3 Feminine Super Strengths to Leverage in a Crisis

Have you ever thought that, as a woman, you have super strengths?

I dream about this – literally! It is such an interesting area to explore.

There is plenty of research that has found women (and men) to have strengths unique to them. Of course it would be wrong to say that every woman has all of these ‘gender specific’ strengths – but the vast majority absolutely do, in some shape or form.

I wanted to highlight three of these super strengths that are ideal in helping you manage through times of crisis, change or difficulty. Just when you need to draw on them most, they are there!

Here they are – see what you think!

Super strength 1: Grit

Grit, perseverance, resilience. Whatever you want to call it, grit is without doubt, an awesome feminine super strength.

• Grit is not about being unbreakable…
• It’s not about having all the answers…
• Nor being forever energised…
• Nor being able to work 24/7 without crumbling….

… you are human after all. 🙂

Grit is about hunkering down – even when there’s a crisis looming – keeping a calm head and just getting the job done whilst taking care of yourself.

How to do more of it:

1. Remind yourself you can take action – it doesn’t have to be perfect action – but some action (whatever action), just to keep things moving forwards.

2. Any crisis starts… but also ends. Keep that in mind at all times. Stick your heels in, grit your teeth and the crisis will come to an end at some point.

3. Be kind to yourself along the way and praise every little win.

 

Super strength 2: Inclusiveness

Currently you might be working or managing a team remotely. In this climate, being inclusive is even more of a valuable feminine super strength than usual.

Being inclusive means you are keen to welcome different perspectives into a discussion and actively seek other people’s opinions on how to brainstorm and solve problems.

If you are good at collating diverse perspectives, your team will inevitably produce more rounded and better thought-through solutions.

How to do more of it:

1. Invite everyone to speak.

2. Praise their input publicly and you will encourage them to contribute even more. (This is especially true for female members of your team).

3. Acknowledge the input of everyone when a decision is presented, “This is a team solution. Molly contributed part X and Freddie added part Y.”

 

Super strength 3: Adaptability

Think of someone you know who believes only their opinion matters. Think of someone you know who only ever responds in the same way. Think of someone you know whose inability to ‘read a room’ causes them problems.

Adaptable leadership is yet another feminine super strength.

Crisis or change management are paramount to effective leadership and a core way to do this well, is to be able to read situations and adapt to changing circumstances.

How to do more of it:

1. Do a personal analysis of how well you adapt. Do you find it easy or tricky? Which situations are trickier?

2. Take those tricky situations. How could you be less rigid in your response?

3. How would you/ your team benefit if you were more adaptable or flexible?

There are a number of core feminine super strengths. How can you leverage yours?

Chat soon and remember, be your brilliance!

P.S. Are you a member of our facebook group? Enjoy more career strategies through our fun weekly live, virtual training sessions with Rebecca.

 

Rebecca Allen, Chief Illumination Officer of Illuminate Personal Growth, works with professional women to help them take their careers to the next level. If you are feeling underwhelmed by your lack of career progress, looking for support and encouragement and keen to learn new skills to improve your prospects, then you’re in the right place. We provide online career courses, courses for women, live workshops and leadership trainings in Sydney as well as 1-1 executive coaching. Get in touch!

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