Some Leaders Are Born Women
Perhaps in spite of recent setbacks, especially in this country, we continue to witness stand-out traits in female leaders as they push forward bravely and successfully in all leadership arenas. The recent overturning of Roe vs Wade is a huge blow, and it is easily identified as a symbol of the countless ways that the liberties and rights of women and other under-represented groups in the US are being diminished. As a part of the generation that called out, championed and witnessed long-term barriers to women falling in the late 20th/early 21st century, it sometimes feels as if we are now being accosted by disappointment and discouragement on an almost daily basis. And yet, we see strength, courage and resilience in established and emerging female leaders all around us. The title of our Words of Wisdom comes from former Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Geraldine Ferraro.
SmarterWisdom’s blogs and presentations have recognized the achievement of women leaders that have paved the way for continued and redefined success of women in leadership roles, and, in doing do led the way for many others with different styles of leadership. Jane Moulding’s blog on Jacinda Ardern, the highly regarded Prime Minister of New Zealand, shone a spotlight on this leader’s openness about anchoring her performance in kindness, not a commonly chosen---or publicly articulated---foundation of many politicians’ platforms. Ardern’s comfort with highlighting a leadership approach in which a “soft skill” is the critical element, left her open to stereotyping, at best, and disregard, at worst. The happy ending here is that neither perception emerged broadly: she was the object of international respect for her effective, albeit not mainstream, approach to defining her leadership.
Ardern’s legacy as a leader stayed strong; it was, however, not achieved without one key component: a willingness to take a big risk. Because of her unusual level of visibility as a high-level female leader (and a young mother performing in that role simultaneously) it was a leap of faith for her to be so transparent about her choice to emphasize her philosophy with honesty and transparency. Many leaders, women and men, particularly those who understand the tenuous nature of being different, are reluctant to call attention to the qualities that are associated with those differences. We at SmarterWisdom wondered if, while this seemingly risky approach worked in Ardern’s case, it might be a strategy that other women aspiring to the highest levels of achievement could consider.
Examples of women, who are at the height of their careers and those on the fast track to getting there, offer support for the notion that indeed other women should be following this path. From Beyoncé to Oprah to Taylor Swift, women entertainers are taking names and taking charge. No longer simply the pretty faces of success, these women are smart business people who followed their insight and their guts as they saw inside their industry and ensured that they reinvented what it could be for themselves. Oprah became a mega-performer and international figure; Beyoncé became a Harvard Business School case study and Taylor Swift has not shied away from taking on the behemoths of the music industry, from Spotify to Live Nation. Each has stuck her neck out to go a different way, straying from the path most taken, and carved out the way that brought her the time, clout and, yes, financial reward, she was seeking. They are each reinventing what it means to be living their own high-powered career by redefining what that is, and by taking on established power as they do so. By seeking to control the narrative and be in control of their actions and approach, their courage and smarts are setting the bar high and at a new level for all.
A Center for Creative Leadership research-based 360 assessment cites courage as one of the key competencies for leaders, regardless of gender, to succeed at the top of executive ranks. Similarly, Adam Bryant (former New York Times Corner Office column writer) who has interviewed over 200 Chief Executives, also recognized that same quality in successful-C-suite leaders. Bryant points to the complexity and degree of challenge inherent in the never-ending decision-making required in those roles, and the seduction of pondering all dimensions of issues in that stream. Of course, time (and available data) won’t permit that, so they, de facto, have to make the call with what information and time they have. They take the leap.
The specifics of success may differ, but what these women share is courage. It may be expressed in many varied ways, but there are commonalities. Amy Edmonds’ recent book, Right Kind of Wrong, proposes rethinking the stigma of failure. She cites shifting from a simplistic analysis of “did it work?” to defining failure by examining the decision-making process for taking the risk, making the point that there is a difference between smart and not-so-smart risk-taking. And, when less-than-smart risk-taking was an element of the decision-making process in question, Edmonds supports the idea that a bad outcome should be considered a failure. On the other hand, when the risk-taking was careful, thoughtful and made sense at the time, she distinguishes poor outcomes and doesn’t consider them failures.
At SmarterWisdom, we call this sort of risk taking “informed bravery.” It is not a “feel the fear and do it anyway” or “just do it” type of behavior; in fact, it is quite the opposite. Informed bravery is a risk taken after smart consideration concludes that the decision is, in fact, risky, but if what can be known at the time the decision is made, has informed the considerations, a risky decision can be a good one, regardless of outcome. Or, it may be considered risky, but worth it. Whether a risk is smart or simply deemed worthwhile, despite the potential level of pain or damage, courage is at the heart of these decisions.
Apparently, there is a public appetite for courageous women in 2024. The phenomenon that is Caitlin Clark, WNBA All-Star (who has been garnering comparisons to Tiger Woods,) is gaining viewership and financial earnings in the WNBA that were heretofore unseen. Clark has 3,900 points on her career, but the accomplishments don’t stop there. The standout is now the NCAA men’s and women’s all-time leading scorer, with 57 separate 30+ point performances (as well as an NCAA men’s and women’s all-time record).
How has this recent University of Iowa grad achieved these heights in her chosen field at this early stage in her life?
As one former basketball player explained, “To be a female athlete is to understand that your play, talent and abilities are under intense scrutiny.” On the plus side, 9.9 million viewers on ABC and EPSN2 tuned into the Iowa v. LSU Elite Eight game, an extraordinary figure. “It was clear,” the player continued, “ that serious populations were interested in watching greatness unfold.”
As a person with limited knowledge of the game, I wondered exactly how that greatness manifested itself. Clark’s style has been described as “powerful,” “strong” and “intense.” But that is said about many of the game’s highly regarded players. So what’s Caitlin’s secret sauce?
It’s not a simple recipe. She is a powerhouse, in part, because she brings together multiple elements of the talents and attitudes that make a good basketball player: She is a well-rounded, team player who can create scoring opportunities for herself and others, tenacious as a defender and rebounder.
What all of this adds up to, among other things, is that this is a young woman who has catapulted herself into the spotlight by using her god given talents without fear. She has gone against the grain from the beginning, taking shots that others would not attempt, and playing with all she’s got. It has made her a game-changer, a star in her field, and the subject of envy as well as appreciation. She is making, and playing in, a spotlight, the glare of which can be harsh. And she is clearly aware of the risk that comes with constant, intense scrutiny, fan allegiance that is often fickle and expectations for regular performance that is beyond everything that a woman has done previously. But that is how SHE does it.
Perhaps we might agree that it always takes an element of courage to lead, for anyone. The examples I have chosen to consider here are not, however, your classic, traditional leaders—male or female. They are women who have either broken barriers, and in doing so established a new way of doing things, or they have stood in their own power exemplifying new brave leadership for the ages. The examples are models for our future; superstars who shine bright and beckon us all to see new possibilities.