Lisa Garber

In the 25 years I’ve been a professional coach, I have seen the same three issues circulating around the female leaders I have worked with. They are cultural, political and psychological, which means no one is entirely immune. But with consistent self-awareness, every woman leader has learned to grow beyond their limitations and step proudly into their personal power and success.

Culturally, many women leaders carry with them the roles they were taught growing up. Of course, cultures are different. Some have championed them as little girls and so they grow into strong women leaders. Others learned that there was a place for women and it was different from their male counterparts.

Overcoming cultural programming takes a lot of self-reflection. Using a journal is always helpful. Ask yourself, “do I often take a back seat in meetings? Do I see my career as staying in the “medium” level of management as opposed to higher executive roles? What is contributing to these beliefs? What evidence can I see all around me to dispute these beliefs?” The first step in empowering yourself to grow beyond your culture’s expectations is to be aware that you have them. Then you can work towards slowly dismantling them. 

Political barriers are all too pervasive. Women leaders can often feel left out of social conversations, overlooked for promotions or feel invisible. They often remark that they are treated differently than their male counterparts even when they share a leadership designation.

We can’t change the world, but we can absolutely change how we respond to the world. The first step, once again, is to be aware of it. Sometimes we can be in denial because it’s so hard to believe it’s actually happening. First, raise your self awareness so you know what you are dealing with.