, but a choice. To be a good woman leader is to learn how to accept yourself as unique, and in that respect, we will lead uniquely too.
The guest of honor was a woman from a client organisation. She spoke passionately about her struggle and how focussed she was in accomplishing her goals. I had no doubt from the very first minute she spoke that she was very young and ambitious, and had gone through a lot of proving herself sessions and had all the tribulations of success, failure and exposure. She carried herself well and showed a tough exterior, but also an aura of a great passion for success. Her leadership style was definitely about her drive and ambition.
And then I ask myself, what makes a woman a leader? To be honest, it is no different than my impromtu answer to my EA when she asked me whether I was attending this event two weeks back.
I feel to be a good woman leader, it takes courage to know and realise that we really do have to work harder than our male counterparts. It is the truth - I realise there is no point about gender equality, and expecting our male counterparts to understand. There is inequality. The reality is that today's women, tend to have more responsibilities - those who are married have accountability to spouses, households, children. Regardless of married or not, all women behave and react to corporate responsibilities with a different approach. I look at all my client counterparts, women at senior positions, and they all work VERY hard.
Do not deny that fact. Because women have occasionally that society viewpoint of being able to compromise for family, there is expectations for women to be weaker at management and making decisions. This has caused women to work twice as hard to win over the conviction of male counterparts, and then still have to go home to take care of the family.
However, once you acknowledge this truth, it is entirely up to you to deal with it. Do not look for equality where there is none, but instead look for the balance where you can. It means we will always carry the genetic symptoms of being more vulnerable, sensitive and caring. It does not make us less effective. Recognising that we need to work harder does means that we also recognise our struggle and allow ourselves the space to continue to grow in our own way.
In retrospect, learning to let go and not set such high expectations for your ownself is not an indicatation of failure, but a choice. To be a good woman leader is to learn how to accept yourself as unique, and in that respect, we will lead uniquely too.
Take that first step and celebrate your own female uniqueness today - in many ways, you are already a leader of your own right by celebrating life.
Posts
