We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone…and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.
Today, I completed my research to become a certified women’s leadership coach. I listened to vulnerable stories from amazing women who are leaders who make things happen, see possibilities, have positive attitudes, and keep learning and getting better – all while building positive relationships.
I started imagining how these ladies carry themselves – the facial expressions, posture, voice tone, gestures – and how they spend their time. My mind wandered to women who are public figures and I thought about one I have long admired, Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a majority leader and the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court. She seems to have the grace to exhibit all of these leadership qualities and so much more. There are many stories about the way she exhibited such a positive, continuous learning attitude during her working years. For instance, she was known for her strong advocacy for collegiality among the justices and insisted they eat lunch together. She also was known for saying, “I don’t know that there are any short cuts to doing a good job.” She seemed to remember that leadership was not just about one attitude or habit, but an interworking of a number of them. As a result, she had great success in her career.
What are you doing to become a better leader today?