It’s impossible to respect, value and admire great leadership if you
can’t identify what makes a leader great. Because of this, the identity
crisis I have written about that exists in today’s workplace is
something that women leaders in particular have been facing for much
too long. While the tide is changing and more women are being elevated
into leadership roles, there is still much work to do. As of July 2013, there were only 19 female elected presidents and prime ministers in power around the globe. In the business world, women currently hold only 4.6 percent of Fortune 500 CEO positions
and the same percentage of Fortune 1000 CEO positions. As women
continue their upward trajectory in the business world, they have yet to
be fully appreciated for the unique qualities and abilities they bring
to the workplace.
Like many who grow up with a Hispanic upbringing, I was surrounded by
strong-willed, hardworking and purpose-driven women. It is through
their leadership that the traditions, values and legacy of our family
have been upheld. My grandmother, mother, wife, and sister-in-law all
possess natural leadership skills and they are masters of opportunity management
– seamlessly keeping us all in check while running the family household
and at the same time supporting our family businesses. They have
taught me that a woman’s instincts and emotional intelligence can be off
the chart. They seamlessly manage crisis and change and are turnaround
experts – sensing and neutralizing any signs of danger well before it
invades our path. It is because of the women in our family that we are
well-organized, full of love, spiritually aligned and well-balanced. We
are by no means a perfect family, but we are a modern family who
embraces traditions even as we adapt to changing times.
It can be difficult for a man to understand how women
think, act and innovate unless he has been closely influenced by the
women in his life. I’ve learned that women may process things
differently and in their own terms. Fortunately for me, I’ve been
influenced by great women who made me appreciate their approach towards
leadership. I’ve grown to understand their decision-making processes,
the dynamics and subtleties of their personality and style, and other
special character qualities that women possess.
The best women leaders I know have circular vision that enables them
to be well-rounded people. For example, they have their finger on the
pulse of the culture and can talk to you about the latest pop-culture
news – but then easily switch gears to give you their perspective on
what is taking place on Wall Street. Women leaders seeking a chance to
be significant see the world through a lens of opportunity; they are
especially in search of those opportunities previously unseen (perhaps
this is why the women I know enjoy a good treasure hunt). My experiences have taught me that great women make it a point to teach men about women.
I’ve seen women run the show for years both at home and in the
workplace, which has enabled me to recognize behavior patterns and see
the value behind their way of doing things. These women are master
multi-taskers and highly collaborative (though not afraid to get
territorial to protect their domain). They enjoy their own space to
test themselves and find their own rhythm. These women leaders are like
scientists: many of them want to make new discoveries or solve for
problems where others have failed. The women leaders I’ve been around
don’t stop pursuing until the job gets done. This is why I believe they
are good collaborative leaders – not afraid of trial and error as long
as they continue to build the resource infrastructure around them that
gets them closer towards accomplishing their goals. As one of my women
mentors told me, “Without enough of the right resources around me, I
will not risk the outcome. I know the resources I need to get the job
done right.
I’d rather be patient than foolish.”
The women leaders I know invest in themselves and become knowledge
seekers. They are not afraid to ask questions when given a safe platform
to express themselves. For example, during my keynote and conference
appearances – more often than not – it is the women who ask me the most
questions and they are also more inspired to adopt new ideas and
ideals. Though extremely curious, it’s often balanced with a bit of
skepticism – after all, they don’t want to be fooled or taken
advantage of. My experiences have taught me that women leaders need to
trust a person before they will endorse what they have to say. Many
just want to know that there is legitimacy behind the opportunity.
As I’ve learned from my women bosses and mentors, they want things to
be authentic yet practical. These women leaders enjoy a good challenge –
and seek to find meaning and purpose from each circumstance they face
and opportunity they are given. They like to see and understand the
connectivity of thoughts and how they work or why they don’t. They
want all the facts and figures before making important decisions.
Competitiveness amongst themselves may really be about looking for
validation — an identity that matters and a voice that is heard.
Successful women leaders don’t rely on favors; they earn respect and
truly believe they can influence their own advancement by serving
others. Consummate team players, they also seek to prove their value
and self-worth by exceeding performance expectations.. Looking for
respect more than recognition, the most successful women leaders don’t
seek to become the star of the show — but they enable others to create a
great show. In other words, being in the spotlight is not what
drives them – but rather it’s the ability to influence positive outcomes
with maximum impact.
