Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.
— Marie Curie, physicist and chemist (1867–1934)
In every industry, field of study or social movement, there's a woman in there somewhere leading the charge.
Despite how far we’ve come, women still struggle to advance in their careers. We often navigate the murky waters of progress without a paddle, boat or even a life jacket. Sink or swim is the motto for many women in leadership who choose to take the path less traveled.
Considering the challenges that women in leadership face today, the statistics are not surprising:
For all of our accomplishments and proof that our success is not an anomaly, women still fall woefully behind in the numbers that matter.
In the AAUW article, Barriers and Bias: The Status of Women in Leadership, the author points to an "outdated male model that shuts women out" as the main cause of women not reaching their full potential in the workforce. This can include old stereotypes, fewer connections, a lack of flexibility, and discrimination and biases.
What do these invisible barriers look like for women trying to attain positions of leadership?
Whether we’re running our own businesses or climbing the corporate ladder, women have to operate within a set of unspoken parameters that we didn't create.
Yet, somehow, we still thrive — not because the road to progress is easy or because we've somehow managed to unlock the mysteries that are still whispered about behind closed doors.
We excel because we have no other choice if we want to succeed. We want more, so we figure it out. This is our legacy as female leaders.
The winds of change are unpredictable. Sometimes they work in our favor and push us toward our destination. Other times, they push against us, challenging our resolve and making us second-guess our decision to set sail. This is the reality of the climate that we face on the road to success.
Despite the unpredictability, great female leaders have one special skill in common — navigation. With or without a map, experience has taught us to always expect the unexpected and prepare accordingly.
When we face our career goals from a position of strength and preparedness, unpredictability takes a back seat.
We can do this by:
Having the right mindset is just the beginning.
Our journey is never really just about us. In the same way that we've been inspired by other women who've come before us, we have an opportunity to do the same for those who are just a few steps or generations behind.
I've read many stories about women who overcame challenges to become women of great substance, character and leadership prowess. Not one said that success came easy or that they didn't get hurt or disappointed along the way. The common thread for all of them is that, despite their struggles, they felt compelled to move forward anyway.