Recognizing the leadership and nurturing power of women. How women can prepare to be their best selves.
In honor of International Women’s Day, I am sending this note to my wonderful female colleagues to say thank you for being you, and to let you know how much I respect the power, spirit and energy each of you bring to your lives. I appreciate the increased focus on recognizing women during this month and specifically today, March 8th. We certainly deserve it!
It seems to me that this year, in support of the “Me too!” campaign, today has become a true day of celebration, with businesses, florists, and chocolate makers seeking a revenue generating opportunity in the spirit of appreciating the power of women. Companies have hired speakers to address the women in their organizations in an effort to show support.
In my opinion, every day should be Women’s Day! Each one of us does everything in our power to be the best we can be at all that comes our way; we are constantly striving to be the best mom, employee, partner, sister, lover, and friend. Research shows that women have come a long way regarding equality, but we recognize that there remains a lot more work and change that needs to occur for women to feel they have an equal voice (and position) at the table.
Many of us continue to question if we can really “have it all.” The answer to this question is driven by each person’s pursuit and meaning of “all.” As I think of this question now, reflecting on my career as a full-time working mom in the highly competitive and fast paced financial services industry, I question how I made it through. And more recently, “what I know now that I wish I knew then” that might have made things a little easier for me.
With these thoughts in mind, I’d like to share a few ideas that I believe are beneficial:
– Self-care: Find time during your busy week to focus on you! Although it’s usually the first thing we put aside, maintaining your health and well-being will enhance your performance while increasing energy and happiness. There are many activities which can provide great benefits that take just a few minutes of your day; try taking a walk around the block, 10 minutes of meditation, stretching, journaling, coloring, etc. Find what works for you and include the time on your schedule.
– Prioritization: Start your day developing a list of your critical “to-dos” that move you closer to your goals! Our brains operate optimally early in the morning and have limited capacity for focusing on multiple tasks at the same time. Identify times during your day (usually mornings and after breaks) to work on critical projects with minimal distractions. Respond to emails during specific times of day to avoid distraction from your priorities.
– Letting go: Say no to things that (1) don’t align with your goals, (2) don’t add value, and (3) can be done by someone else. Although most of us have the natural tendency to agree to do everything that has to get done, learning to let go helps you to focus on what is important and feel less overwhelmed. Delegating work will be helpful for you, while also developing the skills of others.
– Asking for what you want: You know what you want, need and deserve, so ask for it! Many women find it hard to ask; they want others to offer or they don’t know that they can ask. The ability to negotiate on your own behalf is a necessity, and one that can be learned through practice. Evaluate your opportunities, realize how powerful you really are, and share that knowledge with others by saying what you know and asking for what you want.
Today is a good day to appreciate yourself for who you are and how much you have accomplished. You deserve it!
