5 Keys to Unlocking Your Leadership – Part 1of 6

In today’s high tech and global economy, mastering your craft isn’t enough to guarantee success. Top female corporate leaders are very good at what they do. But, there is something more that they do to stand out. The intangibles make them shine. It’s their power and presence that radiates from within that gets your attention and compels you to lean in.

So how do develop a secret sauce for yourself – made of intangible ingredients – like other top corporate female leaders? How do you make that sauce? What are the ingredients? The ingredients come from the inside out: through a combination of hard work, mastering your message, standing in your confidence and self-esteem with just a dash of chutzpah thrown in for good measure.

The Problem

Women are amazing multi-taskers. Women are do-er’s that get things done. Women also tend to be inherently nurturing.

So, what’s the problem with embodying all of these great strengths?

Taking care of everyone else from the boardroom, to the classroom, to the family room is precisely what creates a conflict. To be a woman who takes care of others without making yourself a priority is exactly what leads to having lackluster presence and strength, and can lead to a myriad of other significant challenges.

You may become frustrated, exhausted, stressed out, burnt out, and overwhelmed. In more extreme cases, a lack of self-care can lead to a cold or flu, or even other more critical health care issues like heart attack, stroke, or the “Big C.” Really, no kidding! Did you know that chronic stress puts you at a 27% higher risk for a stroke and heart attack? Or that 1-in-3 women will be diagnosed with Cancer in their lifetime? For someone who typically pays little-to-no attention to her own needs, it’s ironic that you may be forced to put all of your focus on your needs in order to recover.

Making no time for your self-care adversely affects your well-being, balance, clarity, and leadership presence – all of which are the keys to shining more brightly.

Who on Earth would want any of these problems, especially if you knew that you could do something proactive to prevent them?

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

What can you do then to create better work-life balance and well-being so you can shine more brightly? It’s not as easy as snapping your fingers. But, there are some manageable steps to help get you there.

Stay tuned for next post and start learning the 5 Keys To Unlocking Your Leadership!

Until then,

To Your Success!

Michele