Eighteen weeks. We have been together for eighteen weeks now on the Strategize with Sav blog and, while I have not loved every minute, I have grown to know myself, grown in my communication abilities, and grown in appreciation for actual bloggers.
In our final week of class, we discussed the future of leadership. This can look so different to so many different people, but to me it is simple. We watched a TED Talk from Sheryl Sandberg where she discussed why there are so few female leaders. She said that women have to "sit at the table" meaning that they need to speak up for themselves to open up opportunities for advancement. She also mentioned the mindset shift when women decide they want children. They often stop looking for opportunities because they want to focus on their children.
As a mother in the workforce, I can wholeheartedly relate to that statement. Women have a natural nurturing tendency. We are driven by emotion, and this is often what people fear about women in power, but there is beauty in emotion. There is beauty in understanding and compassion. There is beauty in female leadership.
Now, contrary to many others, I do believe that women can be just as successful as men. I think we are seeing a shift to a more equal future for leadership roles. That being said, I was raised to believe that you are not given anything. You must work to earn everything.
I got my undergraduate degree from Auburn University, and I live by the Auburn creed. The first line reads "I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work." Nothing is given freely, you must earn it. As leaders, if we are not actively participating in conversations or turning down opportunities then we cannot expect to excel.
A few weeks back I mentioned how important networking is. Sometimes it is not just about what you know, it is about who you know. I have always had a bubbly personality, I can talk to a complete stranger and be their best friend an hour later. I have the biggest heart and genuinely care to hear about people's experiences. I feel we can learn so much from each other. I am especially grateful to learn from people who have excelled in their fields. I take every opportunity to reach out to presenters after conferences, speak with professors who made an impact on me, and truly try to form a relationship with people I know I can learn from.
I have always heard to have an elevator pitch ready when the opportunity arises, but I don't believe in that. No offense to those of you who do, but I feel that an elevator pitch is so inorganic. I don't want to be robotic and spew out a memorized resume any time I am asked about myself or my accomplishments. Instead, I like to make my conversations very personal and connect with the other person.
For example, I have had the distinct pleasure of getting to know Donna Schubert, the former Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communication for Troy University. In fact, she is the person who wrote my recommendation letter for the Strategic Communication Masters program that I am currently in. She wrote this recommendation letter after just knowing me for 4 short months. Why would she do this? Because I got to know Donna for Donna, not for her previous role. I have fostered a true friendship with her because I felt that she is someone who could teach me so much both professionally and personally. I was a thousand percent right. Donna has had such success in her career and her story is absolutely fascinating. I could write an entire blog just about what I have learned from her, but the moral of the story is that I could have simply treated her as a "connection" and given her my elevator speech and moved on, but I didn't. I have already learned so much from Donna, and continue to learn more from her every single day. Fostering that relationship with her has given me a mentor as well as a friend, and she has made me a better leader and a better person.
I think something we need to focus on as leaders or future leaders is building a tribe. Know your strengths, but also your weaknesses, and then surround yourself with people who have strengths in your areas of weakness. A leader who thinks they know everything is a leader without respect. I am not afraid to share my struggles and I am not afraid to ask for help. There is beauty in imperfection. Successful leaders are surrounded by knowledge, and they consistently pour into their relationships so they will continue to grow and be successful.
Another thing that I think is important as a leader is considering the next generation. I think this is why I respect Donna so much. She could easily keep all of her tricks to success to herself, but she doesn't. She wants others to succeed. She is willing to share her knowledge and experience with others, but she also isn't afraid to admit that she is not always right. Sometimes there are better ways to do something and she is ready and willing to learn herself. I know it seems like a dog eat dog world, and most people only look out for themselves, but there is so much beauty in admitting that we do not know it all, and looking to others for guidance.
I have been an employee, a manager, and now even a business owner, and the one thing I pride myself on is being real. I will not lie to you, I will not pretend I am better than you, and I will not ask you to do something that I would not do myself. Am I a perfect leader? Absolutely not, but I am working on myself every single day.
I am so thankful each and every one of you took on this journey with me. As this term comes to an end, so does Strategize with Sav. Always remember to stay true to yourself, never quit growing in your skills, and try your best to live in the moment!
All my love to all!
Savannah
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