One thing is certain: these women leaders understand survival,
renewal and reinvention. They have grit and are not afraid to fight for
what they believe in or an opportunity to achieve something of
significance. They believe in what they stand for, but that doesn’t mean
they won’t put their ideas and ideals to the test. For them, doing
more with less is simply a matter of knowing how to strategically
activate those around them.
While women leaders have their productivity secrets,
it’s not secret where they come from: the leadership traits that women
leaders naturally possess and – based on my personal and professional
experiences – are the most undervalued.
1. Opportunity-driven When confronted with a challenge, the women I know look for the
opportunity within. They see the glass as half-full rather than
half-empty. They push the boundaries and, when faced with adverse
circumstances, they learn all they can from it. Optimism is their
mindset because they see opportunity in everything.
Estée Lauder, the child of Hungarian immigrant parents, was quite the
opportunist in the cosmetics industry. During the postwar consumer
boom, women wanted to start sampling cosmetic products before buying
them. Lauder noticed and responded to this shifting dynamic by
pioneering two marketing techniques that are commonly used today: the
free gift and the gift-with-purchase. It’s exactly this type of
inventiveness that other women use to pursue the opportunities in front
of them.
2. Strategic Women see what often times others don’t see. As one of my women
mentors told me, “A woman’s lens of skepticism oftentimes forces them to
see well beyond the most obvious details before them. They enjoy
stretching their perspective to broaden their observations. Many women
are not hesitant to peel the onion in order to get to the root of the
matter.”
At times they “play the part” to test the intentions of others and to
assure that they are solidly grounded and reliable. Successful women
leaders know how to play the game when they have to – and can anticipate
the unexpected. They know what cards to play and keenly calculate
the timing of each move they make.
I wouldn’t be surprised to learn a woman leader made the word
“organic” a business term. I learned that women who enjoy the ebbs and
flows of business activity also know that the best things are
accomplished when they are done naturally – and unforced. When things
are happening organically, this means that they are functioning within a
natural rhythm and speed – that is safer and risk adverse.
This is not to say that women are uncomfortable with risk – in fact,
they will often tackle risk head-on in order to get to the root cause
of a problem and to solve for it (they value time and money). Women
leaders who don’t allow their egos to stand in the way of good business
are in the mindset of getting things done for the betterment of a
healthier whole.
3. Passionate While women in general were historically viewed and
stereotyped as emotional leaders by men, I believe they are just
passionate explorers in pursuit of excellence. When women leaders are
not satisfied with the status quo, they will want to make things
better. These women leaders get things done and avoid procrastination.
As another one of my women mentors said, “They enjoy order and stability
and a genuine sense of control. Many women have learned not to depend
upon others for their advancement and thus have a tendency to be too
independent. A woman’s independent nature is her way of finding her
focus and dialing up her pursuits.”
According to a report
by the Center for Women’s Business Research, U.S. Hispanic and African
American women entrepreneurs grew at rates of 133.3% and 191.4%
respectively from 1997 to 2007.
4. Entrepreneurial
Entrepreneurship is just a way of life for many women. They can be
extremely resourceful, connect the dots of opportunity and become expert
in developing the relationships they need to get the job done. Many
women leaders also see through an entrepreneurial lens to best enable
the opportunities before them. They know that to create and sustain
momentum requires 100% focus on the objective – and so they don’t
enjoy being disrupted by unnecessary noise and distractions.
As one of my former women bosses told me, “Women can play into the
politics of the workplace, and do so if it means adding value to the
momentum they are attempting to create.”
Many women leaders find excitement and motivation by being extremely
creative and resourceful when completing tasks and other duties and
responsibilities –. They avoid falling too far behind on projects –
knowing that if they do it will disrupt their focus and momentum. That
is why I learned never to disrupt a woman’s focus and concentration if I
can avoid it.
My former female boss continued by saying, “This is why women like
control. Not necessarily to be in charge, but to not lose the rhythm or
compromise the momentum they need to accomplish their goals.”
5. Purposeful and Meaningful
I have found that many women leaders enjoy inspiring others to
achieve. They know what it’s like to be the underdog and work hard not
to disappoint themselves and others. Women leaders in particular often
have high standards and their attention to detail makes it difficult for
others to cut corners or abuse any special privileges.
