I was the boss, so I had the privilege of bringing my kids — and my nanny — to work with me every day. But when I went to implement those policies for my employees, my legal team said, “No way!” That didn’t sit well with me, and that is not how I wanted to lead my company. As female founders, we often must defy social expectations and redefine leadership.
What Breaking Every Rule About How Women Should Lead Taught Me About Success
As high-achieving women, we are constantly met head-on with cultural norms that undervalue women in leadership, such as the expectation to stay home to raise a family.
We’re judged for being “too ambitious,” labeled “difficult” when we stick up for ourselves, or “soft” for showing empathy. It’s a rollercoaster of second-guessing what you’re supposed to do and how you’re supposed to act.
But there is an opportunity to redefine what leadership looks like.
It’s Our Turn to Redefine Leadership
We have the opportunity to create a new version of success through heart-centered leadership.
Lead with Authenticity
This is our opportunity to own our unique strengths. Be unapologetic and bold in your decisions.
Here’s the honest-to-god truth: You will never please everyone.
When I finally embraced that, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. It also allowed me to become an authentic leader…because there is no one way to lead a team or a company. You will have to find your authentic voice and then own it.
Own Your Narrative
Most likely, you didn’t build your success playing by the rules. So, don’t let someone else write the script to your story.
When we share your wins and your losses, we inspire others. Share your pivots and the grit it took to get there. Raw honesty lights up the path and provides a strategic roadmap for others to follow.
Overcoming our challenges is what leads to real growth in our businesses and our lives.
Create a New Version of Success
Forget about squeezing into someone else’s mold.
I had to create my own version of success to fit my lifestyle and the goals for my business. This meant doing things a bit differently, but more often than not, I had to be in more than one place at a time.
I took my kids with me to places where I would get sideways glances (business meetings and conferences) and questioning stares. At some point, this became the norm, and I was ok with that.
Here is what I realized: It is as much about getting comfortable with the sideways glances as it is about getting them and knowing that I am doing what works for me and my family.
Stepping outside traditional leadership norms takes guts
Stepping outside traditional leadership norms takes guts, and it can seem like every step forward is met with two or three steps back. But moving past those challenges changes the game for ourselves and future female leaders.
This is the mission behind InnerFifth: Give women entrepreneurs the tools, connections, and guidance to step into their power and claim their spot in the owner’s box.
