With International Women’s Day coming up, I have struggled with what to say in this newsletter. This year is different. I have worried about coming across as too trivial or sounding too political, but worrying too much about how we are perceived can cripple us from saying anything at all.
Never in history has there been a time when it’s more important to celebrate women and to acknowledge their contributions as leaders. So I decided that I would speak from my own personal experience and shine a light on the greatest leadership lessons have come from women.
- They have taught me to stand up for what I believe and make sure that my voice is heard, yet listen with all my heart so that I truly understand someone else’s point of view.
- They have taught me how to organize my time, tackle big projects one step at a time, and to be accountable for my actions.
- The women who have led me taught me that compassion in the workplace can be my greatest tool if used wisely and thoughtfully.
But I am not the only man who feels passionately about women who lead. I hear from many of the men that I coach that they want to understand what they can do to promote women leaders within their organization and how to avoid the mistakes of many of the men who have come before them.
Many of us seem to be afraid to talk about it. I challenge you to have the conversation. Be thoughtful with your words, choose them carefully, but have the conversation. It’s the only way that we’ll move beyond our differences.
Let’s rewrite our story and discover how we can be better together.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Dave
