I hope you are inspired by my leadership story about “Finding My Voice!”
I think there are many young women out there who can relate to my story of believing lies about themselves and being “held back” by lack of confidence and fear. I know men struggle with this too, but for women research shows it is a more prevalent issue and there are additional societal pressures for women to “be liked” and “conform” to certain expectations.
To read more on this issue, I would encourage anyone, both man or woman, to read the book Lean in: Women, work and the will to lead by Sheryl Sandberg.
What a powerful story of your journey in finding your voice, and acknowledging the gifts you have to give the world. Sheryl Sandberg has captured a key aspect of leadership — that we must “lean in” to it (and that as women, we often tend to hold ourselves back, for a myriad of reasons). But when we keep in mind that the world actually NEEDS leaders, we begin to recognize that holding ourselves back means others will not have the authentic, collaborative leadership that the world needs.
Your story reminds me of this quote from theologian Frederick Buechner, who wrote about vocation and calling.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” – Frederick Beuchner
Here’s to you and your leadership — and a life ahead in which you live and learn and lead with authenticity and bravery!
— Leadership Prof