From the course: Inclusive Female Leadership

Own your story

From the course: Inclusive Female Leadership

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Own your story

- Navigating through corporate America as a woman of color has its share of challenges and rewards. What I learned over the years is, in leadership, you have to maneuver through the good and the bad, and that includes when the bad gets really bad. My experiences in overcoming those really bad times began with me owning not only the corporate journey, but my personal story. Women are as diverse as any group, and certain victories and challenges come with the territory. The same can be said about being a leader. There will be great wins and difficult losses, but it's all a part of the journey and it's all related. The sooner you can own your story, the sooner the journey will be more rewarding. In this lesson, I want to show you three ways you can embrace your challenging, unique, amazing journey and how it ultimately makes you a better leader. First, it is important for you not to be ashamed about your journey and story. Maybe you're the only supervisor who didn't go to business school, or maybe you wish you looked the part more. Stop. You made it this far, so don't be ashamed of your path. Instead, use your story as the fuel you need to continue being an amazing leader. Embrace your story by practicing gratitude for how far you've come and celebrate the milestones. The next step is sharing your story. Nothing is more important than owning the path you are taking, not only for yourself, but for others as well. That fuel that motivates you is a high-octane kind, the kind that will inspire and motivate others to continue in their journey as well. So share those amazing mistakes and grand victories. You'll be happy you did. And last, but most importantly, be confident in how you lead. Your past helped to shape who you are as a woman and a leader. Use it to your advantage. The next generation is looking up to you now, so go out there and share to the world just how amazing they can be by listening to your stories. This week, take some time to address the parts of your story that you've been hiding. How can you reframe that story as a source of pride? What obstacles did you overcome? What success did you achieve? Do me a favor and write it down. That is your story, so own it.

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