What Working Women Leaders Say they Need and Crave
Last week I had the opportunity to provide a workshop at the Emerge & Elevate, Women’s Leadership in the Age of AI conference. Like some, I’ve come to a point in my life that pretense and appearance means absolutely nothing to me. In fact, the more curated you are the more I’m apt to believe your internal foundation is poorly built and on shifting, if not very fragile ground (I can’t help but want to poke around in there in the hopes of providing some structural guidance). Needless to say, my lack of a Powerpoint presentation and the discussion about my very successful career running concurrently with a complete abdication of who I really was and what I really wanted, dropped like a lead balloon for most. I get it, the work of finding yourself again is not only hard work, it’s very emotional work. As the saying goes, “If you have to cry go outside.” No one wants to see that human messiness. But that’s not what my work or our community is about. I’d rather see you messy in a safe space with me (with someone who could write the book on career success and identity messes), than messy where someone will weaponize it. This work, nor was my workshop, for everyone. But it was for a handful of people. They had this to say.
What I heard from women like you
Here are the raw unfiltered statements.
“It was like you were telling my story.”
“Your talk was the most real I’ve heard so far, because you were vulnerable.”
“What you said was so powerful you brought some women to tears.” [I eventually went and talked to those women, and they trusted me to share their tears personally with me.]
“What you said just made me so emotional I couldn’t stop crying.”
I’m not quoting these women to toot my own horn, which isn’t bad, but not appropriate in this circumstance. I’m discussing this because this is the first thing I learned…
High achieving women are longing for someone vulnerable enough to point out the internal messiness and sacrifice of what they’ve undergone to get where they are; and the accompanying confusion and sometimes sadness, that’s resulted.
They want to find themselves again.
In deeper discussion, these same women revealed other desires they, and you, have.
You want to learn how to trust yourself again.
You want to learn how to stop performing without losing the reputation you built for yourself and feeling like you’re going to blow up your life.
You’re longing for real connection. You’re looking for YOUR people, with the same set of values you have.
You want clarity on how to hear, know and decide what you truly want.
You’re exhausted and you need some relief.
You want recognition, discussion and words for what you’ve been going through and what you’re feeling that aren’t trite.
You don’t want the “Should” you want the “How” of it all.
You’ve come to the right place. So keep coming back!!!
How to Begin
First, I recommend that you subscribe to my email newsletter. You’re not only going to get real discussion here, but also some more of behind the scenes thoughts that I have and actionable items.
Second, as workbooks become available download them. I make them for you and your needs specifically in mind.
Third, become a coaching client if it’s in your time and energy budget. You’ll always see the most progress through personalized coaching. That said, it’s not for everyone. It should be a commitment. If you can’t commit you can always come back to the workbooks and free resources.
Fourth, at times I have on-line discussions/workshops. If you subscribe to the newsletter you’ll never miss a discussion/workshop notice. However, you can always visit the website.
Fifth, if you just can’t get enough of this and me, you can follow or connect with me on LinkedIn. I’m welcoming!!
Now I want to know what you think
As a high achieving woman leader, what do you need? What topics would you like me to discuss that are not above? Please leave a comment below. I’d really like to know.