Women leaders with a nurturing nature are good listeners and
excellent networkers/connecters. They enjoy creating ecosystems and
support a collaborative leadership
style that melds the thinking and ideas of others; this is what
multiplies the size of an opportunity and/or its speed in execution in
order to create a larger sphere of influence and overall impact. Women
who don’t have to be right all the time make good consensus builders and
will more likely enjoy participating in a team environment.
6. Traditions and Family Whether at home or at work, women are often the glue that keeps
things together and that is why they represent great leadership for
America’s future. When they sense growing tensions that can lead to
potential problems or inefficiencies, the most successful women leaders
enjoy taking charge before circumstances force their hand. Women are
usually the ones to secure the foundational roots of the family and to
protect family and cultural traditions from wavering. They provide the
leadership within the home and in the workplace to assure that legacies
remain strong by being fed with the right nutrients and ingredients.
The most successful women leaders are big believers in team building
and the enforcement of mission, goals and values to assure that everyone
is on the same page with like intentions. This secures a sense of
continuity making it easier for everyone to have each other’s backs. No wonder women are assuming more management and leadership roles in family owned businesses.
To the great women in my personal and professional life, thank you
for the opportunity to be inspired and mentored by your leadership (you
know who you are). I’ve read many things about women in the workplace
and their lack of advancement into senior executive roles and in the
boardroom. Rarely have I read something from a man who has been
inspired and influenced by the wisdom of a woman’s leadership.
Hopefully this perspective helps awaken more of us to the opportunity of
learning about leadership from the women in our lives, whether in the
home or at work.
It’s impossible to respect, value and admire great leadership if you
can’t identify what makes a leader great. Because of this, the identity
crisis I have written about that exists in today’s workplace is
something that women leaders in particular have been facing for much
too long. While the tide is changing and more women are being elevated
into leadership roles, there is still much work to do. As of July 2013, there were only 19 female elected presidents and prime ministers in power around the globe. In the business world, women currently hold only 4.6 percent of Fortune 500 CEO positions
and the same percentage of Fortune 1000 CEO positions. As women
continue their upward trajectory in the business world, they have yet to
be fully appreciated for the unique qualities and abilities they bring
to the workplace.
Like many who grow up with a Hispanic upbringing, I was surrounded by
strong-willed, hardworking and purpose-driven women. It is through
their leadership that the traditions, values and legacy of our family
have been upheld. My grandmother, mother, wife, and sister-in-law all
possess natural leadership skills and they are masters of opportunity management
– seamlessly keeping us all in check while running the family household
and at the same time supporting our family businesses. They have
taught me that a woman’s instincts and emotional intelligence can be off
the chart. They seamlessly manage crisis and change and are turnaround
experts – sensing and neutralizing any signs of danger well before it
invades our path. It is because of the women in our family that we are
well-organized, full of love, spiritually aligned and well-balanced. We
are by no means a perfect family, but we are a modern family who
embraces traditions even as we adapt to changing times.
It can be difficult for a man to understand how women
think, act and innovate unless he has been closely influenced by the
women in his life. I’ve learned that women may process things
differently and in their own terms. Fortunately for me, I’ve been
influenced by great women who made me appreciate their approach towards
leadership. I’ve grown to understand their decision-making processes,
the dynamics and subtleties of their personality and style, and other
special character qualities that women possess.
The best women leaders I know have circular vision that enables them
to be well-rounded people. For example, they have their finger on the
pulse of the culture and can talk to you about the latest pop-culture
news – but then easily switch gears to give you their perspective on
what is taking place on Wall Street. Women leaders seeking a chance to
be significant see the world through a lens of opportunity; they are
especially in search of those opportunities previously unseen (perhaps
this is why the women I know enjoy a good treasure hunt). My experiences have taught me that great women make it a point to teach men about women.
I’ve seen women run the show for years both at home and in the
workplace, which has enabled me to recognize behavior patterns and see
the value behind their way of doing things. These women are master
multi-taskers and highly collaborative (though not afraid to get
territorial to protect their domain). They enjoy their own space to
test themselves and find their own rhythm. These women leaders are like
scientists: many of them want to make new discoveries or solve for
problems where others have failed. The women leaders I’ve been around
don’t stop pursuing until the job gets done. This is why I believe they
are good collaborative leaders – not afraid of trial and error as long
as they continue to build the resource infrastructure around them that
gets them closer towards accomplishing their goals. As one of my women
mentors told me, “Without enough of the right resources around me, I
will not risk the outcome. I know the resources I need to get the job
done right.
