By: Joslyn Miller, Undergraduate Intern
What is a good leader? We are often asked ourselves this in classes, at work, in meetings, but what exactly is strong leadership and how can we become an influential leader?
Women have more recently been given a seat at the table and what we do with our seat is important. Traditionally, women have been more likely than male counterparts to embrace inclusion, gender equity, collaboration, and social justice, in and outside of leadership roles. Being a feminist, rather than a feminine, leader is important. We must continue to embrace things such as community development and social justice issues, as well as recognize that historically and currently, many circumstances have created inequity for women, along with other groups. We must not feed into toxic power dynamics and change what leadership looks like. We also have to realize that while we have earned a seat at the table, others should also be able to have a seat and we must work to make those seats more achievable and equitable to everyone.
We can become strong leaders through embracing these feminist principles through transformational leadership. Transformational leadership is a process, but it is one that is worth it for leaders and followers alike. Leaders must attempt to connect with followers and build morale and motivation so that followers want to do more than what is expected of them. This process includes four integral parts:
Idealized Influence
Inspirational Motivation
Intellectual Stimulation
Individualized Consideration
Through idealized influence, leaders are a strong role model for their followers. They conduct themselves morally and ethically and make others want to follow in their footsteps. Through inspirational motivation, leaders communicate their high expectations with followers and encourage them to achieve more than their self interest through a shared vision. Through intellectual stimulation followers are encouraged to be creative and innovative. Leaders encourage followers to challenge their own beliefs and encourage learning. Through individualized consideration, leaders must listen to their followers’ needs and act as a mentor to followers, assigning them with professional and personal challenges.
Through transformational leadership, leaders and followers are able to make a strong connection through a shared vision. Growth is a key aspect of leadership and this process, combined with feminist leadership principles, has the capability to change the definition of what a strong leader is and redefine how we view leadership.
For more information about leadership and how to grow as a leader, sign up for the Women*s Initiative for Leadership Development Workshops and Conference Planning Committee:
Sources:
Helgesen, Sally. The Female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership. Currency Doubleday, 1998.
Chin, Jean Lau. Women and Leadership: Transforming Visions and Diverse Voices. Blackwell, 2008.
Tillapaugh, Daniel, and Paige Haber-Curran. Critical Perspectives on Gender and Student Leadership. Jossey-Bass, 2017.
Wahla, Gabby, and Christina Igl. “Final Presentation - Changing the Script as Feminist Professionals.” Google Slides, Google, 2020, docs.google.com/presentation/d/14EZVNvlZM1P4-gc1vij5N5jJcZL7i-8ktt9f0_7FpjM/edit#slide=id.ga3a2af4a1b_0_107.
Interested in sharing your own "Thought Of The Day" or TOTD? Email us at wss@msu.edu.
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