Building A Leadership Development Practice
Building a Leadership Development Practice
If you’re a woman leading in a male-dominated industry, chances are that at some point you:
Have felt like you have something to prove
Don’t always connect with the leadership style of your male colleagues
Find traditional management training programs unrelatable
Sound familiar?
Being a female leader is tough. You have to accomplish as much as, and often more than, your colleagues while navigating a masculine space.
You probably know that assertive women are often labeled “bossy,” and you may even feel like you have to choose between being effective and being liked.
Maybe you’ve tried to level up through a management training program but found that it didn’t speak to your experience.
Maybe you work in an industry where the concept of a management training program is nonexistent.
Well, I have good news: You can cultivate your own leadership development practice.
I’ve guided women through this process, and I’ve seen that creating your own growth path is a powerful way to own your leadership. This process works in every industry, and I’ve coached women who work in entertainment, education, public policy, journalism, business, Silicon Valley, and the nonprofit sector.
The heart of my coaching is based upon The D.I.R.E.C.T. Approach, which is a do-it-yourself technique that you can use and carry with you wherever you go.
The D.I.R.E.C.T. Approach
Define
The first step toward owning your leadership is defining your position. What are you in charge of? Be as specific as possible to clearly identify what you’re responsible for—and what you aren’t! Really drill down with your inquiry: What’s the scope of your role? What can you do in your position that no one else can do? What is your domain?
Identify
Next, bring your role into conversation with who you are. What do you offer to make this position uniquely yours? What do you want to be known for? What are your strengths, and where are areas you could grow? Whose leadership do you respect and admire?
Research and Reflect
Think back to the exceptional leaders you’ve known or worked with - not just in a professional setting. What set them apart? What are the behaviors and actions they took? Maybe someone inspired you by handling a tough conversation with honesty and integrity. Maybe someone delegated tasks with confidence (instead of shouldering others’ responsibilities). Also, consider the less-than exceptional or downright terrible leaders you’ve interacted with and ask the same questions. Become a student of leadership and mine your own experiences for lessons and principles.
Engage
Now that you’re a student of leadership, get involved! Take workshops and seminars that interest you. If you’re having trouble finding a workshop that sparks your curiosity, consider searching in other industries—leadership and management skills often translate beyond specific fields. Conflict resolution, negotiation skills, and management techniques are all areas you could investigate to start raising your leadership know-how.
If you’re not getting leadership experiences through your work, or you’re in a freelance industry where opportunities come around on a contract basis (hello filmmakers!), then start putting yourself in contexts where you are leading and managing others. Volunteer to lead a committee for your alumni group, and dive into spearheading that fundraiser for your kid’s school. Or initiate an endeavor of your own. I’m not advocating for taking on free work just for the sake of it, but if you have an opportunity to strengthen your skills and raise your comfort level with being in charge—then take it.
Commit
When you’ve named the specific traits and behaviors you want to be known for as a leader, commit to living those values each day. Get clarity on your values and identify which ones you’re ready to commit to deeply.
There’s a temptation to be vague or to implement all your values at once. But the more specific you can be at the outset, the better you’ll be able to live your more important values and pivot as needed. Consider what the value means to you and what behaviors will embody that value. Put your values into writing, and keep them somewhere where you can see them every day.
Talk (to Yourself)
The voice in your head is as important as the voice you use to speak out loud. When you are in a high-pressure situation, you want your inner voice to support you—not sabotage you. Which of these messages sounds more familiar: “Yeah, I’ve got this!” or “I’m in over my head; I don’t belong here.”? It’s up to you to foster the supportive voice you want before you’re in the heat of the moment. Work on developing your mindset through meditation, a spiritual practice, mantras, inspiring podcasts, literature, or whatever form of mental hygiene connects for you. If you’re not sure what connects, start experimenting.
The D.I.R.E.C.T. Approach can help you create a leadership development practice that works for whatever industry or workplace you find yourself in. If you’d like more personalized support, working one-on-one with a coach is a great way to tackle your own unique challenges and values in leadership. Many women find it helpful to have a sounding board and emotional support system in place as they move through this journey.
If you’d like to see what coaching is all about, sign up for a free discovery session by contacting me at malika@centerforwomensvoice.com or hitting reply to this email.
With love and respect,
Malika
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