How women in leadership thrive is easy to understand. The beginning of the series Mad Men gives viewers a dramatic, yet accurate, picture of what it was like to be a woman in the workplace during the 1960’s. Reduced to certain job roles, the women of this show still had to do their jobs in the midst of a hypersexualized, condescending, male-chauvinist environment, drenched in patriarchy. As the series evolves, so does the time setting, so does society, and so do the women.
Despite the male attitudes toward female emotions and attributes on the show, viewers get to see the female characters use these attributes and emotions as empowerment, live out this empowerment, and move up the corporate ladder. It’s a fascinating way to look at how women in leadership positions have changed throughout the years.
One of the main stigmas against women in leadership has to do with the idea that women are emotionally incapable of leading. Since emotions cloud judgment, being emotional is detrimental to sound decision-making. Today, however, women are seen in every leadership position imaginable: From CEO’s, female keynote speakers, and entrepreneurs, to heads of households, best-selling authors, and government leaders. The idea of women in leadership is no longer taboo. It is something that is normal, celebrated, and embraced. Although men and women have their respective differences, their abilities to lead are equal. When you look at women such as Sheryl Sandberg, Oprah Winfrey, Marissa Mayer, and Indra Nooyi, it’s safe to say that women are absolutely emotionally capable of leading. In fact, the ability of women to tap into powerful emotions – an emotional intelligence – is a way for them create a vision and inspire others to action. A female leadership speaker can address your group, showing you how this is done. For now, here are a couple of ways women in leadership use emotion to their advantage:
Inspiration – Inspiration is defined as, “The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something.” The ability to tap into the emotions of those you lead, and channel that energy toward a positive goal, is unique and special. Energy is contagious, and those in leadership positions have to not only be able to tap into positive energy for themselves, but also convey and instill that energy, inspiring action in those they lead. A high energy [female] speaker will be able to address, and inspire, your group to tap into this energy.
Passion – When considering goals – whether personal, company, or organizational goals – it’s important to have passion. Passion is the desire-fueled essence that cultivates focus for our goals. Adapting a healthier lifestyle. Implementing that new system. Starting a new business venture. None of these goals are carried out, with any semblance of excellence, without caring about the end result. Passion is this “caring” that carries us through the process to the end result, despite the circumstances. A motivational leadership speaker will show your group how passion helps shape vision toward accomplishing goals.
Leadership is the use of influence to gain the support of others in the collective effort of accomplishing a goal. A good leader is not only pragmatic and able to control emotions that would cloud judgment, but is also able to tap into positive emotions, when necessary, that serve the greater good of the goal. Women often tap into powerful emotions such as inspiration and passion to create a vision and inspire others to action. Contact me today to address your group on how to use emotions to your advantage!