It is time for women to lead. Leadership is not always in the highest post. Leadership can exist in every aspect of our lives and this is what I am referring to. Many women are natural leaders. For others it is a new way of being. Regardless, our world desperately needs our leadership in a positive way.
Women in leadership can be as a parent, a member of our church or community, as a volunteer, in our job whether we are a manager or not, public office, thought leader, and more. Leadership can be expressed in all aspects of our lives.
Leadership can be harsh and controlling. It can be in your face so that it requires submission and obedience. That is not the leadership I speak of. Before we can lead, we have to know ourselves. How are we with people? What do we value? What is important in our lives? What is our purpose? Leadership begins with knowing ourselves so that our leadership is the best expression of who we are and not the worst in us.
We have seen and experienced women leading both from the best in them to the worst, so it takes knowing ourselves first. Take the time to meditate. Quiet your body. Clear your thinking. Go within and say hello to who you are at your core. Meditate on all the places you are or are not showing leadership in your life. What do you see? Where are you a leader? How do you view your leadership style? Where are you not leading and why?
There is so much to discover about yourself as a leader and most important is to decide who you want to be. As a parent, your leadership is teaching them how to become leaders in their lives. What are you showing them? As an employee with a job, do you show ownership and leadership in your work, striving for continuous improvement? As a manager/leader of people, how do you lead, do manage people or do you inspire them?
Trying to manage, control or direct people is a less effective style of leadership. Having a clear purpose that inspires people and engages them to work with you to achieve a result is a powerful way to lead.
The world needs women to lead alongside men in every aspects of our lives. Leading without a clear understanding and intention of leadership is not needed. Take the time and get to know yourself. Decide how to inspire and engage people and lead them in a positive way that benefits all.