Sadly, the bell curve is just as real when applied to a leader’s performance as it is in other realms of performance.
Female leaders typically sit in one of four categories on the normal curve of distribution, aka the bell curve:
As a female leader, when you sit in the Red zone…
- You’ll be in an unpredictable, anxiety-producing space in which your results are up-and-down, often more down than up.
- Your focus will be on “surviving”—rather than thriving. And that doesn’t feel good.
- You fear not being able to move out of the stressful Red zone—because you don’t have the information, the resources or the courage to move along the continuum.
- This limiting belief has had you buy into the myth that it’s too difficult to develop into a great leader.
- But the truth of the matter is this:
Great female leaders first make the decision to be great—and then figure out what they need to move along the continuum to greatness.
When you sit in the Amber zone…
- Female leaders who find their way across the line into the Amber zone, are in the company of many other leaders.
As the bell curve above demonstrates, the Amber zone is where the majority of leaders sit. - If you’re an Amber female leader, you’re probably doing OK—but there’s no doubt that things are sometimes bumpy for you.
- Amber’s a place where things don’t feel great. Well, they’re somewhat neutral really.
- When you’re stuck in Amber, as numerous female leaders are, it’s probably because you don’t have a plan for what you need to do to move along the continuum into the Green zones.
When you sit in the Light-Green zone…
- Light Green zone female leaders find things go well for them most of the time. But their results lack consistency, especially in those tricky, sensitive situations when exemplary leaders excel.
- If this is where you sit, your performance and your results will be highly dependent on the difficulty of the situation you’re facing.
- You’ll have a sense that you’re “good enough”—and most of the time your leadership practices and behaviours, as well as your results, are good.
- But here’s the bottom line:
It’s a myth that “good enough” is OK—and that stepping into the Dark Green zone where exemplary female leaders sit is too difficult. - If you sit in the Light Green zone, ask yourself this question:
Are you prepared to settle with being “good enough”—rather than being a totally inspiring, sought-after leader?
When you sit in the Dark-Green zone…
- Extraordinary is possible! Congratulations if this is your zone. It’s a very happy place to be.
- You’re a totally inspiring, sought-after female leader who people are itching to work with and have in their team.
- You’re in good company with other exemplary female leaders who made the decision to be at the top of their game.
Where do you sit on the bell curve?
- As you look at this bell curve, where would you place yourself on the continuum, given the following scale?
- Red = 1 to 3
- Amber = 4 to 6
- Light Green = 7 to 8.5
- Dark Green = 9 and 10.
If you’re a female leader who’s currently sitting in the Red, Amber or Light-Green zone, here’s the all-important question you need to ask yourself…
If you knew how to get there, how important is it for you to have a deep knowing that you’re a Dark Green, totally inspiring and sought-after leader?
If your answer is “It’s very important to me”…
I recently completed a revealing model that I’ve been assembling, bit by bit, over the twenty years I’ve been working one-on-one with leaders.
My build is now complete :-).
I now have full certainty about what levers a female leader needs to master so they can have a deep knowing that they’re “totally inspiring and sought-after”.
Your action…
If you’re an ambitious female leader who’s ready to jump-a-line or two, it’s highly likely that you’d benefit from arranging a time for me to walk you through my model.
I’ll help you figure out what are your sensible next steps to claiming the “totally inspiring and sought-after” standing.
Click here to access my calendar and arrange a 45-minute complimentary consultation.
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Carolyn gets it. She knows where you want to go—and how to get you there. Fast.
I worked with Carolyn over the past year on a number of key leadership areas.
At all times, she was amazingly perceptive and was able to quickly identify the appropriate strategy that
would be most effective in my quest to be a strong, decisive, confident leader that delivers results consistently.
She has a deep level of expertise and wide experience which she draws upon to boost the success of her clients. Call her. Now!
—Information Technology Leader, Pharmaceutical company
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Carolyn’s best-seller book is now available:
—10 Vital Strategies for Ambitious But Frustrated Female Leaders”
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About the Author:
For more than 25-years, Carolyn Stevens has helped leaders flourish and become more confident, more courageous and impressively influential.
She specialises in helping ambitious but frustrated female leaders remove their stumbling blocks and accelerate their careers.
Carolyn is authentic and results-oriented. She’ll draw on an eclectic array of approaches, tools and techniques to suit your situation.
She’s never too busy to talk to you if you’re in a hurry to boost your success. Same goes for leaders you refer.
Email if you’d like to arrange a time to chat: carolyn@leadingperformance.com.au
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