We’ve always known that women in leadership bring unique perspectives that drive success in today’s business world. From navigating challenges to building inclusive teams, their experiences offer valuable lessons for anyone aiming to lead with impact.
On International Women’s Day this year, we gathered wisdom from True North HR’s leading ladies to highlight six key lessons.
These insights are not just about leadership—they’re reflections on creating workplaces that help everyone succeed.
Women in Leadership
Ever wonder what a woman in leadership looks like?
Like the rest of us, women lead lives in everyday roles, such as mothers, sisters, partners, employees, service providers, politicians, and more.
A majority of True North HR’s employees are women, and they are all leaders in their fields.
Having worked in HR for a long time, we thought it prudent to collect some leadership anecdotes and share them with others.
Maybe you will see one of these pearls being reflected in you.
1. Why Women?
We thought it was essential to start with the age-old question: why hire women?
They bring several stellar qualities including empathy, listening skills, collaboration and teamwork, and they focus on building relationships within and outside the organization.
Further, women value diversity and equality. They want to ensure a win-win situation for everyone involved. They’re adept at problem-solving and negotiation (think conflict management and resolution between siblings).
And women are quick learners.
Research has shown that women apply positive leadership behaviours more often than men. Female leaders tend to be more inclined toward participatory decision-making, role modelling, inspiration, people development, and intellectual stimulation.
Why wouldn’t you want a woman in a leadership position?!
2. Surround Yourself with Women Power
Women are natural relationship nurturers, which also makes them good networkers. Building relationships based on trust isn’t optional—it’s essential. And for that to happen, include both men and women in your network.
Professional groups help pool sources, identify gaps in skills, and provide opportunities to catch anyone who may fall through the net.
3. Mentorship Matters
Mentorship is often underutilized as a tool for expanding impact in your field and outside of it. The idea is that each generation decides to help the next and builds a strong pathway forward by working together.
Mentors can be supervisors in the organization or members of professional organizations. Don’t limit yourself to female mentors only, also look at male mentors.
The (sad) truth is that they’ve been in leadership positions far longer than we have, so it’s time we started taking that knowledge and converting it for our benefit.
4. Rewrite the Unwritten Rules
Every workplace has a set of unwritten rules. Learn them and then change them.
For example, women are usually expected to be demure and quiet. Break that mould; leave that rule behind and speak up!
Be clear and specific, and find the right balance of being strategic about getting your point across in an all-inclusive way.
Maintain eye contact and call it out if a meeting facilitator (especially if male) is skimming over you in a meeting. Be confident and exude confidence in the way you participate in a meeting.
5. Be a Role Model
If you see a woman in your office struggling to self-advocate, stand up for them. Once they feel seen, they’ll start looking up to you for support.
Give them the stepping stone to gain confidence to become self-advocates.
6. Believe in Yourself
Women are naturally good at emotional regulation; use this tool to your advantage. Your ability to make level-headed and balanced decisions is key to gaining leadership opportunities.
However, don’t forget those emotions at the door; they’re important because they make you human and kind.
Lead the Way
Female leaders and diverse leadership gives companies a competitive edge beyond financial performance. Businesses that manage to diversify and balance gender diversity will lead the charge into the future.
Women leaders are an elusive workforce. They’re right there in front of our eyes if we’re willing to look.
Creating and implementing professional development skills for women in management positions is the most effective way to build diverse leadership.
Once that group moves up into leadership roles, reset the line by hiring more women, who can then be trained for the next generation of leadership.
Write to us with the lessons you’ve learned as a female business leader.