I’d rather be patient than foolish.”
The women leaders I know invest in themselves and become knowledge
seekers. They are not afraid to ask questions when given a safe platform
to express themselves. For example, during my keynote and conference
appearances – more often than not – it is the women who ask me the most
questions and they are also more inspired to adopt new ideas and
ideals. Though extremely curious, it’s often balanced with a bit of
skepticism – after all, they don’t want to be fooled or taken
advantage of. My experiences have taught me that women leaders need to
trust a person before they will endorse what they have to say. Many
just want to know that there is legitimacy behind the opportunity.
As I’ve learned from my women bosses and mentors, they want things to
be authentic yet practical. These women leaders enjoy a good challenge –
and seek to find meaning and purpose from each circumstance they face
and opportunity they are given. They like to see and understand the
connectivity of thoughts and how they work or why they don’t. They
want all the facts and figures before making important decisions.
Competitiveness amongst themselves may really be about looking for
validation — an identity that matters and a voice that is heard.
Successful women leaders don’t rely on favors; they earn respect and
truly believe they can influence their own advancement by serving
others. Consummate team players, they also seek to prove their value
and self-worth by exceeding performance expectations.. Looking for
respect more than recognition, the most successful women leaders don’t
seek to become the star of the show — but they enable others to create a
great show. In other words, being in the spotlight is not what
drives them – but rather it’s the ability to influence positive outcomes
with maximum impact.
One thing is certain: these women leaders understand survival,
renewal and reinvention. They have grit and are not afraid to fight for
what they believe in or an opportunity to achieve something of
significance. They believe in what they stand for, but that doesn’t mean
they won’t put their ideas and ideals to the test. For them, doing
more with less is simply a matter of knowing how to strategically
activate those around them.
While women leaders have their productivity secrets,
it’s not secret where they come from: the leadership traits that women
leaders naturally possess and – based on my personal and professional
experiences – are the most undervalued.
1. Opportunity-driven When confronted with a challenge, the women I know look for the
opportunity within. They see the glass as half-full rather than
half-empty. They push the boundaries and, when faced with adverse
circumstances, they learn all they can from it. Optimism is their
mindset because they see opportunity in everything.
Estée Lauder, the child of Hungarian immigrant parents, was quite the
opportunist in the cosmetics industry. During the postwar consumer
boom, women wanted to start sampling cosmetic products before buying
them. Lauder noticed and responded to this shifting dynamic by
pioneering two marketing techniques that are commonly used today: the
free gift and the gift-with-purchase. It’s exactly this type of
inventiveness that other women use to pursue the opportunities in front
of them.
2. Strategic Women see what often times others don’t see. As one of my women
mentors told me, “A woman’s lens of skepticism oftentimes forces them to
see well beyond the most obvious details before them. They enjoy
stretching their perspective to broaden their observations. Many women
are not hesitant to peel the onion in order to get to the root of the
matter.”
At times they “play the part” to test the intentions of others and to
assure that they are solidly grounded and reliable. Successful women
leaders know how to play the game when they have to – and can anticipate
the unexpected. They know what cards to play and keenly calculate
the timing of each move they make.
I wouldn’t be surprised to learn a woman leader made the word
“organic” a business term. I learned that women who enjoy the ebbs and
flows of business activity also know that the best things are
accomplished when they are done naturally – and unforced. When things
are happening organically, this means that they are functioning within a
natural rhythm and speed – that is safer and risk adverse.
This is not to say that women are uncomfortable with risk – in fact,
they will often tackle risk head-on in order to get to the root cause
of a problem and to solve for it (they value time and money). Women
leaders who don’t allow their egos to stand in the way of good business
are in the mindset of getting things done for the betterment of a
healthier whole.
3. Passionate While women in general were historically viewed and
stereotyped as emotional leaders by men, I believe they are just
passionate explorers in pursuit of excellence. When women leaders are
not satisfied with the status quo, they will want to make things
better. These women leaders get things done and avoid procrastination.
As another one of my women mentors said, “They enjoy order and stability
and a genuine sense of control. Many women have learned not to depend
upon others for their advancement and thus have a tendency to be too
independent. A woman’s independent nature is her way of finding her
focus and dialing up her pursuits.”
