Women and Leadership: The Power of Daily Acts of Resilience
Leadership often conjures images of politicians, CEOs in corner offices, or keynote speakers on a stage. But leadership is not limited to titles, roles, or positions of authority. At its core, leadership is influence by example—and women, in countless and quiet ways, have always been leading. Here I want to explore women and leadership.
I invite you to reflect on your own leadership journey. Whether in the home, workplace, or community, women are demonstrate resilience and leadership every day.
My First Lesson in Leadership
After being asked to present on women and leadership, I began to wonder when I was first introduced to the concept. Then it came to me.
When I was ten years old, my father asked me to bring in the cows. His approach was to drive them by pushing, shouting, and whacking their rumps. But, my mother taught me another way: persuasion. She’d call softly, “Go boss, go boss…” and the cows willingly followed.
From there, I noticed leadership opportunities along my life-line—caring for my younger brother, guiding children as an early childhood educator, directing a family resource center, and later, teaching at the college level. Eventually I led group therapy, participants in workshops, and audiences during my keynotes.
But perhaps my deepest leadership has been in my own home—choosing meals, caring for family members, and creating an environment of calm. Women often minimize these nurturing acts, but they are in fact critical leadership practices.
Leadership Beyond Titles
Leadership doesn’t require a formal position. Whenever you:
- Help someone learn,
- Support another person’s well-being, or
- Model calm and care…
…you are leading.
Amereican activist bell hooks once wrote:
“Sometimes people try to destroy you precisely because they recognize your power—not because they don’t see it, but because they do.”
In other words, women’s influence is visible and impactful—even when it isn’t always acknowledged.
The Challenges of Women and Leadership
Despite women being the largest group of consumers and representing half the population, representation in leadership roles remains disproportionately low. In 2021, women held less than 25% of board seats in Canada’s top 500 companies and less than a third of seats in the House of Commons.
Why the gap? Women leaders often face internal barriers such as:
- Self-doubt and fear of rejection
- People-pleasing patterns
- Perfectionism and pessimism
- Poor health due to overextension
And external barriers such as:
- Criticism and misunderstanding
- Family and childcare demands
- Lack of acknowledgement and support
- Sexism, racism, and ageism
Recognizing these challenges allows us to prepare for them rather than be defeated by them.
What Effective Leadership Looks Like
Ineffective leadership shows up as blame, manipulation, or refusing to admit mistakes.
Effective leadership, on the other hand, looks like:
- Creating emotional safety so others feel heard
- Listening deeply to both spoken and unspoken messages
- Encouraging growth by developing potential in people and processes
- Owning mistakes with authenticity
- Acting with accountability, transparency, and courage
Researcher Brené Brown defines leadership as:
“Anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential.”
That means if you acknowledge, encourage, or celebrate others, you are already practicing leadership. I make efforts to do that daily. What about you?
Resilient Leadership: Staying the Course
When we think of women and leadership, demonstrating resilience is a key factor. Resilience is the capacity to stay steady in the face of challenges—or, when you stumble, to get back up and keep going.
Qualities of resilient leaders include:
- Vision and clarity of purpose
- Integrity and authenticity
- Grit and determination
- Emotional and social intelligence
- A strong connection to values
Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, Mary Simon, put it powerfully in her 2021 address:
“To the women and girls, please know that we need more of your voices and perspectives in leadership positions across this country.”
Resilient leadership is not about being perfect—it’s about knowing your why and continuing to lead with courage.
Know Your Why: The Reason for Resilient Leadership
Every resilient leader needs a reason to continue with their role. That reason is your why: the sense of purpose behind what you do. Your why answers the questions:
- Why am I choosing to step forward?
- What difference do I want to make?
- Who benefits from my efforts?
When challenges come—criticism, rejection, or setbacks—your why reminds you why it’s worth continuing. For example, Mary Simon, Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, has spoken openly about her why: ensuring more women’s voices and Indigenous perspectives are heard in leadership. Malala Yousafzai’s why—advocating for girls’ right to education, has helped her even after surviving an assassination attempt.
Your why doesn’t need to be world shattering. It might be raising your children with caring, creating healthier workplaces, or standing for equality in your community. Large or small, your why gives you resilience when doubt arises.
Building Personal Strength as a Leader
Resilient women leaders cultivate practices that strengthen their capacity, such as:
- Caring for health through rest, nutrition, and exercise
- Practicing mindfulness to create space between reaction and response
- Building support circles of allies, mentors, and role models
- Honoring values and strengths to guide decisions
- Practicing self-kindness when mistakes happen
As psychologist and expert in strengths, Donald Clifton once wrote:
“Each person’s greatest room for growth is in the areas of his or her greatest strength.”
Knowing your strengths—whether creativity, helpfulness, or empathy, helps sustain your leadership.
Mentorship, Role Models, and Support
No leader thrives alone. Role models inspire us, but mentors guide us up close. A good mentor affirms your worth, stretches your perspective, and believes in your potential.
If you don’t feel supported where you are, remember there are circles of people and communities waiting for you. Leadership grows when we women champion each other.
Everyday Acts of Leadership
Not every woman runs for Parliament or leads an organization. But every woman has moments of leadership:
- Saying “no” when boundaries are crossed,
- Speaking up when something isn’t right,
- Guiding a child, friend, or co-worker toward growth,
- Modeling resilience in the face of adversity.
As feminist leader Gloria Steinem reminds us, “It matters what you stand for—what difference you want to make.”
Leadership is not reserved for the few—it’s an everyday act.
Conclusion
Resilient leadership begins with you—your values, your strengths, and your willingness to step forward.
Whether in the kitchen, community, boardroom, or country, your leadership matters. And every time you choose to guide with care, courage, and resilience, you’re shaping a world where more women’s voices can rise.
So, pause and give yourself credit. Like those cows once told me in their own way: “Well done. Women and leadership make a powerful combo!”
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