Women in Leadership Archives

How do female leaders make a difference in your life — what do their achievements as leaders mean for you in terms of what you want to do in this world?

Newave Leaders Make a Difference — Are You Ready to Make Your Mark on the World?

“The individual woman is required…a thousand times a day to choose either to accept her appointed role and thereby rescue her good disposition out of the wreckage of her self-respect, or else follow an independent line of behavior and rescue her self-respect out of the wreckage of her good disposition.” ~ Jeannette Rankin, first female in the House of Representatives, appointed in 1917.

Aren’t you glad we no longer live in a world such as Jeannette Rankin did, where a woman’s self-respect is sacrificed in order to keep her “place”? We’re reaping the benefits of the hard work of women who blazed new trails in leadership. The new wave of female leaders is bringing their life-changing brand of power to all areas of government and the business arena.

In our lifetime, we’ve seen milestones for women in leadership roles. 1981 brought us the first Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Currently there are three women Justices – Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and newly appointed Amy Coney Barrett.

2020 closes out with 26 women serving in the U.S. Senate and 101 women in the House of Representatives. The first female Senator, Rebecca Felton was appointed in 1922. During her short term she said, “When the women of the country come in and sit with you,…you will get ability, you will get integrity of purpose, you will get exalted patriotism, and you will get unstinted usefulness.” We wholeheartedly agree with this!

We could go on talking about our new woman Vice President-elect here in the US and all the women leading countries and major industries today. This brief glimpse into the history of women in leadership roles inspires us to play our part in leading you to claim your place in the world today.

No, we don’t expect all Newave Leaders to make their mark in politics. If that’s your passion, we support you! We believe in women finding their unique place in the world — running your own business, writing a book, coaching your community — and doing it with style, grace and ease. Perhaps future generations will be reading about you and the contribution you’ve made!

What does it mean for our world that so many women are attaining leadership roles?

We believe it means something better. Women don’t tend to take their leadership positions, or the people they lead, for granted because their leadership is their passion and they’ve worked hard to prove themselves worthy. They use their unique perspective and capacity for compassion and empathy as they strive for community advancement. They work out compromises and stand up for what they believe in. They serve as excellent role models in civil and respectful interaction.

Do you want to do power different? Are you ready to break out and do something more meaningful with your life? Newave Leaders make a difference when they…

Focus on solutions, not on differences. It’s not so important who gets the credit as is it that the problem is solved. Without the masculine ego, women more easily cross party lines or social/economic divides to find common ground.

See the person behind the problem. Compassion for the person prompts female lawmakers to advocate for policies that support the well-being of individuals, whether it’s education, health, or domestic abuse of either men or women.

Promote reconciliation, but not at the cost of stability. Women who are Newave Leaders are tough enough to make the hard decisions to preserve human rights, while anticipating the long-term consequences of such actions.

How is your life impacted, as more women claim leadership roles? What does it mean for you in terms of what you want to do in this world — does it give you more hope, skepticism, excitement, fear?

There are still many challenges for women leaders to overcome. What’s your current challenge? Please share it with us. We’d also love to hear how women leaders of today inspire you. Please join our private Great Circle Community on Facebook to continue this discussion. If you’re a woman who wants to be one of the leaders who make a difference, we’re here to support you all the way.

To make 2021 your Best Year Yet, here are 9 suggestions for reviewing the past, assessing lessons learned, and maintaining your focus for the new year.

Women, Supercharge Your Power! Plan Now to Make 2021 Your Best Year Yet!

Posted in Do Power Different Tips, Women in Leadership.

It’s hard to believe 2020 is drawing to a close. As we approach 2021, it might feel doubtful that it could be your Best Year Yet. Better than 2020? Definitely! The best ever…could it be, with so much uncertainty and loss? It’s because of this uncertainty that it’s so important to pause, assess and make adjustments. Otherwise, it’s unlikely that 2021 will not be your best year yet personally and professionally. Your future is built upon the choices you make today.

As women of power, we sometimes forget that ‘where we are right now’ can be one of our strongest stability points. Remembering to stop, breathe, and regroup or simply slowing down and acknowledging that we’re okay can be so helpful.

Part of our personal POWER routine is to use our Best Year Yet tool — we find a quiet space and ask ourselves a series of searching questions to observe and celebrate everything we’ve accomplished during the present year and from this we create a plan and momentum for the upcoming year. Here’s a sample of the Best Year Yet questions we consider:

What did I want this year?
What actually happened?
How do I want to design next year?
What do I want?
How do I want to end this year?
What did I accomplish?
What did I learn?
How did I limit myself?
What are my personal values?
What roles do I play in life?
Which role is my major focus for next year?

If you’d like to copy these questions into a document and spend some time answering them, we’d be honored and thrilled. No matter how you approach 2021, keep these three priorities in mind…

Priority #1 Fuel your body, mind and spirit. Every day you expend energy and it’s important to constantly replenish it.

Priority #2 Make restorative sleep, good nutrition and exercise a priority. Your health, mental clarity and ability to be productive depend on it.

Priority #3 Develop systems. Goals are fine, but if you want to create real change, it helps to have supportive systems in your life so that you perform important tasks automatically rather than relying on willpower.

Giving attention to these priorities and implementing the following nine suggestions will give your POWER a boost, as you focus on making 2021 your Best Year Yet.

1. Deal first with “what is”. As women, we tend to get caught up in worrying about “what ifs”. They’re not real until they happen. And most likely they won’t happen, if you deal successfully with what’s in front of you.

2. Remove distractions. Use the rest of this year to get rid of the clutter in your house, mind, desk, email inbox or schedule. This will help make room for any opportunity that arises.

