{"id":50930,"date":"2024-03-01T18:19:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T23:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ccl.org\/?post_type=articles&#038;p=50930"},"modified":"2025-05-08T06:57:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T10:57:53","slug":"five-key-themes-for-high-achieving-women-leaders","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.ccl.org\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/five-key-themes-for-high-achieving-women-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Keys to Success for Women Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For women leaders today, success is about more than maintaining balance, breaking barriers, and achieving professional goals. Burdened by the effects of the global pandemic and its aftermath, many women are still feeling spread thin, burnt out, and deeply torn between caregiving responsibilities and work.<\/p>\n<p>During the pandemic, women\u2019s labor force participation dipped to its lowest level in over 3 decades, and although numbers are back up again now to pre-pandemic levels, many organizations are still struggling to retain and regain the women who were disproportionately leaving the workforce.<\/p>\n<p>So before we explore these women\u2019s leadership themes that emerged from our research on what an <em>individual<\/em> woman can do to bolster her own personal chances of success, we first want to emphasize our belief that <strong><em>the larger culture in which a woman operates will have a direct effect on her ability to succeed.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Key Women\u2019s Leadership Topics &amp; Some Larger Context Around Them<\/h2>\n<p>That\u2019s why we say that the most effective investments in women\u2019s leadership take a dual-pronged approach, with a simultaneous focus on increasing parity, providing support, and building a sense of <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/create-better-culture-build-belonging-at-work\/\">belonging at work<\/a>, <em>while also <\/em>ensuring that any development opportunities address important women\u2019s leadership topics and equip individual women to recognize and embrace the themes that will enable them to thrive.<\/p>\n<p>With all that being said, <a href=\"https:\/\/cclinnovation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/gettingreal.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">our research<\/a> has found that <strong>highly successful women leaders often approach their careers and their lives by embracing these 4 keys to success:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Agency,<\/li>\n<li>Authenticity,<\/li>\n<li>Connection, and<\/li>\n<li>Wholeness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These 4 themes are woven into their career decisions and leadership styles. Collectively, these themes reveal deeper, more complex images of successful women and offer opportunities for reflection and insight for those who are navigating their leadership journeys. Together, these themes are a useful starting point for individual women to explore, and for organizations to consider as women\u2019s leadership topics to prioritize in their development initiatives and retention efforts.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/womens-leadership-topics-keys-for-success-infographic-center-for-creative-leadership.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/womens-leadership-topics-keys-for-success-infographic-center-for-creative-leadership.png\" alt=\"infographic showing the 4 keys to success for women leaders highlighting the importance of women\u2019s leadership topics \" width=\"800\" height=\"419\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>The 4 Keys to Success for Individual Women Leaders<\/h2>\n<h3>Women\u2019s Leadership Topics &amp; Themes That Emerged From Our Research<\/h3>\n<h4>1. Agency.<\/h4>\n<p>What do we mean by agency? \u201cAgency\u201d refers to intentional actions taken toward achieving a desired goal. Agency is about taking control of your career, being your own pilot, and feeling as if you\u2019re shaping your job, your leadership style, and your life.<\/p>\n<p>For example, women leaders may decide to take steps toward becoming more comfortable exercising authority or being more politically savvy. Strategies for realizing greater agency include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Analyzing your career steps and <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/living-with-intention-work-home\/\">living with intention, both at work and at home<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li>Asking for challenges outside your current functional orientation to broaden your experience and perspective;<\/li>\n<li>Intentionally <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/whats-your-leadership-brand\/\">cultivating your leadership brand<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li>Defining boundaries to help you manage competing responsibilities and seeking out the <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/4-types-of-support-to-help-with-the-worklife-juggle\/\">types of support needed for the work-life juggle<\/a>; and<\/li>\n<li>Setting <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/achievable-personal-goals-align-with-values\/\">goals that align with your values<\/a>, and developing a plan for achieving them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>2. Authenticity.<\/h4>\n<p>Authenticity is being genuine, and being yourself. As the lines between work and home life continue to blur, it\u2019s more important than ever before for women to resist the urge to comply with policies, expectations, practices, and environments that are in opposition to their needs as leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Authenticity is important for all leaders, but it can be particularly challenging for women to show up as their genuine selves if their organizational culture is rife with gendered double standards. The importance of <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/authentic-women-re-energizing-work-and-home\/\">leading authentically for women<\/a> in our research study was resounding, whether or not they felt they were living extremely authentic lives.<\/p>\n<p>Authenticity comes from finding your own style, your way of leading. By developing self-awareness, you gain clarity about your values, behaviors, preferences, and skills. You can then determine the gap between \u201cfitting in\u201d and being yourself.<\/p>\n<p>To <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/4-ways-boost-self-awareness\/\">increase your self-awareness<\/a>, seek feedback to better understand your own strengths and weaknesses, and to understand the impact you have on others. Evaluate how your needs, motivations, and goals change over time, and continue to reassess what\u2019s of value to you. Look for patterns, but be open to possibilities.<\/p>\n<h4>3. Connection.<\/h4>\n<p>Connection involves a focus on relationships. A desire for closer friendships and family ties drove many of the goals, choices, and decisions of the women in our study. Even the busiest executives invest in connections, both personally and professionally. To strengthen your professional connections:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Slow down and take time for people.