25 Jan Nadia Brown + Anne Mandler – Mastering Your Significance, Own Your Power

Anne Mandler talks with Nadia Brown about power, being powerful, and leading like a lady in Issue No. 3 of ANNE.

When speaking of power, many women leaders struggle with being powerful. This is often because women leaders have a warped view of power and haven’t developed a personal definition of power.

If you are going to lead like a lady and shatter your inner glass ceiling, you MUST own your power, and understand that you are NOT a victim. You are a powerful leading lady. You are a doyenne!

Say it out loud: I am a doyenne!

While there are many obstacles that you may face as a woman leader on your way to the top, having a victim or “woe is me” mentality will not serve you well. The truth is, as a leader you have power. It simply comes with the territory. And women are more powerful than you think.

Did you know that women control $12 trillion of the world’s wealth? Yes, you read that right, $12 trillion!

But wait … there’s more. According to the State of Women Owned Businesses 2016 by American Express, women-owned businesses in the U.S. generate over $1.6 trillion.

However, only 4.2% of women-owned businesses break the $1 million mark in annual revenues. Why the disparity? One of the reasons is our view of ourselves as powerful and being comfortable with that power.

When leading like a lady, you must understand the importance of power and know how to use that power to move your business and team forward.

However, before we talk about this further, I ask you this question: How do you feel about being a powerful leader? What is your perception of power?

I want you to pay attention to the thoughts, images, and feelings that come up for you. This will provide key insight into how you view power and yourself as a powerful leader. And if you have a level of resistance to feeling powerful, you are not alone. Many women shun power because of its negative connotation and the fact that powerful women are generally not seen in the best light. I mean, think about Margaret Thatcher who was nicknamed the “Iron Lady”.

This is why it’s so important for you to not only own your power, but create your own definition for power. I like Carolyn Heilbrun’s definition which states, “Power is the ability to take one’s place in whatever discourse is essential to action and the right to have one’s part matter.” Her definition of power is not about controlling or manipulating other people, but instead is more focused on self-mastery and making a difference.

As you master your inner significance, there are seven different areas where it’s essential for you to harness your power. They are:

1. POWER OVER YOUR EMOTIONS.

There is a negative stigma or perception that women are too emotional to be effective leaders, which simply isn’t true. However, renegade emotions can derail your effectiveness as a leader. Even the emotions that you refuse to express outwardly. Effectively managing your emotions by being aware of not only how you feel, but understanding how your emotions affect your actions and decisions.

2. POWER OF VISION.

One of the things that I love to teach in my seminars, is the power of vision. It is the beauty of being an entrepreneur. I love being able to take an idea that one can only see in their mind and build it out to becoming a reality. It is such a powerful and beautiful thing. Harness the power of BIG vision. Write it down. Create a vision board or dream book and draft your plan. Your vision will keep you going when things get tough and will help you stay focused when you’re tempted to veer off the path. What is your big vision? It’s a lot more powerful than many even realize.

3. POWER OF INFLUENCE.

Leadership is about influence. One of the most powerful ways that you influence others is through your words. How do you use your words to encourage and empower others? Many people around you don’t feel seen or heard. Imagine the power of influence you can yield by making listening and making others feel seen and heard.

4. POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

Self-encouragement that is. As a leader, there are times when you will have to encourage yourself to keep moving forward. You cannot always rely on your team, peers, or even leaders to encourage you when things get tough. There is power in having a daily ritual that helps to keep you energized, motivated, and focused on the vision.

5. POWER OF CONNECTION.

As a successful leading lady, you cannot excel and flourish in isolation. You must get connected to a group of like-minded women leaders. Jim Rohn stated, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Take a look at what I call your “fave five”, and make the necessary adjustments. Don’t have a fave five? Create one.

6. POWER OF TEAM.

One of the things that I have seen so many women leaders do is try to build their big visions alone. I’ve been there. I thought that I could launch this business, and build an empire … ALONE! I quickly put myself on the path to burnout. Whether you get support in your home, in your business or both, you must embrace the power of team to reach the levels of success you desire. Research shows that firms who reached the $1 million mark in revenue had teams. It did not happen alone.

7. POWER OF REPETITION.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could hear something once and have it all down? Yes. I wish that were true, too. However, repetition is important not only for you as a leader, but also for your team. How can you and your team remain focused on the big vision? How can you keep yourself motivated to do the hard stuff and not give up when things get tough? You have to harness the power of repetition by constantly reviewing your vision, sharing the vision with your team, and by having affirmations to keep you going as a leader.

Disappointments, detours, and delays will come. However, you have the power to overcome them all. You are a powerful, leading lady, and I’ll see you at the top!

Dr. Nadia Brown is an authentic, bold champion for women business owners and those women who desire to become business owners. She is the founder of Doyenne Leadership Institute, LLC.

Through her coaching and workshops, she helps women break through the glass ceilings they encounter in business by helping them build profitable and sustainable businesses. When it comes to sales, women come to her timid and shaky about going after the money – they leave her strategic, strong, emboldened, and most importantly, paid.

She is the author of Leading Like a Lady: How to Shatter Your Inner Glass Ceiling and lives with her husband Toby in Phoenix, AZ.