Each For Equal in Leadership: #LeadingWomen
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
“The human is the inclusion of male and female, and the world cannot be built, if male and female are not both present” (The Book of Zohar).
So it seems...
At the current rate of change, it will take two centuries for women to achieve "economic gender parity and 108 years for equal representation between men and women in the boardroom.
While aware of the benefits of women in leadership on organisational performance, does it ever cross your mind that our view of leadership is an illusion and our existing model a barrier for women advancing as leaders?
International Women’s Day (March 8) is upon us again, and this year’s theme is “Each For Equal” — a notion of Collective Individualism, where we are all one, where our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets can have an impact on our larger society.
Collectively, we can make change happen.
Collectively, we can each help to create a gender equal world.
But, I wonder…
Are we really willing to operate with a 'collective mindset' or are we simply looking to do the best we can with what we have?
Are we really willing to confront the limitations of the existing model (one entwined in the performance of white power, masculinity and individualism) on women and people of different cultures realising their self-expression as leaders?
I’ve been in the leadership game for over 20 years and despite countless pieces of research studied from the experts on leadership, the years of training and hours of working with people in realising their potential as leaders, never have I felt more connected to, and inspired by, the 7 key observations of leadership as outlined in the paper Aboriginal Women, by Anna Haebich (Curtin University, 2014):
For Aboriginal women, the foundation for all levels of leadership is 'community', "only those who 'truly have the interests of the community at heart’ can call themselves leaders" - Jackie Huggins AM
The 7 Key Observations of Leadership:
Leaders are shaped by their family and community, culture and history, the example of other leaders and the responsibilities that come with maturity, as well as their personal experiences of discrimination, other ways of life, education, employment and difficult life circumstances.
Qualities for leadership are honesty, courage, compassion, perseverance, passion for their cause, resilience, confidence, assertiveness, a sense of humour, altruism in wanting to bring others up in life, and inspiration for others.
Their ways of working are based on Aboriginal terms of reference and include respect for elders, bringing community people together, speaking out and confronting issues, having a shared vision with an analysis and solution for problems, and the capacity to achieve a multitude of tasks.
Their motivations and goals are to be catalysts of change, working to alleviate community disadvantage in line with principles and practices of self-determination; to promote maintenance and recovery of culture and country; and to empower communities by reclaiming traditions of women's leadership and power in cooperation with Aboriginal men.
Women leaders are respected holders of knowledge who work to keep culture strong and encourage respect for cultural knowledge, and they take responsibility for transmitting this knowledge down the generations.
Women leaders face many challenges that can lead to burnout, such as the personal sacrifices in meeting the heavy demands of work and family, feelings of obligation to give back to others and be accountable to community expectations, and the tensions of divided loyalties and community divisions that may arise. Interacting with the non-Aboriginal sector, they can face conflicts of interest, different values and styles of leadership, demands of bureaucracy and the media, and dealing with sexism and discrimination.
In all their work, leaders find precious support in family, community and relationships of trust with other Aboriginal women.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity for all of us to acknowledge our contribution to realising our potential as leaders - in our families, communities, society and the world.
It's a day where - no matter who you are, what you do or where you come from; you have an opportunity, and obligation, to forward an action that positively impacts gender equality for everyone, everywhere #EachForEqual
Our mission at TEAM Women AU is to highlight the qualities of leadership outside the traditional hierarchical model and demonstrate that leadership (and indeed change) is something that lives inside each and everyone one of us.
Join us as we celebrate #IWD2020 profiling some of Australia’s leading women - in sport, business and academia, entrepreneurs, emerging leaders, leaders in nonprofit and community services - women who clearly demonstrate the qualities of leadership and being a leader:
Alanna-Bastin-Byrne & Jade Collins Directors Femeconomy
Arianne & Tash Ritz, CoFounders of ARNA Online
Ash Barty, Professional Tennis Player and Australian of the Year
Bec Brideson, Founder Women With Agency
Carrie Kwan, Founder of Mums & Co
Div Pillay, National Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair
Ellia Green, OAM Professional Australian Rugby Union Player
Franziska Iseli, Founder of Basic Bananas
Gill McLaren, Founder & CEO Syntegrate
Helen Souness, CEO RMIT Online
Jessica Hickman, Founder of The Bullyologist
Jeromine Alpe, Founder Mentor Evolution
Julie Leask, Professor at University of Sydney
Kate Walker, Founder & Director KWD
Lynne Testoni, TEDxSpeaker & Content Creator
Lucy Bloom, Non-Executive Director and Consulting CEO, Speaker and Author
Ludwina Dautovic, Founder and CEO The Room Xchange
Meg Lanning, Australian Women’s Cricket Captain
Megumi Miki Founder of Quietly Powerful
Melissa Larkin, Founder & Managing Director | Peripheral Blue
Michelle Redfern, Advancing Women in Business & Sport
Mind Woods, CEO Lotus Dining Group
Natasha Janssens, Founder Women with Cents
Kris Deminick, Founder & Coach This Electrified Life
Ros Moriarty, CoFounder & Managing Director Balarinji
Shantelle Thompson, 3x Jiu Jitsu World Champion & Founder Kilalaana
Stella Petrou Concho, Co-Founder & CEO REO Group
Tiffany Cherry, CoFounder & Producer Sports Women Australia
Trenna Probert, Founder & CEO Super Fierce
Vanessa Vanderhoek, CEO The FlexAgility Group & Founder Flexible Working Day
Virigina Hyland, Founder & Principal HYLAND (Agency)
Yvette Mayer, Corporate Wellbeing, Business & Life Coach
Of course - it’s impossible to showcase every woman that deserves a mention so if you find yourself asking, “what about ‘this woman’ or ‘that woman’”, comment below or submit online.
Everyone has a story AND Your Story Matters.
Get in touch, share your stories and help us elevate the profile of women realising their self-expression as courageous, compassionate and confident leaders #TogetherWeAchieve
Kylee
Founder, TEAM Women Australia