LAST week I mentioned briefly women in leadership roles and I did promise to dive a bit deeper and I usually keep my promises. It does not matter what gender leads, it all boils down to influence. Effective leaders know the way, show the way, and go the way. They are close enough to relate, but ahead to inspire and empower. Women have a unique style of leadership and strive in an environment where they are valued.
Women politicians have a different approach to leadership from men. By giving more attention to social welfare and legal protections, they will improve trust. Some of the women leaders were highlighted in a very positive light for their leadership through the pandemic. I found this very interesting info below in the NY Times.
“Ms. Ardern’s (Prime Minister of New Zealand) success is the latest data that points to a widely noticed trend: countries led by women seem to be particularly successful in fighting the coronavirus.
Germany, led by Angela Merkel, has had a far lower death rate than Britain, France, Italy or Spain. Finland, where Prime minister Sanna Marin, 34, governs with a coalition of four female-led parties, has had fewer than 10 percent as many deaths as nearby Sweden. And Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, has presided over one of the most successful efforts in the world at containing the virus, using testing, contact tracing and isolation measures to control infections without a full national lockdown.”
I admire the leadership skills of Angela Merkel the Prime Minister of Germany. It is said that Germany has the largest economy in Europe.
I read a fascinating article online about the great lady and I have to share it with you.
The Germans elected her to lead them, and she led 80 million Germans for 18 years of competence, skill, dedication, and sincerity.
During these 18 years of her leadership of the authority in her country, no transgressions were recorded against her. She did not assign any of her relatives a secretary. She did not claim that she was the maker of glories. She did not get millions out of her, nor did anyone cheer her life, she did not receive charters and pledges, she did not fight those who preceded her and did not dissolve her. The blood of her fellow countrymen. She did not utter nonsense. She did not appear in the alleys of Berlin to be photographed.
It is (Angelica Merkel) the woman who was dubbed “The Lady of the World” and was described as the equivalent of six million men.
Most times when the word leadership is mentioned people think about politicians or famous people. “Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader… They set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role-always about the goa.l” I love this leadership quote and it reminded me of the legend Mother Teresa.
When Mother Teresa decided to dedicate her life to caring for the sick, poor, aged, and disabled she did not think about fame. I am not even sure if she saw herself as the leader, but I think the history books will show amongst the top leaders in the world. Leadership guru and my mentor, Dr. John Maxwell, said “When you are bigger than your purpose you have a career. When your purpose is bigger than you, you have a calling.”
In 1946 Sister Teresa experienced her “call within a call,” which she considered a divine inspiration to devote herself to the lives of others. Her leadership influenced people through inspiration. Inspiration is generated by passion and certainly had a passion to serve humanity. She then moved into the slums she had observed while teaching. She leads from the position of influence.
I often listen to Myles Munroe and he said some interesting stuff that stuck with me: males lead from positions of power and women lead from influence and he made reference to his mother, who runs things just by one stern look. I am sure more of us can relate to that, lol. Males lead by authority and females lead by persuasion. Men lead by instruction and women lead by suggestion. Men initiate things, but it takes a woman to maintain them. When he said men are information-driven and experience-driven, it reminded me of an interview I saw with Kris Jenner. They asked her how did she manage to build such a successful business. She credits part of her success to her experience as a wife and mother. She said she acquired many life skills that gave her the confidence for a challenging but successful entrepreneurial journey.
We have many leaders in our homes and communities, but because they are not well known they are not regarded by many. Let’s take into consideration the nurses, social workers, teachers etc. I thought for two years at the Bartica Community High School and on my very first day I realised that teacher Gray who was the music teacher had influence and character. It was an honour to maintain a few decades of friendship with such a great community leader. The week before she died we were laying in her bed singing and I can’t even sing!
John Maxwell wrote a great book called ‘Wisdom from women from the Bible’
In the introduction he credits his mom and grandmother for the great leader he became. We have women who are considered ordinary doing extraordinary things.
Think about someone in your community who had influence by serving and adding value to the lives and share your experience by emailing livingwithintention11@gmail.com .
Let us serve relentlessly as celebrate this because journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.