<\/li>\n<li>Build relationships.<\/li>\n<li>Network, network, network.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Relationships and connection are important for all leaders, but they are especially important for women and other historically excluded groups. Learn more about cultivating <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/why-women-need-a-network-of-champions\/\">a network of champions<\/a>, and if you feel unsure about why or how, explore our <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/women-is-your-network-working-for-you\/\">networking tips for women<\/a>. Find a mentor or establish your personal \u201cboard of directors\u201d to serve as a support system and sounding board.<\/p>\n<h4>4. Wholeness.<\/h4>\n<p>Wholeness represents the desire to seek roles beyond work or to unite different life roles into an integrated whole. During these uncertain times, wholeness can sound especially daunting for women who already feel overburdened and\/or under-supported at work and home. However, this was the most dominant theme we found in our research.<\/p>\n<p>Some women in our study reported that they were concerned that they had nothing else in their lives but work. Others expressed concern about wholeness because they feel fragmented and divided between work and other life roles. They value multiple roles, life beyond work, and a broader definition of success.<\/p>\n<p>To help you gain a sense of wholeness, let go of the idea that <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/balance-is-a-faulty-metaphor\/\">it\u2019s about \u201cbalance\u201d<\/a> and an equitable division of time between work and other roles. Wholeness is about setting priorities and valuing all your commitments. It\u2019s about setting boundaries and saying no to roles or obligations that no longer serve you. Learn more about how to <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/how-to-practice-holistic-leadership-even-during-uncertain-times\/\">be a holistic leader<\/a> in every facet of your life.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callOut webinar\">\n<h3>Access Our Webinar!<\/h3>\n<p>Watch our webinar, <em><a href=\"\/webinars\/change-systems-not-women-celebrating-stereotypically-feminine-leadership\/\">Change Systems, Not Women: Celebrating \u201cFeminine\u201d Leadership<\/a><\/em>, to learn our recommendations for ways to support and develop women leaders with a systemic lens, and how to take a balanced approach that avoids overvaluing leadership traits traditionally associated with \u201cmasculine\u201d qualities over \u201cfeminine\u201d ones.<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttonPosition\"><a class=\"buttons button1\" href=\"\/webinars\/change-systems-not-women-celebrating-stereotypically-feminine-leadership\/\" aria-label=\"Access the webinar about celebrating feminine leadership in the workplace\">Access Webinar<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>A Closer Look at These 4 Themes at the Enterprise Level<\/h2>\n<h3>How Organizations Can Prioritize These Women\u2019s Leadership Topics in Development Initiatives<\/h3>\n<p>As noted above, for women leaders to succeed, their organization\u2019s culture must be structured in a way that supports them in cultivating these 4 keys, and that starts with a focus on parity. Once policies, procedures, and behaviors that promote parity have been established, organizations and senior leaders can additionally encourage women (and everyone) to embrace the 4 themes that our research uncovered are often integral to success, in the following specific ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Promote <em>agency<\/em><\/strong> by ensuring that bosses give their direct reports as much autonomy as possible. For example, don\u2019t make assumptions about whether a woman on your team might want to take on a difficult new project or role \u2014 just ask her directly and let her speak for herself. The key is to <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/the-power-of-respect\/\">cultivate a culture of respect<\/a>\u00a0where women leaders feel psychologically safe to share their preferences and perspectives candidly. When individuals feel a sense of agency and control, and <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/what-is-psychological-safety-at-work\/\">psychological safety at work<\/a>, they\u2019re more likely to stay engaged and committed to their organizations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support <em>authenticity<\/em><\/strong> by offering resources, training, and ample opportunities to reflect, so leaders better understand their own preferences and motivations.\u00a0Senior leaders should focus on building a culture of <a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/when-inclusive-leadership-goes-wrong-and-how-to-get-it-right\/\">inclusive leadership<\/a> so that all people, including women leaders, feel able to bring their whole, authentic selves to work.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Build <em>connections<\/em><\/strong> by ensuring senior leaders are aware of the importance of coaching, mentorship, and sponsorship for women. You can\u00a0<a href=\"\/insights-research\/mentoring-women\/\">download our free resources on sponsoring and mentoring women<\/a>, which include questions and exercises that can help create connection, opportunities, and building those critical relationships.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encourage <em>wholeness<\/em><\/strong> by making space for your people to gain clarity about what they need and then\u00a0<a href=\"\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/how-to-help-employees-balance-the-work-life-conflict\/\">show support in managing work-life conflicts<\/a>\u00a0so they gain greater resilience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And again, enterprise efforts to develop women leaders in support of these key themes will be most effective if your organization approaches development with a focus on its culture.<\/p>\n<h2>Ready to Take the Next Step?<\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>Organizations can support women leaders by providing <a href=\"\/leadership-challenges\/womens-leadership-development\/\">women\u2019s leadership development<\/a> exploring all of these women\u2019s leadership topics and by partnering with us to create organizational cultures that that help attract and retain more women<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking for timely women\u2019s leadership topics? Wherever you sit in the organization, explore these themes worth folding into your life and your enterprise-wide development initiatives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":50935,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50930","articles","type-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categories-belonging","categories-womens-leadership","region-global","article-type-leading-effectively-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.6 (Yoast SEO v26.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Keys to Success for Women Leaders | Women&#039;s Leadership Topics | CCL<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for timely women\u2019s leadership topics? 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