International Women’s Day is a day to recognise the achievements of women without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is also a day that we can put a spotlight on the continued need to ensure equal representation of women at senior levels of government, organizations and boards.
In her new book, The Friday Email, Renee McGowan reflects upon her experiences of leading a multinational business across diverse markets during the volatile period of COVID-19, and the importance of diverse perspectives in leadership. In particular, she offers these words of advice for women as they progress in their careers.
1. Know your edge as a woman: You are more empathic
In general, women can think more broadly yet be empathic, an important leadership trait. This is what it boiled down to in a study published in the Harvard Business Review that said that women who lead in times of crisis outperform their male counterparts.
2. Make resilience your best friend
It is so confronting to be a woman leader that you have to be resilient if you want to keep at it. I have heard stories about my male counterparts laying bets on how long I would last in a new leadership position. I still routinely have to tolerate being the only female in meetings, and attending business dinners where another women from a different department has been asked to attend, just so that I am not the only woman present. If I was not strong in the face of all these, I would have given up long ago.
3. Create your own modus operandi
In local or global roles, there are some uncomfortable realities you cannot escape. While working in Asia, I had to find a way to deal with the drinking culture in Korea and Japan, which was not for me. I ended up developing my own mechanisms – just as you should. For instance, I always had “a call with the team from New York at 10pm” and would need to be back in my hotel room just before that. It takes planning to figure out what works best for you and confidently put it into action.
4. Be mindful that you are in a position to be a change-maker
As you get to senior positions, in most environments, as a woman, you are still a minority. But you are also in a position of power to be a role model by effecting change and ensuring that more women are getting a seat at your table. From your leadership position, you can effect this change in individual instances, but also systemically, forcing the organisation to deliver more equity, pay equality and opportunity for all.
5. Define what success looks like
Everyone wants to be successful but that means different things to different people – and may mean different ways of working. Figure out what it means to you, within the context of your organisation and the stakeholders that surround you. Shift the focus to outputs, rather than inputs. Get granular, qualify and quantify outputs, revisit them via demonstrable milestones. Then, when it is time to do a performance review, the results and value will speak for themselves. Repeat this every year.
6. Direct is the way to go
You are paving your own path. No one else can do it for you. Be clear about what you want and have the confidence to have direct conversations about where you want to go and how. If you leave space for ambiguity, chances are you will leave others (from your managers to your direct reports and peers) confused and uncertain. Respectful, direct and open discussions, and subsequent clarity, works better for everyone.
7. Mentor and network
You will need mentors, and you will need to provide mentorship. Start a formal programme in your organisation, if there is not already one. Do it informally too. You will be surprised by how many leaders or people you admire will be open to a supportive discussion and can then refer you to others also. This may result in formal mentorship or an expanded network of diverse people, and you can draw from their strength and experiences, just as they do yours.
8. Express gratitude
Even as you are pushing your team for the best results and performance numbers, never forget that they are on their own path too. You can help everyone stay aligned by acknowledging this and saying thank you, especially when they have done their job and done it well. It goes so far in boosting someone’s confidence.
The Friday Email – 88 Tips for Aspiring Leaders is published by World Scientific. You can find more information about the book here.