I don’t know about you, but when I think of incredible examples of women’s corporate leadership, certain women come to mind. Maybe it’s the images of figures like Geraldine Ferarro or Elizabeth Dole for some, strong, prominent and in the public eye, but for me, it’s the ladies who surround me each day. My network. Maybe some of my clients. But most importantly, I see the best examples of women’s corporate leadership in my everyday life.
So, what do these amazing women teach me about women’s corporate leadership? There are a few things – and I think when you read them, you’ll find they’re on your radar screens as well. Great executive women aren’t about the Brooks Brothers suits…they’re leaders with proven tactics who build, create and encourage!
Key Attribute #1: They’re Collaborative
Great leadership isn’t about “my way or the highway.” It’s about finding the right people for the team you lead and cultivating their talents. Great examples of women’s corporate leadership come from those women I see leveraging the strengths of those who surround them to drive toward a common goal.
Key Attribute #2: They’re Teachers
Great examples of women surround me each day who don’t approach leadership with a dictatorial tone. Rather, they’re teachers. They discover what people don’t know and find ways to build their strengths up. They invest the time into teaching the people who surround them to become better, and ultimately, happier!
Key Attribute #3: They’re Listeners
The best examples of women’s corporate leadership I see start at the ear. It’s less for these women about speaking than it is hearing. And hearing covers a range of areas: their business, their customers, their employees, their vendors. Even their families. Great examples of women’s corporate leadership have great ears.
Now, your action task for today is to make a list. What attributes of great leaders do YOU have? What would you like to develop? This is a great refrigerator list, a daily reminder of who we’d like to become in our professional lives (and a list that’s about helping yourself and everyone around you!). We’ll revisit this list on occasion, so don’t lock it away in a drawer. Women’s corporate leadership skills deserve to be on the forefront!
