In her final speech as prime minister Julia Gillard said her gender “doesn’t explain everything, it doesn’t explain nothing, it explains some things.” Another thing she was sure of is that her experience will make it easier for the women who follow in her footsteps.
For two years running Julia Gillard was named the most admired public woman in the YWCA Adelaide’s annual SHE Speaks survey, which canvasses the views of females aged 15–30 across South Australia. The day after the leadership spill in June when young women were asked, in an online survey, if they felt inspired to enter politics the answer was a clear no; not one respondent said yes.
Despite this over 200 aspiring female leaders gathered last week in Adelaide to find out what skills they need to become tomorrow’s leaders. Do they just need resilience and thick skin? Far from it.
- Lose the guilt and believe in you
It may sound evangelical but self-belief is key and you need to project it. For example do you ever say, “Sorry, are you free?” Beginning a sentence or question with sorry immediately makes you guilty of something. We must stop apologising but before we can do that we need to start believing. Start by believing you are a good daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend, co-worker. If you begin there it makes stopping the ‘sorry’ easier. Believing in yourself also makes it easier to value yourself and negotiate what you are worth. Decreasing the gender pay gap is something we all need to take responsibility for.
- Be passionate about what you do
There is no denying when you work full-time you spend more time in your workplace and with colleagues than you do with family and friends. That reason alone is why you need to be passionate about what you do. It is your motivation to get out of bed and go that extra mile. Your passion is also a great marketing tool for yourself and your company. Employers will notice your enthusiasm and remember you for it. However passion for your work is not just as simple as being enthusiastic, it is also about delivering and doing it well.
- Communication is key
Good communicators can influence and create change. Being an effective communicator is something all young leaders must aspire to. Not all of us are born great communicators; some of us need to work at it. The best way to do this is practice, practice, and practice. Learn effective communication skills and take opportunities in the workplace to demonstrate it. It could start simply by speaking up at staff meetings or leading conversations in the staff room then ask questions at conferences and forums. Public speaking is something you will only become more comfortable with by doing it. But remember it is not just about speaking up for the sake of it, be clear about who you are speaking to (your audience) and what you want them to know (your objective).
- Meeting people is easy
Networking is your friend and you need to be comfortable with it. It allows you to look for someone who can give you a guiding hand or tap in to someone’s skill set. It is a key part of business, done online and in person. For online networking get on to Linked In and make that the social media platform you use during work hours. In person find a style that suits you and develop it so you become memorable.
- Learn to Lean In
Sheryl Sandberg has given rise to the new catch cry for working women, ‘lean in’. It is a physical act and a mental one. Learning to do it at the start of your career will stand you in good stead for years to come. It means taking a prominent seat at the meeting, speaking up and sharing ideas or putting yourself forward as a media spokesperson. Remember you do not have to be 100% adept at what you put your hand up for; you just need to be passionate about it.