Women's Leadership Conference
- May 30, 2019
- 5 min read
The annual Women's Leadership Conference in Ashland, turned out to be an impressive event. Over 400 business professionals were in attendance; and there was something so empowering about being surrounded by brave, confident women who were ready to connect with each other and grow. The theme of the conference was to “Create Impact”and the breakout sessions tied into this well. All the women who presented had great energy and left me feeling inspired to make an impact in my personal and professional life.
GOLRIZ LUCINA: MORNING KEYNOTE
The keynote speaker, Golriz Lucina, did an amazing job setting the tone for the conference. Golriz, is the Head of Creative for SoulPancake, an award-winning media company where human connection is the primary focus of all the content they create. She kicked off the conference by presenting her core ingredients for creating valuable content; practicing gratitude, being vulnerable, connecting more, and injecting joy. To say the audience was touched, would be an understatement.
Practicing gratitude can often be overlooked because we have been programmed by society to always want more. We are obsessed with looking for the next best thing instead of acknowledging the blessings already existing in our lives. The benefits of gratitude are not only beneficial for our mental health but for our physical health too. Studies have shown that a grateful person is more likely to sleep better, be more patient, and prioritize self-care (Ducharme). Gratitude leads to a sustainable form of happiness, so change your mindset from, "I have to" to "I get to."
Being vulnerable allows us to connect on a deeper level. Gloriz incorporates elements of vulnerability into the content she creates because as humans we admire those who are willing to speak their raw truth. Vulnerability displays courage and is the main ingredient for truly connecting with other people. Real vulnerability is not measured by the amount of information you disclose, but rather by the amount of control you are willing to discharge.
Connecting more in our digital age has become increasingly difficult. In 2018 Global Culture came out with a report that found, “42% of respondents don’t have a close friend at work” ….and “46% of respondents reported feeling lonely” (Higginbottom). Most people are losing out on the power of connection, which is so valuable to the quality of our life. By creating close social connections, we have the power to create a cycle of joy in our life.
Inject Joy because it creates an endless supply of energy and encouragement. For many of us, fear is our primary motivator. But when motivation spawns from a joyous state, we operate more effectively. The ability to cope with life’s challenges becomes easier when we choose joy over fear.
DIANE ALLEN: OWN YOUR A-GAME
It takes a special self-leadership to reach our full potential and start owning our A-Game.
Diane spoke about how to get out of our own way and reach our full potential by acknowledging that mind, body, and spirit all play a role in our success. With everyday demands it can be hard to master all three areas, but the reward is empowering. In order to unleash our A-Game, it’s essential to remove the element of fear in the mind, body, and spirit.
Our mind is probably the hardest area to master and often comes down to communicating with that tiny voice inside our head that always has something negative to say. Most of us have that inner critic that constantly feeds us lies. Acknowledging that tiny voice is important because once you can identify it, its easier to silence it. Remember, the subconscious mind is the gatekeeper of your comfort zone.
What does the body have to do with reaching our A-Game? Our body can help us overcome obstacles that begin in the mind. Power-posing is an example of the body-mind relationship. Power-posing convinces the mind we are confident even when we feel anything but. Adopting the body language of a powerful person changes the way people act toward us, which in turn reinforces the confident behavior. Paying attention to the physical will in turn benefit the mental.
Fear can impair our memory, which results in forgetting all the important things we had to say. Diane demonstrated two physical exercises that can help us to render this problem. As you can see in the images below, stretching/massaging our achilles can increase blood flow to the brain and relax us. The two pressure points on the chest will also have the same effect.
Lastly, it is our spirit that gives us meaning and purpose in life. It gives us intuition and cultivates our emotions, passions, fears, and creativity. The spirit allows us to connect on a deeper level if we wish to do so. Understanding, and tapping into the mind, body, spirit connection is a vital piece in manifesting our true desires!
JAYNE DONNELLY: RECOGNIZING HIDDEN LEADERSHIP
Jayne’s session was short but sweet. She addressed the difference between both masculine and feminine leadership styles and how utilizing both will improve our ability to effectively lead. Without feminine leadership we can become misguided, uninspired, or heavily task driven. Without the masculine leadership, projects may remain incomplete, lack structure, or assertiveness. It’s important to note that either style is not based on gender and can exist in all of us. The notion of what makes an effective leader is changing and not solely based on the social construct of gender traits anymore. The traits of each style are listed below.
Feminine Leadership (to be)
Creative Inspiration
Fluidity and Expansion
Inter Connectedness
Awareness of Emotions
Goes Inward for Direction
Trust Gut Feelings
Prioritize Rest
Comfortable with Unknown
Masculine Leadership (to act)
Maintain Discipline
Provides Structure
Provide Protection
Clear Boundaries
Follow Through
Analyze Problems
Applies Logic
KRISTY LASHOBER & LINDSAY MCPHAIL: THE VALUE OF DISRUPTING LEADERSHIP CULTURE
In my opinion, Kristy and Lindsay both led the most empowering and engaging session at the conference. They both exposed their deepest struggles and allowed themselves to be completely vulnerable in a room full of strangers. Their vulnerability was empowering because they were unapologetically themselves. Their session encompassed what it’s like to live as a disrupter in our culture, and how it can improve the quality of our professional and personal lives.
Lindsay defined a “disrupter” as someone who lives in their power and is not afraid to be themselves. Seems like a basic idea….but most people don’t live a disrupter lifestyle. To become a disrupter, there are a few concepts to digest first. Obviously, vulnerability is a major factor in becoming a disrupter. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably learning how to master the great act of bravery in your life. It all comes down to the amount of control you are willing to let go of, not how much of your truth you disclose to other people.
Embracing exposure is “being comfortable with a vulnerability hangover.” There is a certain type of freedom and power associated with embracing your flaws, mistakes, or curve balls life has thrown your way. By sharing yourself with others you allow others to be free too (as I witnessed in this session). If other people can see you doing it, they will too and that’s where the disrupting happens on a deeper level.
Embracing risk is also a vital step in becoming a disrupter. Taking risks is something I personally struggle with because that feeling of the unknown is scary, and I’d rather feel like I am in control at all times. Culturally we are great at talking about it, but not living it out day to day. If we are accepting of ourselves and know what we stand for, risk is easier to embrace because we won’t lose ourselves when we fail. Fear and vulnerability sit right next to joy and freedom, but you get to choose who you want to sit with.
Sources:
Ducharme, Jamie. "7 Surprising Health Benefits of Gratitude." Time. November 20, 2017. Accessed May 13, 2019. http://time.com/5026174/health-benefits-of-gratitude/.
Higginbottom, Karen. “A Lack Of Connection In A Digital World.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 8 Oct. 2018. Accessed May 17, 2019. www.forbes.com/sites/karenhigginbottom/2018/10/08/a-lack-of-connection-in-a-digital-world/#7b82d9134b21.
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