Women Leaders – Is This You?

I have the privilege to coach and train lots of brilliant women on my Lead Like A Woman and Speak Like a Woman Programmes.

Dedicated, amazing, talented and brilliant women.

But most of the time, they are unaware of their brilliance.

They are certain they “aren’t ready” to take on that next bigger role.

They are more focused on what they can’t do than on what they can.

They lack confidence and feel that one of these days someone is going to find them out.

They hate presenting and avoid it whenever they can.

They are waiting for someone to notice them and put the tiara on their head – to validate, promote or discover them.

Does this sound familiar?

Well it’s time to own your brilliance and share it!

Here are 9 ways you can start to do exactly that :

1. Decide to take responsibility for you…

for what you really want, not what you will settle for.

Make a deal with yourself to be your own supportive friend at every step along the way to where you want to go, because no one else is going to build the life you want for you.

The most amazing people will show up to help you on along the way, but it’s your responsibility to change and grow.

2. Imagine it.

What is the dream you don’t allow yourself to even consider because it seems too unrealistic, frivolous, or insane?

What is the career that seems so incredible you think it’s almost criminal to have it?

Start envisioning it because that’s the first step to having it.

3 .Take more risks.

Start doing things that make you feel uncomfortable and get the adrenalin flowing.

Your fears will start to surface. That’s normal. Be aware of what beliefs are limiting you because that’s the first step to changing them.

4. Stop wanting to be liked.

If you take risks, sometimes you’ll get a standing ovation, and sometimes, people will throw rotten fruit.

Get used to wins and losses, praise and criticism, getting a call back and being ignored.

Work on letting go of needing to be liked and needing to be universally known as “a nice person.”

5. Question the voice that says “I’m not ready yet.”

Because you are so brilliant and have such high standards you notice every part of your idea that is not yet perfect.

While you are waiting to be ready, gathering more experience, sitting on your ideas, others (usually men) are being recognised as experts,getting  promoted and seeing their ideas come to fruition.

They are no more ready than you, and often less. Step up and start playing full out.

6. Don’t wait for someone to put the tiara on your head.

Don’t wait to be noticed, praised or validated.

Don’t wait for someone to give you permission to lead.

Don’t wait for someone to invite you to share your voice.

No one is going to discover you, you have to actively do things to get yourself noticed.

7. Ask for the feedback you want.

Most brilliant women are humble and regularly seek feedback on how they are doing.

Be aware that most people don’t know how to give you the feedback you need to improve.

Learn to ask for the type of feedback that will help you grow and develop.

Then test and evaluate it based on where you want to go, rather than following it wholesale.

8. Celebrate your successes.

If you start doing the things that make you feel uncomfortable, doing what you don’t quite feel ready to do, you are going to be stretching your comfort zone, growing and developing.

Acknowledge the steps you’ve taken and celebrate your success.

9. Let other women know they are brilliant.

Let them know what kind of brilliance you see, and why it’s so special.

Let them know that they are ready and encourage them to own their brilliance and share it too!

Until next time,

with best wishes for your success,

Cath

Cath Daley Ltd.

If you want to find out more about the Lead Like a Woman approach and how it can help you to be a happier and more fulfilled leader then click here to book a free 1-2-1 Coaching Conversation with me.