According to a report
by the Center for Women’s Business Research, U.S. Hispanic and African
American women entrepreneurs grew at rates of 133.3% and 191.4%
respectively from 1997 to 2007.
4. Entrepreneurial
Entrepreneurship is just a way of life for many women. They can be
extremely resourceful, connect the dots of opportunity and become expert
in developing the relationships they need to get the job done. Many
women leaders also see through an entrepreneurial lens to best enable
the opportunities before them. They know that to create and sustain
momentum requires 100% focus on the objective – and so they don’t
enjoy being disrupted by unnecessary noise and distractions.
As one of my former women bosses told me, “Women can play into the
politics of the workplace, and do so if it means adding value to the
momentum they are attempting to create.”
Many women leaders find excitement and motivation by being extremely
creative and resourceful when completing tasks and other duties and
responsibilities –. They avoid falling too far behind on projects –
knowing that if they do it will disrupt their focus and momentum. That
is why I learned never to disrupt a woman’s focus and concentration if I
can avoid it.
My former female boss continued by saying, “This is why women like
control. Not necessarily to be in charge, but to not lose the rhythm or
compromise the momentum they need to accomplish their goals.”
5. Purposeful and Meaningful
I have found that many women leaders enjoy inspiring others to
achieve. They know what it’s like to be the underdog and work hard not
to disappoint themselves and others. Women leaders in particular often
have high standards and their attention to detail makes it difficult for
others to cut corners or abuse any special privileges.
Women leaders with a nurturing nature are good listeners and
excellent networkers/connecters. They enjoy creating ecosystems and
support a collaborative leadership
style that melds the thinking and ideas of others; this is what
multiplies the size of an opportunity and/or its speed in execution in
order to create a larger sphere of influence and overall impact. Women
who don’t have to be right all the time make good consensus builders and
will more likely enjoy participating in a team environment.
6. Traditions and Family Whether at home or at work, women are often the glue that keeps
things together and that is why they represent great leadership for
America’s future. When they sense growing tensions that can lead to
potential problems or inefficiencies, the most successful women leaders
enjoy taking charge before circumstances force their hand. Women are
usually the ones to secure the foundational roots of the family and to
protect family and cultural traditions from wavering. They provide the
leadership within the home and in the workplace to assure that legacies
remain strong by being fed with the right nutrients and ingredients.
The most successful women leaders are big believers in team building
and the enforcement of mission, goals and values to assure that everyone
is on the same page with like intentions. This secures a sense of
continuity making it easier for everyone to have each other’s backs. No wonder women are assuming more management and leadership roles in family owned businesses.
To the great women in my personal and professional life, thank you
for the opportunity to be inspired and mentored by your leadership (you
know who you are). I’ve read many things about women in the workplace
and their lack of advancement into senior executive roles and in the
boardroom. Rarely have I read something from a man who has been
inspired and influenced by the wisdom of a woman’s leadership.
Hopefully this perspective helps awaken more of us to the opportunity of
learning about leadership from the women in our lives, whether in the
home or at work.
TEC Canada recognizes the importance of having a more gender-balanced approach to leadership roles. Forbes.com reported that according to studies,
firms with women on their boards “outperform their rivals with a 42%
higher return on sales, 66% higher return on invested capital and 53%
higher return on equity.” Quite simply, women look at problems
differently and often take a more empathic approach to leadership.
TEC’s peer groups are designed to challenge the status quo and
encourage dynamic, inspiring conversations to process the issues senior
executives face on an ongoing basis. We welcome more women to
contribute to this dialogue and this starts with having exceptional
Chairs to guide that process.
While all of our Chairs have many awards and accolades, we would be
remiss if we didn’t recognize two of our own successful women leaders:
Katherine Crewe from Montreal is one of TEC Canada’s newest Chairs.
She was recognized as one of the Top 100 Businesswomen to Watch by
Entreprendre Magazine.
These women, along with all our Chairs, are committed to the
relentless pursuit of excellence and providing their members with the
tools to achieve success. I invite you to join me in recognizing International Women’s Day on
March 8th. It doesn’t matter if you are a successful entrepreneur, a
corporate executive, a new manager – or someone who is at a crossroads
in her career and wondering “what’s next?” You are part of a sea of
change in leadership style and behavior.
