If anyone knows a thing or two about copping flack, facing criticism and having their leadership style scrutinised, it’s the former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and she’s willing to share the most valuable lessons she’s learned throughout her career. Speaking to a packed crowd of New York University students Clinton said one of the most important pieces of advice she employs came from one of her role models, Eleanor Roosevelt: “Grow skin like a rhinoceros”.
She shared her advice as part of a public discussion with Melinda Gates, that was moderated by Clinton’s daughter Chelsea, on the elevation of women and girls into public life and the challenges women in the workplace still face. The event was also used to make an announcement that her family foundation — the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation – would be joining forces with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to spearhead a data project which will measure and analyse the advancement of women and girls around the world and then disseminate it globally.
The “No Ceilings” project will compile data from traditional sources including the World Bank and other less-traditional sources like Google to document progress — or lack of progress — for women globally since the historic UN World Conference on Women in Beijing 1995. It was there that Clinton famously declared “women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights, once and for all”. The first report will be released on the 20th anniversary of the Beijing conference in September 2015.
Calling women’s empowerment “one of the greatest causes of my life” Clinton also provided a number of lessons for women on leadership, criticism and coping in public roles.
It’s time to address the “perfectionist problem”
“I have employed, by this time, a lot of very talented young men and young women. And offering a promotion or expanded responsibilities to a young woman almost always provokes a response something like ‘Oh I don’t know if I can do that’ or ‘Are you sure I could do that’ or ‘I’m not positive I could take that on…I have never heard that from a young man.”
Changing the way society perceives acceptable styles of female leadership
“We are still developing what are the acceptable styles of leadership for women … I think you have to be so intentionally thoughtful about that as you assume a role in the public arena, without it making you less authentic or undermining your confidence.”
Being a female public figure
“One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve ever heard from anyone is Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1920s, who said that women in politics or in public roles should grow skin like a rhinoceros,” she said.
Taking criticism onboard, but not personally
“When you look at the challenges of being a change-maker and being willing to buck the establishment, it’s important to learn how to take criticism seriously but not personally. You have to be able to hear what others, your critics, are saying,” she said.
“Some you will dismiss because there’s an agenda that has nothing to do with you or your goals. Some will be giving you good advice. Critics can be your best friends if you listen to them, and learn from them, but don’t get dragged down by them”.