Can women be feminine and leaders at the same time? Can they truly embrace the role of a lady boss? What does it take to be one?
As I made a commitment to dedicate myself fully to my life coaching and consulting practice, connected with many women CEOs, female leaders and women who were doing their best to make things happen I noticed one thing…Why are so few female leaders yet it is very woman’s dream to become one? What is blocking them to step up? What beliefs do they have that prevent them from seeing themselves in this role?
It reminded me about one movie…One night during my business trips when there was nothing to do in town, I decided to watch a movie called “New In Town” with Renée Zellweger . In the movie, she was assigned to be a manager at a small city plant in Minnesota. She was a very proper and quite a classy lady who found herself in the middle of nowhere. Little did she know that her life and business would completely change in just a few short hours. She had to adjust to a very provincial lifestyle… She was a city girl who learned to live in the country environment. Different life. Different mindset.
As I was watching this movie, she reminded me of myself and how I found myself in the very small town in West TN at the age if 19 when I came to America in 1994.
The movie was very slow, but it brought up a lot of great points about my personal life, my career and some understanding of what it REALLY took to start my own business, to become a woman – CEO in this business world ruled by men.
Recent research has shown that out of 500 companies there are only 24 female CEOs in the corporate world and that corporate America is not ready for women to be leaders. They are not equipped with what women and moms need to be successful in the workplace. That is why so many women find the ways to start a home business or find work at home jobs to be with kids and have a less stressful life. The priorities have changed. Women have opportunities to take their knowledge and skills and start their businesses at home. Is that difficult? YES. Every day is a challenge…But it is an exciting challenge to be better, to master skills, to connect with more people, get out of the comfort zone. It requires discipline and patience. LOTS OF IT!
Let me ask you a question, “What does it take to be the best female CEO? What mindset do we need to have to become the best we can be in our business or a corporate career?”
Here are top 10 things women should think about:
1. Acceptance of who you are NOW.
You do not need to wait for years to make everything perfect in your life. The perfection is not up to you and will exhaust you!
2. Being CEO of your business starts with YOU.
It requires taking responsibilities for big and small mistakes, being accountable for all your actions and know that nobody owes you anything.
3. You have an ability to adjust.
Women are talented at multitasking and they can adjust to changes in their business and their family life. As a single mom of two boys, there are no excuses in order to go forward. You have to make it happen…Sometimes the only choice we have is to go up and forward.
4. You can learn and try new things and see the beauty in the most simple things.
I believe we can create luxury moments in life without waiting for them to happen. I often buy flowers whenever I want and they do not have to cost a fortune! Today I stopped and got beautiful roses for less than 5 dollars a bouquet. The luxury lifestyle is not always expensive and simple things create this lifestyle!
5. You can be a boss and still be a nurturing woman.
Women can have a role of a boss, be taken seriously and they do not have to be perceived as “a B- word boss”. The movie “The Proposal” comes to my mind when I think about a woman being a boss. She was portrayed as a selfish, unkind, uncaring woman with no emotions. But in reality, women can be better CEOs because of their nurturing personality. Do not lose that feminine nurturing compassionate leader within you to satisfy others.
6. Bravery.
Women have an amazing courage to take brand new tasks. They are accountable and loyal. But women should never try to look like a male warrior and think that bravery requires being bold and obnoxious. Having your voice and speaking the truth to lead others is one of the most amazing qualities in women.
7. Creativity and innovation.
Women get inspired by new ideas and take an immediate action. Women are creative human beings. They love art, fine foods, fashion and they do love technology. Women love to have fun doing what they love.
8. Understanding people.
Are you interested in mastering human relationships? Do you have the patience to listen and learn about others? Being a leader, CEO of your business or having a leadership role in a company requires great communication skills. You do not need to be a therapist or a psychologist to do well but you cannot close your heart to serve people.
9. Believing in others and yourself.
Can you motivate yourself and others to see the best in them? Start focusing on yourself. Trust me…Without loving yourself and knowing what you want and believing in yourself you cannot totally and completely believe in others. Honor yourself and then you can honor other people skills and talents! Start working on your issues that block your trust, faith in yourself, even learning how to overcome fears on an everyday basis. If you think LADIES BOSSES do not have fear you are quite wrong. Once you learn to clear your mind from what burdens you. Once you clear your issues you will be able to help others even more. You will know who you are and what you stand for once you have a clear understanding of who you were before and who you are today.
10. Enjoying what you do.
Do your daily choices bring joy into your life? Do you consider your daily actions serving your highest purpose?
Women could do a lot of things. They could be trusted in the business world run by macho men. They can make great decisions. Women have a lot of patience.
One thing to remember that women should not try to change themselves and try to be and act like men. When they start doing it, they lose the essence of who they are, being a WOWman. Women are born to create harmony, love, and beauty at home and in the workplace. They can create and must have the financial abundance. Who says women should be stay-at-home moms or leave their ambition in the walking closet! Women have the guts and they should use it!
I want to end my story with an amazing quote: “Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity.” Mohandas Gandhi
If you are starting a business or transitioning from a corporate career to owning your own business let me know how I can be of service. Click here to schedule a 20 min complimentary breakthrough session with me.
Your coach Tatyana