Sheryl Sandberg’s bestseller “Lean In” paints a vivid picture of how far women in leadership still have to go:
• Out of 100 global heads of state, only nine are women,
• In the corporate sector, just 15 to 20 per cent of C-suite jobs are held by women, and
• In the non-profit sector, women hold only 20 percent of the top positions. Helping women to develop their leadership potential has been a
passion of mine and a key professional commitment I made many years ago.
After more than two decades of executive consulting, study at some of
North America’s most recognized leadership institutes, and my role as
CEO of TEC, I have found the successful women leaders I have coached and
worked with over the years generally all share four particular traits.
What follows is a brief look at these four and what some of the world’s
most successful women CEOs have to say about them.
1. Believe in Yourself
Believing in yourself – your vision, your aspirations and dreams – will
drive you forward especially on those days when you can’t see the forest
for the trees. Author J.K. Rowling, fashion icon Coco Chanel, Body Shop
Founder Anita Roddick – these are women with resolute beliefs in
themselves despite their many critics and naysayers. Rowling, who was
named the “Most Influential Woman in Britain” by leading magazine
editors in 2010, achieved publishing success only after several years of
constant rejection. “I was convinced the only thing I wanted to do was
to write novels. So what’s the worst that could happen? Everyone turned
me down; big deal,” she said.
2. Value Perseverance
Building a business, moving forward in your career and leading
organizations all require dogged determination. Whatever obstacles may
be put in your path, it is essential to move forward, modelling for your
employees, colleagues and customers that you will not back down from a
challenge. Cosmetic icon Estée Lauder once said, “I didn’t get there by
wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.”
3. Stay Focused
The power to set both short- and long-term goals should never be
underestimated. Goals are the road-map to success and goal-setting takes
place daily, weekly, monthly and annually. Consider what Mary Kay Ash,
Founder of global cosmetic company Mary Kay, once said, “We must have a
theme, a goal, a purpose in our lives. If you don’t know where you are
aiming, you don’t have a goal.My goal is to live my life in such a way
that when I die, someone will say ‘she cared.’” Staying focused is about
knowing what you want, then mapping your path with the goals and
measures to achieve it.
4. Be a Smart Risk-Taker
To truly accomplish great things, you must go outside your comfort zone
because that’s where growth happens. As Sandberg says, this is where you
need to “lean in,” raising your hand for opportunities and stepping
into new challenges.
Never underestimate that quiet inner voice and its ability to lead
and guide you forward. Your inner wisdom – something women are generally
closer to – can help you to accurately assess risk. Calculated risks
can lead to payoffs beyond what you thought possible.
Martha Stewart, who through her savvy, grit and determination created
a brand and a business enterprise that has weathered all kinds of
difficulties, maintains “it is within everyone’s grasp to be a CEO.” I
am committed to making TEC the kind of organization where women business
leaders can achieve beyond what they thought possible.
If you are aiming to move your leadership skills and
abilities to a new level contact Richard Peters @ rpeters@tec-canada.com
It’s impossible to respect, value and admire great leadership if you
can’t identify what makes a leader great. Because of this, the identity
crisis I have written about that exists in today’s workplace is
something that women leaders in particular have been facing for much
too long. While the tide is changing and more women are being elevated
into leadership roles, there is still much work to do. As of July 2013, there were only 19 female elected presidents and prime ministers in power around the globe. In the business world, women currently hold only 4.6 percent of Fortune 500 CEO positions
and the same percentage of Fortune 1000 CEO positions. As women
continue their upward trajectory in the business world, they have yet to
be fully appreciated for the unique qualities and abilities they bring
to the workplace.
Like many who grow up with a Hispanic upbringing, I was surrounded by
strong-willed, hardworking and purpose-driven women. It is through
their leadership that the traditions, values and legacy of our family
have been upheld. My grandmother, mother, wife, and sister-in-law all
possess natural leadership skills and they are masters of opportunity management
– seamlessly keeping us all in check while running the family household
and at the same time supporting our family businesses. They have
taught me that a woman’s instincts and emotional intelligence can be off
the chart. They seamlessly manage crisis and change and are turnaround
experts – sensing and neutralizing any signs of danger well before it
invades our path. It is because of the women in our family that we are
well-organized, full of love, spiritually aligned and well-balanced. We
are by no means a perfect family, but we are a modern family who
embraces traditions even as we adapt to changing times.
