Student Choice assignment LDRS 500
Women In Leadership
For this assignment, I choose to interview a female team lead for the nursing department. I went to a separate sight location to conduct this interview, so I could gain a different perspective on this topic and not be influenced by my peers or direct leaders.
Interview with Female Team Lead for Fraser Health
Q .what is the greatest challenge you have faced or are facing as a woman in leadership?
A. The biggest challenge I continue to face as a woman in a leadership role is resistance to my authority. When I got the position I currently hold, I went from being on the same level as my peers to be their direct supervisor. The transition was very hard both men and women who I worked with for many years treated me differently and at times with disrespect. My challenge was how do I change resistance to my leadership? When I investigated further, I learned many people were hurt and felt they should have been chosen for the role. One I recall expressed she though the directors were showing favoritism. When I explained to her, I went back to school the last few years for my Master’s in nursing she was stunned. My biggest challenge is resistance to change. How do we get people to be more adaptive to change? Constant change builds animosity and distrust within the team, as the team craves stability. With my male peers, it has been difficult to build a trust as they seem to desire results
Q.What is something you do to help you meet or deal with this challenge?
A. Currently, I started having weekly one on ones with each staff member. I believe if they hear about a change from me individually before a company announcement, things run smoother. I also believe in ongoing education. So, when faced with resistance I try and find the root cause. It may be my nursing background, but I am always assessing and reassessing. If the root cause ends up being an education piece, then I facilitate a way to provide that.
Q.What advice or encouragement would you give to other women in leadership?
A. I would say to expect resistance to your leadership style and changes. Being in a leadership role as a woman is difficult there will be instances where sexism plays a role. You need to be prepared for these things. The more practice you have dealing with these situations the easier they become. I would say although it is challenging it can be very rewarding. The best thing about my job is inspiring and developing other leaders. When someone tells you, you have been a huge impact on their life and career there is nothing better than that.