When looking through a leadership lens, there are three kinds of women:
1. Women who want to lead, but believe they can’t – because of perceived barriers.
2. Women who should lead but don’t – they hold themselves back either from fear or apathy.
3. Women who want to lead and can because the conditions make it possible for them to do so.
The reality is that all of us have leadership potential, but as women, sometimes we thwart that potential through self-doubt and self-imposed barriers. The key to surmounting our barriers is realizing our potential and tapping into it. Fortunately, leadership begins with learning and it is never too late to learn how to be a leader.
Some women learn leadership skills at an early age [think Sheryl Sandberg’s famous observation: instead of telling little girls they are bossy, tell them they have leadership skills]; while for others it takes time and experience to tap into those leadership traits.
U.S. women's soccer team star Julie Foudy recently had an inspirational message for women on NPR: Own Your Awesome. She said that women “love to make sure all the boxes are checked — that we aren't just prepared, but over-prepared before we raise our hand. It's that discipline that I love most about women, but it's also what holds us women back the most because by the time we raise our hand, that opportunity is often gone.”
I couldn’t agree more. It is important for women to realize that you do not need to wait for an invitation to lead. You should not wait for your confidence to catch up with your aspiration. You should not wait until the naysayers are quiet. If you can lead, even just a little bit, you should.
Research shows that regardless of what industry or profession you are in there are four common traits that comprise an effective leader. The good news is that these traits are things you are probably already doing in your daily personal and professional lives. If not, they are simple ideals to work towards.
1. Create a culture of trust. You can show others that you are trustworthy by listening to them and following through on what you say you are going to do. When people realize that you are genuine, they will trust you.
2. Act with consistency to ensure stability. Parents are often told to ensure that their children have consistent schedules and expectations. The same is true for the workplace. Employees need to know that the rules and expectations that apply one day will be the same the next.
3. Be a compassionate, authentic and empathetic person. This a no-brainer. Show respect and treat others kindly – we all deserve that.
4. Create the conditions for hope to thrive. We all are motivated by optimism and opportunities to excel. This means focusing on the positive and providing constructive advice on how to grow and improve.
Trust. Stability. Compassion. Hope. Now, this is something EVERY woman can do. And with that, EVERY woman can and should be a leader.
Dr. Bernice Ledbetter is Practitioner Faculty of Organizational Theory and Management at Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business and Management where she chairs the M.S. in Management and Leadership degree program. Her research and teaching interests focus on values-based leadership, peace leadership, and gender. Dr. Ledbetter founded the Pepperdine Center for Women in Leadership to empower and advance women in the workplace.