ONCE again, communities around the globe rejoiced through the International Women’s Day, marked on March 8, annually.
Now the dialogue surrounding women’s achievements has shifted from not only celebrating their professional strides but also scrutinising the deeper fulfilment 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 fulfilment
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 chief executives (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 do not 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 fulfilment 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.
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Navigating 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 United States (US) 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 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 a need for more flexible working cultures.
Unfulfillment’s psychological impact
The emotional impact of having professional achievement without a sense of fulfilment 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, emphasising 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 align 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, emphasising empathy, ethical governance, and community impact.
From boss lady to God’s lady
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 fulfilment.
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, 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 fulfilment 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.
- Otaruyina is a market expansion consultant with Ruyina Global and The Elevation Coach. She specialises in helping entrepreneurs and businesses unlock their full potential by expanding their reach across borders, particularly between Africa and the Caribbean. Email: [email protected].
