It's an interesting thing being a woman. Reading the second chapter of Woman of Influence called "Individual: Discovering Your Leadership Style", I learned that women aren't inherently anything. We are all human beings just like the male population and have very different ways of doing things. We've been classified every which way from Tuesday and the world has finally realized that women shine in such different ways. Our lives and willpower can't be contained in a box or a kitchen. We need the freedom to be ourselves and get outside that box.
Women are very different from men - we work like men, at a steady pace, but tend to take breaks so we can refocus and re-energize. We are much more accessible and make a deliberate attempt to be. We tend to integrate home and work life and don't tend to have a definitive line between the two. Women tend to prefer live person contacts, are able to maintain a broad, complex network of relationships, have longer term focus, don't believe our career is how we define ourselves and love to share information & build relationships. This is powerful stuff. Men are pretty incredible and tend to have a better ability to see themselves as leaders but women are able to maintain a high level of energy. Obviously we need to fix how we see ourselves!
There are 5 types of leaders - we all fit into at least one of them. The test included in this chapter helped me realize that I'm a bit of a Provider, Proclaimer and above all, a Praiser. Let me explain:
1: Provider - Providers see a need and quietly go about providing it. They see the details, work quietly and consistently. Tend to be the people that keep organizations running.
2: Petitioner - Petitioners are advocates. They usually work in law or social work. They want to make a positive difference.
3: Preparer - Preparers are teachers. They want to give their knowledge away and give others the tools to be the best at what they can be.
4: Proclaimers - Proclaimers love to talk. They're usually drawn to sales, service, being a spokesperson or actor. They are storytellers and are typically not born proclaimers but raised to meet God's needs.
5: Praiser - Praisers lead by encouragement. They coach their teams to success. Typically have a strong faith and know God is running the show. They give praise to the people who work with them and stay in touch with people important to them.
I was a bit surprised that #5 was the highest out of all of them. #4 is definitely one that fits me well. I was really introverted as a child but thrive heavily on being around people, especially in my downtime. I enjoy the spotlight but am always trying to give all my knowledge to other people. It really shows me that I need to make sure to give my staff the appreciative notes, show my support for what they're doing and allow them to flourish by hearing that they are on the right track. I've always had a better time in a job when I am being told when things are going well. Many of my previous bosses would tell me when I did something wrong but rarely when they were excited about the good job I was doing.
God has a specific leadership style for you - maybe you don't know what it is or exactly how to be that leader but He will make sure you grow into it. I have learned more about myself and who I really want to be by becoming a boss. I learned from so many bosses in the past that I know what I want to do and definitely what I don't. Taking my leadership style and honing it to fit just what my staff needs is key.
This passes over into the other portions of our lives. In relationships, in friendships, with family, with church family, with acquaintances, with life in general - we need to be the best leader we can be. We don't have to be 'over' or 'above' someone else but we can show by example that we are influential in the most positive way we can be.
Be an individual. You're not like everyone else. Enjoy it and learn how to use it the best way you can!
Women are very different from men - we work like men, at a steady pace, but tend to take breaks so we can refocus and re-energize. We are much more accessible and make a deliberate attempt to be. We tend to integrate home and work life and don't tend to have a definitive line between the two. Women tend to prefer live person contacts, are able to maintain a broad, complex network of relationships, have longer term focus, don't believe our career is how we define ourselves and love to share information & build relationships. This is powerful stuff. Men are pretty incredible and tend to have a better ability to see themselves as leaders but women are able to maintain a high level of energy. Obviously we need to fix how we see ourselves!
There are 5 types of leaders - we all fit into at least one of them. The test included in this chapter helped me realize that I'm a bit of a Provider, Proclaimer and above all, a Praiser. Let me explain:
1: Provider - Providers see a need and quietly go about providing it. They see the details, work quietly and consistently. Tend to be the people that keep organizations running.
2: Petitioner - Petitioners are advocates. They usually work in law or social work. They want to make a positive difference.
3: Preparer - Preparers are teachers. They want to give their knowledge away and give others the tools to be the best at what they can be.
4: Proclaimers - Proclaimers love to talk. They're usually drawn to sales, service, being a spokesperson or actor. They are storytellers and are typically not born proclaimers but raised to meet God's needs.
5: Praiser - Praisers lead by encouragement. They coach their teams to success. Typically have a strong faith and know God is running the show. They give praise to the people who work with them and stay in touch with people important to them.
I was a bit surprised that #5 was the highest out of all of them. #4 is definitely one that fits me well. I was really introverted as a child but thrive heavily on being around people, especially in my downtime. I enjoy the spotlight but am always trying to give all my knowledge to other people. It really shows me that I need to make sure to give my staff the appreciative notes, show my support for what they're doing and allow them to flourish by hearing that they are on the right track. I've always had a better time in a job when I am being told when things are going well. Many of my previous bosses would tell me when I did something wrong but rarely when they were excited about the good job I was doing.
God has a specific leadership style for you - maybe you don't know what it is or exactly how to be that leader but He will make sure you grow into it. I have learned more about myself and who I really want to be by becoming a boss. I learned from so many bosses in the past that I know what I want to do and definitely what I don't. Taking my leadership style and honing it to fit just what my staff needs is key.
This passes over into the other portions of our lives. In relationships, in friendships, with family, with church family, with acquaintances, with life in general - we need to be the best leader we can be. We don't have to be 'over' or 'above' someone else but we can show by example that we are influential in the most positive way we can be.
Be an individual. You're not like everyone else. Enjoy it and learn how to use it the best way you can!
