I don’t really get caught up in power positions or titles. Sure the words editor in chief, founder or chief executive officer sound nice, but there are leaders with other titles or no title at all who can be just as impressive to me.
What I look for in a good leader isn’t always someone with the most talent or expertise and experience in the job, though I can see how those are beneficial.
Call me old-fashioned, but I think good leaders are honest, open for suggestions from anyone, optimistic and treat people like people and not like someone lesser than them. These characteristics don’t have to be found in someone holding a high title. I’ll bet there’s someone you work with or see every day who is a leader but doesn’t hold a fancy title. Maybe you’re that person.This month is Women’s History Month and at different moments we’ll be honoring some of our favorite female leaders who share some or all of the qualities I just mentioned. Some of them aren’t even real people, but characters someone created. These are women who have influenced us enough that we think they deserve recognition. So many of them I look up to for inspiration and creative energy.
If you don’t have a female leader you are influenced by, maybe our suggestions this month with help you. Somewhere I love to visit online for even more inspiration and encouragement from leaders of all industries is Makers. The website is filled with video documentation of women sharing the story of who they are, what they do and how they got there. It’s nothing short of inspiring. The best part? the stories are all of real women.