Empowering Women in Leadership: Overcoming Challenges and Rising to Success
Young women are breaking barriers and excelling in leadership roles despite facing gender biases. This article explores the journey of a rising female leader, Mphatso Chilakalaka, as she shares her experiences and insights on identity shift, aligning goals with personal values, and seeking affirmation to grow as a leader in a male-dominated work environment.
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YOUNG WOMEN ON THE RISE : sharing experiences Mphatso Chilakalaka Audit Manager AMG Global
Introduction Traditionally women are helpers of men and men providers for women. This is not the case for the 21st century woman, who has rather found herself right in the midst of a working environment, dominated by men and mostly, coupled with gender biasness.
We all aspire for the best, how can we not, it s a basic instinct. There are barriers which we face as woman and one has to push through these barriers to be recognised. So how do we handle such an environment, how do we fit in, how do we rise?
1. Identity shift Becoming a leader involves much more than being put in a leadership role, acquiring new skills, and adapting one s style to the requirements of that role. It involves a fundamental identity shift. You will only be able to make the shift by internalizing a leadership identity and developing a sense of purpose.
It was only when I demonstrated that I wanted to lead that my leadership capabilities grew and opportunities to demonstrate them expanded. Next I knew high-profile, challenging assignments and other organizational endorsements become more available because I proved that I was capable of handling these roles.
Such affirmation gave me the fortitude to step outside my comfort zone and experiment with unfamiliar behaviors and new ways of exercising leadership. An absence of affirmation, however, diminishes self-confidence and discourages you from seeking developmental opportunities.
2. Align your goals with your personal values. An effective leader always develops a sense of purpose by pursuing goals that aligns with your personal values and advance the collective good. This allows you to look beyond the status quo to what is possible and gives you a compelling reason to take action despite personal fears and insecurities.
When you are such a leader, you are seen as authentic and trustworthy because you are willing to take risks in the service of shared goals. Through these shared goals you are able to connect others to a larger purpose and they too inspire commitment, boost resolve, and help colleagues find deeper meaning in their work.
3. Be visible Integrating leadership into one s core identity is particularly challenging for women, who must establish credibility in a culture that is deeply conflicted about whether, when, and how they should exercise authority and that women are simply not cut out to be leaders. Make yourself available, don t hide yourself and be seen to be working.
Anything is possible if you set your mind on it, so don t be intimidated by the fact that there is a high probability of a male counterpart being offered the role when it arises just because men are considered more capable than us.
4. Be yourself As women in position, we spend all your energy in trying to be respected or to be liked. The time and energy spent on managing these perceptions can ultimately be self- defeating.
Overinvestment in ones image diminishes the emotional and motivational resources available for larger purposes. People who focus on how others perceive them are less clear about their goals, less open to learning from failure, and less capable of self-regulation.
I do not obsess with perfection, I know I am a working in progress, meaning every day I became a better person. I am more concerned with channeling my energy on effort. One foot in front of the other, baby steps. It doesn t matter whether I am walking in straight line or not as long as I know that I am moving forward and eventually that effort will build in transformation.
5. Build your confidence We are capable of doing anything as long as we are shown how to. Never be afraid of trying something new, challenge yourself. We only get to know how good we are, when we move out of our comfort zone.
We are only held back from making changes we need as a result of the limits we set our minds on. My attitude on this one is who cares if it doesn t work, at least I tried, I will do better next time
6. I cant, yes you can Never make excuses for yourself, they only make the climb harder. Be stronger than your excuses. Just like we are able to change a route, we can completely recreate ourselves, we can rise up from anything. Network. Just because am a woman does not mean I can t go to a cocktail just because I don t want to be misjudged of my intentions.
The career paths that never worked can be a starting point for something better. You are never stuck, there is always a choice, new beginnings. Never be restrictive.
7. Never sell yourself out Our bodies should never be used or be seen as a means to our progression. No matter how much you want to rise, it is not worthy selling your body for it. You are only be seen as being cheap and less qualified for the position. The progression should be about your brains and capabilities.
8. Stop comparing yourself with other people We all make the mistake of comparing ourselves to other people, it s the worst thing one can do to themself and let s face it; it s rather exhausting.
We are all different, my gifts and talents are different. My goal therefore should never be to better than anyone else, but rather to be better than what I used to be.
9. Have a mentor Pause and ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow and if not, always seek counsel. Never be too ambitious it will only wear you out and learn to ask for help.
There is nothing wrong with seeking counsel. You are not the only one on this trail. Other women have been on the same trail and they have made it. Take time to identify such people and seek their advice.
10. Be able to balance Don t give up just because things are getting hard. Push through challenges, learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. We are super beings. We have to juggle between being the center point of our families and being that leader in work and it is not easy. Take time to breath and look out for your inner woman, she needs taking care off.
11. Attitude The fact that you are getting there does not and should not give you leverage to become a monster. Treat people with all the respect they deserve. Be strong but not rude. Be kind but not weak, be humble but not timid and be proud but not arrogant.
Remember to help other women rise, we have been entrusted with these positions for a reason. Support, motivate, guide and share the happiness of seeing another woman rise. Always have a sister circle but then again have a brother circle for the encouragement and venting.
