Let’s appreciate what makes us unique

This holiday week has been refreshing and a much needed break. I have had time to immerse myself in my passions, which has included reading several books on leadership (one of my favorite topics). In one of these books or articles, I don’t remember which, I came across the following quote that really resonated with me when thinking about women and leadership.

“When leaders stop trying to fix the female problem and instead promote women being valued in the workplace for who they are, then we might start seeing the numbers of female leaders rise.”

I really think there is something to this message that can help bridge the gender gap that we continue to face in the workplace. This philosophy also aligns with the strength based leadership approach which I believe is the future. I know that for me personally, one of the biggest realizations that has helped me transition in this new role is to recognize the unique and valuable perspective that I offer. I have tried to stop comparing myself to others and have focused on staying confident and “owning” what I bring to the table. This isn’t always easy, especially since I often feel that my world view is more of an outlier than the norm.

I have also realized that the way others may conduct their business lives does not always work for me. It’s critical for me to manage my energy versus time and that includes taking frequent breaks, getting a lot of sleep, starting the day a little later in the morning so I can exercise and leaving work before it gets too late and my energy starts to wane. The way women and men approach work may be different and respecting and valuing what each of us need to perform optimally is so important to support leaders of both genders.

It can be really easy to fall into the “norm” and go with the flow with how the general office may operate, but I believe by doing so, we may miss out on capitalizing on the tremendous diversity among the workforce. By understanding what motivates and energizes each of us, identifying our individual passions and celebrating what makes us different as well as similar, we can help support each other in bringing our best to the workplace.

For me, I need adventure and travel to stay energized. I get some of my best ideas when I am on a plane and unplugged from the world. I often plan my next vacation while on vacation, something my husband always finds amusing. I love the spontaneity of an adventure and seeing the world and I get a little stir crazy when I am in one place for too long. I want to live my life seizing the day. Case in point, I am writing this blog from 28,000 feet after purchasing a last minute ticket (90 minutes before the flight) to see my family in Colorado in their new home for the holidays.

I also need a lot of down time. Restoration is so important and an often overlooked component of vitality. Dancing has a restorative quality for me and helps energize me as I embrace my creative side. It’s no wonder I have met so many ballroom dancers who are also accountants – the two sides of the pendulum help provide much needed balance to support success.

So, how are you doing at bringing your true, authentic self to your work and life? Are you helping to appreciate the uniqueness in others so they feel valued for what they offer? My hope is that each of us will take a small step in this direction so that our collective potential can be more fully realized.