It can be difficult for a man to understand how women
think, act and innovate unless he has been closely influenced by the
women in his life. I’ve learned that women may process things
differently and in their own terms. Fortunately for me, I’ve been
influenced by great women who made me appreciate their approach towards
leadership. I’ve grown to understand their decision-making processes,
the dynamics and subtleties of their personality and style, and other
special character qualities that women possess.
The best women leaders I know have circular vision that enables them
to be well-rounded people. For example, they have their finger on the
pulse of the culture and can talk to you about the latest pop-culture
news – but then easily switch gears to give you their perspective on
what is taking place on Wall Street. Women leaders seeking a chance to
be significant see the world through a lens of opportunity; they are
especially in search of those opportunities previously unseen (perhaps
this is why the women I know enjoy a good treasure hunt). My experiences have taught me that great women make it a point to teach men about women.
I’ve seen women run the show for years both at home and in the
workplace, which has enabled me to recognize behavior patterns and see
the value behind their way of doing things. These women are master
multi-taskers and highly collaborative (though not afraid to get
territorial to protect their domain). They enjoy their own space to
test themselves and find their own rhythm. These women leaders are like
scientists: many of them want to make new discoveries or solve for
problems where others have failed. The women leaders I’ve been around
don’t stop pursuing until the job gets done. This is why I believe they
are good collaborative leaders – not afraid of trial and error as long
as they continue to build the resource infrastructure around them that
gets them closer towards accomplishing their goals. As one of my women
mentors told me, “Without enough of the right resources around me, I
will not risk the outcome. I know the resources I need to get the job
done right.
I’d rather be patient than foolish.”
The women leaders I know invest in themselves and become knowledge
seekers. They are not afraid to ask questions when given a safe platform
to express themselves. For example, during my keynote and conference
appearances – more often than not – it is the women who ask me the most
questions and they are also more inspired to adopt new ideas and
ideals. Though extremely curious, it’s often balanced with a bit of
skepticism – after all, they don’t want to be fooled or taken
advantage of. My experiences have taught me that women leaders need to
trust a person before they will endorse what they have to say. Many
just want to know that there is legitimacy behind the opportunity.
As I’ve learned from my women bosses and mentors, they want things to
be authentic yet practical. These women leaders enjoy a good challenge –
and seek to find meaning and purpose from each circumstance they face
and opportunity they are given. They like to see and understand the
connectivity of thoughts and how they work or why they don’t. They
want all the facts and figures before making important decisions.
Competitiveness amongst themselves may really be about looking for
validation — an identity that matters and a voice that is heard.
Successful women leaders don’t rely on favors; they earn respect and
truly believe they can influence their own advancement by serving
others. Consummate team players, they also seek to prove their value
and self-worth by exceeding performance expectations.. Looking for
respect more than recognition, the most successful women leaders don’t
seek to become the star of the show — but they enable others to create a
great show. In other words, being in the spotlight is not what
drives them – but rather it’s the ability to influence positive outcomes
with maximum impact.
One thing is certain: these women leaders understand survival,
renewal and reinvention. They have grit and are not afraid to fight for
what they believe in or an opportunity to achieve something of
significance. They believe in what they stand for, but that doesn’t mean
they won’t put their ideas and ideals to the test. For them, doing
more with less is simply a matter of knowing how to strategically
activate those around them.
While women leaders have their productivity secrets,
it’s not secret where they come from: the leadership traits that women
leaders naturally possess and – based on my personal and professional
experiences – are the most undervalued.
1. Opportunity-driven When confronted with a challenge, the women I know look for the
opportunity within. They see the glass as half-full rather than
half-empty. They push the boundaries and, when faced with adverse
circumstances, they learn all they can from it. Optimism is their
mindset because they see opportunity in everything.
Estée Lauder, the child of Hungarian immigrant parents, was quite the
opportunist in the cosmetics industry. During the postwar consumer
boom, women wanted to start sampling cosmetic products before buying
them. Lauder noticed and responded to this shifting dynamic by
pioneering two marketing techniques that are commonly used today: the
free gift and the gift-with-purchase. It’s exactly this type of
inventiveness that other women use to pursue the opportunities in front
of them.
2. Strategic Women see what often times others don’t see. As one of my women
mentors told me, “A woman’s lens of skepticism oftentimes forces them to
see well beyond the most obvious details before them. They enjoy
stretching their perspective to broaden their observations. Many women
are not hesitant to peel the onion in order to get to the root of the
matter.”
