One of the Onlys
Everyone, Thank you for attending FountainBlue's September 8 When She Speaks program, on the topic of 'One of the Onlys'. Please join me in thanking our esteemed panelists.
It was my pleasure to facilitate a panel of empowering, original, and dynamic women leaders. They not only rose to management and leadership roles as 'one of the firsts' and 'one of the onlys', but they also broke ground to make those who work with them, and those who follow them, more likely to succeed.
Although our panelists represented varying backgrounds, perspectives and opinions, they had much in common:
They are lifelong learners who communicate with passion and humility.
They are self-aware leaders who always raise the bar for themselves and those around them, for the betterment of all.
They have deep experience as 'one of the onlys', yet their strength, courage and resilience helped them to not just persevere, but also to succeed.
They don't just dole out advice, they walk the talk and model the way!
Below is a compilation of their advice.
Know Thyself
Know your strengths and weaknesses, and make choices which would help you leverage the one, and build and grow the other.
Manage your buttons and your triggers so that you can best learn from the people and challenges around you.
Have the confidence and the courage to welcome your own differences, so that these difference can become a value-add for all.
Be Strategic
Know your value and understand others' motivations and backgrounds.
Ask questions with an open mind.
Connect with allies to help you understand and manage any given situation.
You can't win them all, so choose carefully what battles and challenges are worthy.
Be Relatable
Build good will and solid relationships with those around you.
Be curious about others and their backgrounds and perspectives.
Use humor to help build bridges between people and teams.
Be vulnerable and authentic, transparent and clear.
Communicate and collaborate with others in a way which builds trust and connection.
We brainstormed on 'What should you do if you feel like one-of-the-onlys in the room':
Get to the meeting early and sit in the middle, forcing yourself to participate
Wear something or do something to make you feel physically good
Know that you’re not alone
Be Prepared/know your value
Ask questions
Getting people’s understanding
Have a meeting before the meeting
Map your allies
Plan what you want to get out of it
Engage allies outside the meeting
Identify the ‘king-makers’
Introduce yourself
We closed with a challenge to dream big, then work backwards, reaching high and believing in yourself, even if you're one of the firsts, one of the onlys.