By Ivy Algazy, CEO The Ivy Network
Watching the news about market uncertainty and the ever-evolving corona virus has made me contemplate what does it really mean to be a resilient leader, what are the traits needed to survive these challenging times, and why do women do “resilient leadership” so well. I believe resilience is instinctive to women and a behavior learned from generations of women before us.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of suffrage, the passage of the 19 th Amendment which guaranteed a women’s constitutional right to vote. If you look at what women had to go through to get this right, you will have a deeper understanding of why women are resilient leaders. What traits did these foremothers possess that made them resilient leaders? They were innovators, multitaskers, visionaries, empathetic, champions of change, strategic, motivated by a challenge, problem solvers, and the list goes on. But what they all possessed and why they lead to success, was passion.
I read a lot of historical fiction with strong women protagonists portraying what it was like for
women in various historical eras, often weaving in real historical figures. Throughout history
we see women who knew how to make it through long illnesses, wars, abusive relationships.
Their resilience showed a leadership that often went unrecognized. Women were the ones
during hard times that figured ways to cook with limited supplies, even if it meant watered
soup, making it enough for large families. Women mended and re-mended clothing for the
family and nursed loved ones back to health. These women knew how to take charge and make things happen. We didn’t call it leadership back then, we called it being a woman and doing what was necessary to keep the family going.
Women take those same skills to lead in the business world. Some not even knowing that they do! Women understand that incorporating a holistic, self-reflective prospective, going with their intuition, and embracing a philosophy of being comfortable with uncomfortable situations, will get through adverse times. Instinctively knowing that finding creative ways to solve problems will also lead to new opportunities.
Let’s break that down and understand how some of these traits raise women’s leadership ability to the level of resilience needed to succeed.
Empathy
Women value relationships and the feelings of those around them which makes them more
aware and mindful of what drives and motivates a team. This is key in guiding employees in a
positive direction during adversity.
Multitasking
With a natural ability to split our attention to multiple projects simultaneously and think quickly
when time is crucial to overcoming issues, is what makes women multitasking super star.
Historically, women have caregiving roles in a family and that has helped in their ability to deal
with several challenges at one time. Women know how to adjust and focus on solutions.
Motivated by a Challenge
Women are born problem solvers, working tirelessly to find resolution and help those around
them find ways to solve their issues. When women face challenges, they are even more
energized to accomplish success. Have you ever seen a mom that doesn’t find the solution to
her child’s issue?
Innovators and Visionaries
Women dream big and envision what can be. They are organized and strategic and know how
to share ownership of their vision to get by in and a following. Women make the impossible
seem possible and are extremely practical, resilient and usually able to maneuver tricky
situations with finesse.
Innately women are resilient and as leaders we are super resilient. We might doubt ourselves,
question, over analyze how to do it, but in the end, women do it right! As leaders, we just need
to be reminded sometimes how fantastic we are at leading and how amazingly resilient leaders we are. Ladies, this is your reminder!
Ivy Algazy, CEO The Ivy Network, LLC.
