Women make great leaders. We make the world a better place and inspire a brighter future for all women. There is no shortage of incredible women more than qualified to fill leadership roles, yet there’s still a substantial gap between men and women leaders in the workplace.
Despite studies showing how women are more effective leaders than men, women remain underrepresented. Men continue to dominate in business and thought leadership as well.
We need more female voices to disrupt the status quo.
The world is not meant to be dominated by one perspective alone—the male perspective. The world needs more female thought leaders, and you can do your part to make that happen. Nominate a female leader from your team to become a thought leader. These powerful women often share common traits that make them stand out and impactful.
Here are some characteristics of strong female leaders:
- Confidence in oneself
If you don’t believe in yourself, you can’t expect others to believe in you. Strong female leaders have a deep sense of self-confidence that inspires others. They’re not egotistical, and they certainly don’t make others feel that they’re small in comparison. Instead, they set an example of excellence that motivates others to do the same. Their healthy level of confidence makes them receptive to criticism and feedback.
- Strength
Strong female leaders have the courage to fight for what they believe in. They have the strength to take risks and learn from mistakes and failures. They are willing to put themselves out there despite the insults and stereotypes they know they will encounter. It takes strength and confidence to be a woman leader in the male-centric world of business.
- Going out of their comfort zone and challenging the status quo
Successful women leaders understand that you need to step outside your comfort zone to create new and better opportunities. They are more likely to make hard decisions or take chances that make them uneasy.
Strong women leaders will offer something new to the industry they are in and challenge how business has always been done. Since women leaders often have to overcome barriers to get to where they are, their management style is more inclusive and collaborative, and therefore less “traditional.”
More importantly, female leaders understand that they play a crucial role in changing the status quo and redefining the future in business by establishing a work culture that embraces women and molds them to become future leaders.
- Grit
Women’s brains are naturally wired for long-term strategic vision. Strong female leaders have grit. They persevere, and they are passionate about achieving their long-term goals. This grit helps them thrive in the face of challenges.
- Resourceful
Women leaders can do more with less. Women-led start-ups have less funding than those led by men, yet they are achieving equal or better returns. Since we have to work extra hard for what we want, female leaders are more familiar with having to reach out, expand our network and get told “no” more than a few times. But still we persevere and are determined to come out on top.
These are but a few of the many admirable qualities of female leaders.
Do you know a female leader in your team that possesses these traits?
Nominate her for a thought leadership course developed for female leaders who want to use their expertise and voice to change the face of business.
Thought Leadership Accelerator: A Live 6-Week Intensive Course
Many women leaders I know would love to inspire others with their stories, but they just don’t know how. I am offering a 6-week accelerator program to help women in business become thought leaders without quitting their day job.
I’ve been doing this for 11 years on my own with no role model, coach or guide. There’s so much clutter out there that you don’t need, so I’m going to show you exactly WHAT to focus on so it doesn’t take you or your colleague the same 11 years it took me to get to where I am.
Some topics and tools include:
- The right platform to share their voice
- How to model a thought leadership business
- Tools and templates that works
- How to write a book (if you want to do it)
- How to develop a go-to market plan
The goal of this accelerator program is to get from a woman working her ass off behind a company’s name to a sought-after authority in her industry. From behind the curtain to the spotlight.
If you have a female leader in your organization that should apply, reply here and we’ll get the conversation started.
Let’s continue changing the business world one woman at a time.
In love and respect,
Hilary Corna