At times they “play the part” to test the intentions of others and to
assure that they are solidly grounded and reliable. Successful women
leaders know how to play the game when they have to – and can anticipate
the unexpected. They know what cards to play and keenly calculate
the timing of each move they make.
I wouldn’t be surprised to learn a woman leader made the word
“organic” a business term. I learned that women who enjoy the ebbs and
flows of business activity also know that the best things are
accomplished when they are done naturally – and unforced. When things
are happening organically, this means that they are functioning within a
natural rhythm and speed – that is safer and risk adverse.
This is not to say that women are uncomfortable with risk – in fact,
they will often tackle risk head-on in order to get to the root cause
of a problem and to solve for it (they value time and money). Women
leaders who don’t allow their egos to stand in the way of good business
are in the mindset of getting things done for the betterment of a
healthier whole.
3. Passionate While women in general were historically viewed and
stereotyped as emotional leaders by men, I believe they are just
passionate explorers in pursuit of excellence. When women leaders are
not satisfied with the status quo, they will want to make things
better. These women leaders get things done and avoid procrastination.
As another one of my women mentors said, “They enjoy order and stability
and a genuine sense of control. Many women have learned not to depend
upon others for their advancement and thus have a tendency to be too
independent. A woman’s independent nature is her way of finding her
focus and dialing up her pursuits.”
According to a report
by the Center for Women’s Business Research, U.S. Hispanic and African
American women entrepreneurs grew at rates of 133.3% and 191.4%
respectively from 1997 to 2007.
4. Entrepreneurial
Entrepreneurship is just a way of life for many women. They can be
extremely resourceful, connect the dots of opportunity and become expert
in developing the relationships they need to get the job done. Many
women leaders also see through an entrepreneurial lens to best enable
the opportunities before them. They know that to create and sustain
momentum requires 100% focus on the objective – and so they don’t
enjoy being disrupted by unnecessary noise and distractions.
As one of my former women bosses told me, “Women can play into the
politics of the workplace, and do so if it means adding value to the
momentum they are attempting to create.”
Many women leaders find excitement and motivation by being extremely
creative and resourceful when completing tasks and other duties and
responsibilities –. They avoid falling too far behind on projects –
knowing that if they do it will disrupt their focus and momentum. That
is why I learned never to disrupt a woman’s focus and concentration if I
can avoid it.
My former female boss continued by saying, “This is why women like
control. Not necessarily to be in charge, but to not lose the rhythm or
compromise the momentum they need to accomplish their goals.”
5. Purposeful and Meaningful
I have found that many women leaders enjoy inspiring others to
achieve. They know what it’s like to be the underdog and work hard not
to disappoint themselves and others. Women leaders in particular often
have high standards and their attention to detail makes it difficult for
others to cut corners or abuse any special privileges.
Women leaders with a nurturing nature are good listeners and
excellent networkers/connecters. They enjoy creating ecosystems and
support a collaborative leadership
style that melds the thinking and ideas of others; this is what
multiplies the size of an opportunity and/or its speed in execution in
order to create a larger sphere of influence and overall impact. Women
who don’t have to be right all the time make good consensus builders and
will more likely enjoy participating in a team environment.
6. Traditions and Family Whether at home or at work, women are often the glue that keeps
things together and that is why they represent great leadership for
America’s future. When they sense growing tensions that can lead to
potential problems or inefficiencies, the most successful women leaders
enjoy taking charge before circumstances force their hand. Women are
usually the ones to secure the foundational roots of the family and to
protect family and cultural traditions from wavering. They provide the
leadership within the home and in the workplace to assure that legacies
remain strong by being fed with the right nutrients and ingredients.
The most successful women leaders are big believers in team building
and the enforcement of mission, goals and values to assure that everyone
is on the same page with like intentions. This secures a sense of
continuity making it easier for everyone to have each other’s backs. No wonder women are assuming more management and leadership roles in family owned businesses.
To the great women in my personal and professional life, thank you
for the opportunity to be inspired and mentored by your leadership (you
know who you are). I’ve read many things about women in the workplace
and their lack of advancement into senior executive roles and in the
boardroom. Rarely have I read something from a man who has been
inspired and influenced by the wisdom of a woman’s leadership.
Hopefully this perspective helps awaken more of us to the opportunity of
learning about leadership from the women in our lives, whether in the
home or at work.
Glenn Llopis, 
