Four Essential Lessons for Women in Leadership

I’ve had the gift of leading people and organizations for more than 25 years. Having started my career in education, serving as a principal, director of elementary education and Human Resources director, I moved into the business world where I’ve had the opportunity to coach executives, manage business lines and ultimately serve as CEO to a global company. There is no shortage of lessons I can draw from given my experience in varied roles and collaboration with many incredible mentors.

As I reflect on the fast-evolving world in which we find ourselves, four lessons stand out to me as essential for anyone seeking to guide others toward success. I hope these insights can inspire you on your leadership journey and empower you to advance your organization.

Be Your Authentic Self

No one will operate in quite the same way as you do, and that is something to celebrate! We all bring our own competencies and brilliances to our roles, and our values can be a source of strength. Leading authentically means being transparent about your gifts, goals and your blind spots.

As Brené Brown says: Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen. One of the bravest acts of leadership is to allow others to see that you are human. From my experience, I’ve learned that when I’m clear about my concerns, interests and intentions as well as admit when I do not have the answer, my teammates are more open to stretching themselves, sharing their ideas and ultimately, working together to find the most effective solutions for our company.

Lead with Empathy

Being able to understand and relate to the feelings of others is a superpower. The workplace is changing rapidly, and employees are increasingly being asked to adapt how they work and to do more with less. We can only get the best from our team members when we listen to their needs and concerns.

A study from Catalyst revealed that workers who viewed their leaders as empathetic reported feeling more innovative, more engaged and more likely to stay at their organization. To navigate the transformation we’re experiencing in the workplace, we need motivated, creative personnel. I’ve found that being supportive and finding ways to meet staff where they are at has resulted in more committed, loyal and resilient team members.

Embrace Positive Intent

Giving people the benefit of the doubt unlocks so many possibilities. This principle was instilled in me from one of my mentors, Dr. Geil Browning, who consistently reinforced the importance of believing that others have the best of intentions. This mindset shift organically reduces friction because it puts leaders into the headspace of asking more questions and seeking understanding.

In moments of tension or conflict, I take a moment to pause and remind myself that those around me are trying their hardest and mean well. This action allows me to respond to the situation rather than react to it. By modeling this behavior and encouraging the workforce to follow this practice, we’ve unleashed new levels of curiosity, engagement and performance in our business.

Value Different Perspectives

Great leaders know that their success depends on the people around them. Seeking out the inputs and ideas of others, especially those who are different from you, will spark new insights and strategies. Research has validated that cognitive diversity improves innovation, results in better decisions and even speeds up problem-solving.

Get in the habit of asking: What am I missing? And be open to the responses. Rather than asking for advice from others to validate my thinking, I proactively look to colleagues who I know will challenge me. When I do so, I’ve benefitted significantly as my teammates’ questions and alternative approaches have allowed our organization to proactively identify risk factors and create solutions that achieve our desired outcomes.

One simple recommendation lies at the core of these lessons: keep learning from others. Having a growth mindset will empower you to achieve so much more, and I know I owe a great deal of my success to the amazing mentors, colleagues and direct reports I’ve surrounded myself with.

Find people whom you admire and are enthusiastic about learning from. This passion for growth will propel you to new heights and serve as the foundation for helping you embrace distinct perspectives, assume positive intent, lead empathetically and be your authentic self.