Five Keys to Unlimited Success for Women in Leadership Roles
Professional development for women is important for leadership growth
It can feel isolating when you’re beginning to stretch and grow out of the molds that were existing in. This means that opportunities for women to come together and be supported and hear objective and diverse viewpoints are pivotal to developing women leaders. In recent months, I’ve had the chance to meet with women who were looking to learn from each other’s experiences as well as share their own. What makes these dialogues unique is that it doesn’t matter if you are the moderator, a panelist, or an audience; you are bound to hear things that resonate. For me, five key themes can be applied to how we approach everything from parenting to going back to college for a degree to leading a fortune 500 company.
Be Flexible: Recognize that there is more than one way to achieve the same outcome. In reality, there might be hundreds of ways. Are you open to flexing your approach? Avoid getting bogged down in an all-or-nothing mindset and you’ll be better positioned to see the various tunnels that can get you to the light at the end.
Develop Transferable Skills: What talents and skills helped you succeed in the past, and how can you put them to work in the present? For example, if you were able to juggle getting your degree while working two jobs, you can probably handle having a full-time career and going to the gym each week. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to be real with yourself and recognize what you need to work on to take the next leap forward. Professional development, for leaders, is an ongoing process and can provide valuable confidence-building activities and exercises.
Be the Best at What You’re Doing Right Now: Some wise women in your life probably said to you at some point, “I just want you to be the best at whatever you’re doing,” and she was right! Wherever you are standing at this moment, make the absolute most of it. Giving it your all can open doors that you never imagined could be open to you.
Create a Network and Nurture Your Tribe: This one is harder for some of us than for others because it’s scary to be vulnerable. However, it’s important to engage in networking for career growth. This can provide you with a safe place to try new business ideas, practice how to request a raise, or find leads to your next job. Your tribe, on the other hand, is where you can find comfort and support; falling is inevitable, but it’s less scary when you know who will be there to help you up.
Turn Challenges into Triumphs: This is where the first four keys can be the most helpful. Get creative and use these obstacles as motivation to find out-the-box solutions. Learning how to solve problems effectively is an important leadership skill and can be developed through executive leadership coaching. Overcoming challenges can help fuel your momentum so you can take on the next new thing and result in the biggest smiles when you make it through to the other side.
Moving up within a nonprofit organization can challenge you to grow in new and unforeseen ways. Leadership can be isolating and can make you doubt your own abilities. Our executive coaching program offers women an opportunity to work on their individual leadership goals, build confidence, and improve strategic thinking. Another executive leadership coaching benefit is that it can be pivotal to the culture of an organization and women in leadership positions. Click here to schedule a free consultation call to discuss how leadership development could be right for you, whether you are starting your executive job search, or already in a chief position.
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