Podcast Summary
Self-recognition in leadership: Recognizing potential within oneself and taking ownership of leadership role requires self-reflection and can be an uncomfortable but significant growth opportunity.
Becoming a leader involves not only convincing others of your abilities but also convincing yourself. This transition can be uncomfortable and even awkward, especially for individuals whose identity groups don't align with the cultural norms of leadership. The first step is recognizing the potential within yourself and taking ownership of your role. This may involve soul-searching and self-reflection. The experiences of leadership coaches Amy Sue and Muriel Wilkins illustrate this point, as they both had moments of realization where they were seen as leaders despite not initially seeing themselves in that role. This uncomfortable phase can be a significant growth opportunity, and with the right mindset and support, individuals can develop their leadership presence in an authentic and effective way.
Leadership mindset shift: To become a perceived leader, one must embrace a leadership mindset through self-awareness, communication, assertiveness, and embodying leadership behaviors, even without a formal title.
Becoming a perceived leader goes beyond just holding a hierarchical position. It requires an internal shift in mindset and embracing specific skills like communication, assertiveness, and self-awareness. Women, in particular, may face additional challenges due to societal conditioning and expectations. To help clients make this shift, coaches focus on developing a strong sense of self, understanding personal values and principles, and practicing new leadership behaviors. Embodiment is key, as it's not just about declaring oneself a leader, but about creating a felt experience for others. Practical examples, like adjusting communication styles, can help clients begin embodying leadership behaviors even without a formal title.
Leadership balance: Effective leadership requires a balance between self-confidence and openness to feedback. Seek support from advocates, champions, and sponsors, communicate intentions clearly, and have specific conversations about goals and desired autonomy when seeking feedback.
Effective leadership involves a balance between self-confidence and openness to feedback. It's important to own your expertise and skills, but also be aware of any insecurities that may be getting in the way. Additionally, seeking out the leadership model within your organization and having advocates, champions, and sponsors can help women in particular navigate the transition to leadership roles. It's also crucial to communicate your intentions and ask for support from those around you. When asking for more responsibilities or seeking to be seen as a leader, be specific about what you want and how others can help you achieve it. And when it comes to seeking feedback from a mentor or manager, have an explicit conversation about your goals and how they can support you in reaching them. Remember, it's important to acknowledge the value of their past support while also expressing your desire for more autonomy.
Balancing Leading and Learning: Effective leadership requires a balance between demonstrating expertise and remaining open to new ideas, building relationships, updating knowledge, and seeking support when taking on new roles or projects.
Effective leadership involves a balance between leading and learning. Demonstrating expertise while remaining open to new ideas and perspectives is crucial for establishing trust and fostering collaboration. This balance can be particularly challenging for those who have grown within an organization and are trying to transition from being seen as an intern or entry-level employee to a leader. To overcome this, it's essential to keep updating your knowledge, build relationships, and make the most of your institutional knowledge. Additionally, being aware of cues that indicate stagnation and considering external opportunities can help ensure continued growth and development. When taking on new roles or projects, it's essential to assess the conditions for success and seek support from colleagues and managers to set yourself up for success.
Mindset of value and excitement: Approaching new opportunities with a positive attitude and excitement can lead to greater success and visibility within an organization. If advancement seems unlikely, it may be time to consider whether the organization is the best fit for achieving personal goals.
Approaching new opportunities with a mindset of bringing value and excitement, rather than hesitancy and gratitude, can lead to greater success. This not only benefits the individual but also helps build support and visibility within an organization. For those facing challenges due to biases, it's essential to assess the signs of progress and seek opportunities for growth, visibility, and sponsorship. If advancement seems unlikely despite strong performance, it may be time to consider whether the organization is the best fit for achieving personal goals. Additionally, demonstrating strategic thinking and leadership at every moment can help build confidence and credibility, even in the face of doubts or perceived lack of experience.
Career goals and aspirations: Evaluate different scenarios for career goals based on shorter-term horizon and align with personal desires, be seen as a leader by taking ownership, making decisions, and being trusted for judgments, women may face challenges in leadership roles but can build confidence in decision-making abilities to overcome obstacles.
Considering your career goals and aspirations should not be based on a lifetime perspective, but rather on a shorter-term horizon, such as the next few years. It's essential to evaluate different scenarios and determine which one aligns best with your personal desires and goals. This approach allows for flexibility and the ability to make decisions based on what's right for you, rather than out of fear. Additionally, being seen as a leader goes beyond formal authority and titles. It's about taking ownership, making decisions, and being trusted for your judgments. Women, in particular, may face challenges in assuming leadership roles due to being heard and respected, but focusing on building confidence in decision-making abilities can help overcome these obstacles.
Women's Leadership Challenges: Women can build confidence as leaders by reminding themselves of their expertise, advocating for the collective, and being emotionally intelligent, while avoiding pushiness and arrogance.
Women face unique challenges when it comes to asserting themselves as leaders and overcoming biases. To build confidence and embrace leadership roles, simple reminders like "I am an expert" or "I am a leader" can be helpful. However, it's important to avoid coming across as pushy or arrogant. Instead, focus on advocating for the collective and being emotionally intelligent. Women shouldn't let fear of external perceptions hold them back, but also recognize that others' perceptions can impact their ability to lead effectively. During her consulting days, the speaker found that acting as if she were in charge, even when she wasn't officially, helped her engage more deeply and ultimately led to a promotion. Ultimately, women should strive to see themselves as leaders, but also be aware of the external factors that can influence their leadership journey.
Leadership responses to criticism: Respond calmly and constructively to criticism, clarify misunderstandings, and establish clear roles and responsibilities to ensure effective leadership.
Effective leadership requires clarity and confidence, even in the face of ambiguity or criticism. When someone challenges your leadership, it's important to respond calmly and constructively, rather than letting the comment derail you. This might involve disarming the critic with humor, switching to a more constructive conversation, or having a private conversation afterward to clarify any misunderstandings. It's also crucial to establish clear roles and responsibilities at the outset of a project to avoid confusion and ensure everyone is working together towards the same goal. Ultimately, leadership is about influence, and taking charge of a project or team requires owning your role and taking initiative, even if you don't have formal authority. Delegating tasks to others and recognizing your strengths and weaknesses can also help you be an effective leader.
Leadership discomfort: Effective leadership requires making tough decisions, having difficult conversations, and staying confident in the face of pushback, while focusing on values and communicating transparently.
Becoming a leader involves embracing the uncomfortable aspects of the role, such as making tough decisions and having difficult conversations that may make some people unhappy. It's important to recognize that being liked by everyone is not a prerequisite for effective leadership. Instead, leaders should focus on their values, seek input from others, and communicate transparently. When faced with pushback, it's essential to stay confident and turn objections into constructive conversations. Additionally, it can be helpful to define what kind of leader you want to be and refer back to those values when needed. Remember, leadership is not always easy, but being fair, thoughtful, and committed to the team will shine brighter than trying to please everyone.