Elevation Coach, Dr Vicki L. Otaruyina/HANDOUT
Once again, communities around the globe rejoiced through the recently concluded celebration of International Women's Day. Now the dialogue surrounding women's achievements has shifted from not only celebrating their professional strides but also scrutinising the deeper fulfillment derived from these achievements.
This becomes most poignant in Women's Month, where the focus intensifies on the holistic success of women—combining professional accomplishments with personal and spiritual fulfillment.
WOMEN ARE IN SEARCH OF MORE THAN SUCCESS
While in power corridors of various sectors, many women leaders are beginning to offer a more questioning attitude toward the traditional metrics of success.
It has been argued by research citing Korn Ferry that most female CEOs are driven by not only corporate goals but the demand to serve their communities and instill purposeful change.
This illustrates an emerging leadership paradigm-more complex and broader in the definition of success, which goes far beyond traditional corporate metrics.
Yet, striking that balance is getting exceedingly tough. Many women in the upper echelons of business say that within themselves, these feelings simply don't sit easy: despite their accolades and accomplishments, something really huge is missing.
A huge number of studies corroborate this perception: that when it comes to the fulfillment of purpose, the act of doing what one feels must be done, often by aligning one's career with much deeper, often personal, values, more often than not, stands outside the realm of the boardroom.
NAVIGATING THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Women leaders are at the very forefront of the fight for work-life balance. Gallup data show that more than half of working women in the U.S. say they experience considerable stress daily, which is worsened by professional and personal demands on their time.
Ongoing stress is said to be one of the reasons contributing to the higher rates of burnout among women when compared with men.
Deloitte's survey further shows the drawbacks of inflexible working cultures, prompting many women to consider other walks of life.
Almost all the interviewed women were concerned that opting for a flexible working arrangement might hinder their career prospects, pointing to a need for more flexible working cultures.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF THE UNFULFILLED PURPOSE
The emotional impact of having professional achievement without a sense of fulfillment is deep. Research suggests that spiritual or purposeful dissatisfaction leads to a greater risk of anxiety, depression, and outright dissatisfaction.
According to the American Psychiatric Association and some studies, individuals with a sense of purpose tend to experience less mental illness, emphasizing the importance of having one's work and career aligned with greater life aspirations.
EMERGENCE OF FAITH-BASED LEADERS
In recent times, the emergence of faith-based leadership is witnessed amid these challenges. This movement finds women integrating their spiritual beliefs into their leadership ethos, using their beliefs as a basis to navigate and redefine leadership.
The approach will help solve immediate challenges by using integrity and aligning business practices with ethical and spiritual ideas.
Across the board, this new trend is an offshoot of the greater movement toward integrating personal faith and professional leadership among women.
It is the concept that leadership should look more wholesome, emphasizing empathy, ethical governance, and community impact.
FROM BOSS LADY TO GOD'S LADY: THE TRANSFORMATIVE LIFE-SHIFTING EVENT
Designed to tackle the unique challenges and opportunities associated with women leaders, the "From Boss Lady to God''s Lady" event will provide a unique and fertile ground for discussion, learning, and transformation.
This free event will examine practically actionable strategies for women to align their business achievements with their spiritual and ethical values for greater fulfillment. To register for the event, persons may go to bit.ly/bossladyaccess.
"We're not just talking about leadership; we're talking about how to be and lead in ways that are tremendously fulfilling," explained event host, Dr. Vicki Otaruyina. "This is about changing our very definition of success and making sure that the journey to public success is immensely rewarding on a personal level.”
LET’S GET TO WORKING!
With Women's Month in full swing, this is an opportune moment for women leaders to deal with merging personal fulfillment and professional success.
Let us together carve a path respectful of both the professional gifts and personal integrity of the positive women leaders, ensuring that their journey towards success is as personally rewarding as it is publicly.