3. Revisit your original goal. After 2020, your goals or the way you envision your Big Dream unfolding might not be relevant anymore. You might need to refine these to make them fit present circumstances.

4. Clearly outline your metrics of success. Progress is measurable, even if it’s just one step forward. When you define your goals and break them down into consistent, small changes, according to a yearly, quarterly, monthly, and daily schedule, you’ll maintain your focus and motivation. This connects each day’s activities to your significant life goals.

5. Celebrate every win, small or big. Get up and dance, grab a latte, call a friend, share it on our Circle Facebook group. Make each win memorable, because that’s how you’re going to know at the end of the year that you really did make 2021 your best year yet!

6. Assess your skills and close the gaps. When you focus on nurturing a growth mindset, not on making resolutions, you engage your innate capability to change and develop whatever skills are needed, making you flexible and resilient enough to try Plans A to Z, until you succeed.

7. Hold rest and reflection breaks as sacred. Meditatively and mindfully “hear” what your body is telling you about the choices you’re making right now.

8. Connect with accountability partners, coaches, mentors, and supporters. The Hawthorne Effect shows that our productivity usually increases when we know someone is watching. When someone holds us accountable, we build more structure into our days, which is so important during these times of physical distancing.

9. Plan for “bad” days. Feeling down, making mistakes, having setbacks are part of life, so embrace them as your body and mind telling you it’s time to regroup. Rest, learn a lesson from the experience and re-center yourself. (Our Daily Start to Gratitude & Empowerment guided visualization practice is a great way to do this.)

Reviewing and planning are indispensable tools for creating the “Best Year Yet” personally and professionally. Our December Great Circle Call will focus on this topic in more detail. You’ll discover an action-filled activity that will guide and anchor you in finding our way forward. Plus a fully engaged group of women who want to fuel and use their POWER to achieve something great. Please join us! There’s no cost or obligation, except to come with an open mind and heart ready to empower yourself to fulfill your biggest dreams. Sign-up now, so we can send you the link.

These forward-thinking women who exemplify leadership during the pandemic provide an example and proof that if they can be effective leaders now, so can you!

12 Forward-Thinking Women Who Are Leading the Way!

Posted in Women in Leadership.

“Finally I was able to see that if I had a contribution I wanted to make, I must do it, despite what others said. That I was OK the way I was. That it was all right to be strong.” ~ Wangari Maathai

We wish to say a huge and heartfelt “Thank You!” to the selfless women tirelessly working to help others during the coranvirus pandemic. World leaders, healthcare workers, and grocery clerks alike are putting themselves out there to be of service to their communities. What is happening today is in preparation for how our future will become.

It wasn’t that long ago women were expected to stay home and be protected by their man. They weren’t allowed to take an active role outside the home. This is no longer the case, and we are so grateful for that!

There’s no reason why a woman shouldn’t step into the role of leadership when she has developed the necessary skills and resources. And many women are accepting this challenge and excelling at it. Because women still feel they have to prove themselves, they often hold themselves to an even higher standard and this is resulting in exceptional work.

During this pandemic, women are leading the way, as they prove to be reliable and a great asset to our world. They are not equivocating, but are telling the truth about the virus. And they are responding decisively and with compassion. Look at the following examples of some women who are leading the way. (Statistics taken on May 11, 2020)

Tsai Ing-Wen, first female president of Taiwan, close to China, spearheaded a swift and successful defense to the pandemic, containing the virus to 440 confirmed cases and 7 deaths.
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, acted decisively and with compassion. The country still has only one Covid-19 death so far. Of course, being an island state is a distinct advantage, but effective leadership has played a strong role.
Germany, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, (doctorate in quantum chemistry) has been hit hard by coronavirus, but it has an exceptionally low mortality rate of around 1.6%.
Denmark gives high marks to prime minister Mette Frederiksen for the way she has handled the COVID-19 crisis.
Norway’s prime minister, Erna Solberg, is using television to talk directly to her country’s children, and she also held a dedicated press conference where no adults were allowed. She responded to kids’ questions from across the country, taking time to explain why it was OK to feel scared.
Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, is making sure ALL citizens have access to free coronavirus testing and has instituted a thorough tracking system so there’s been no shutting down of their schools.
Rep. Nita Lowey led the passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, for $5.2 million in federal funding to expand paid sick leave for some employees.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar led the introduction of the Keeping Critical Connections Act. To provide broadband internet access for rural families and students.
Reps. Susan W. Brooks and Anna G. Eshoo authored the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPA) which was signed into law June 24, 2019, long before this pandemic. Truly forward-thinking women!
Sens. Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrant urged 36 large corporations to provide paid leave protections for all of their workers during the pandemic.

Are these women born to be exceptional? Only in the sense that they have developed great self-knowledge and confidence, and they have the courage to step forward. Yes it takes courage to be vulnerable enough to put yourself in the limelight for all to see your successes and missteps. We agree with Brené Brown who says,

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

We are not saying that being a woman automatically makes these leaders better at handling a global pandemic. What we are saying is that women are using their power differently and effectively. They are examples we can all draw strength from, as we imitate their courage. They are proof that you can be a powerful leader, too.

Keep in mind what Margaret Wheatley said, “Leadership is a series of behaviors rather than a role for heroes.” Are you ready to step through the door to greater leadership responsibilities?

If you have self-talk telling you that “someone else can do it better” or “let someone else take the risks”, we challenge you. You can step up; you can make a difference. Join The Great Circle Community, we’re hosting. We’re inviting women from around the globe to explore big ideas and out-of-the-box creative solutions. Let’s get inspired and nourished as we feed our leader within! There is no cost to participate, please join us for our next call.