INT 066: Women Showing Up for Women

When we talk about women in leadership, there are a ton of important concepts to discuss. However, one of the most important is how women must show up for other women. To talk about this, Linda is joined by trainer, motivator, and coach Maria Brown. As a Sr. National Sales Corporate Trainer for GBS, Maria is a knowledgeable speaker capable of generating win/win results for others. 

There’s always more space for encouragement and positivity.

• Women encouraging other women starts with the strength and confidence we have within ourselves. 
• Her past boss is a great friend of hers and was a genuinely supportive woman. She hired Maria, gave her the tools to succeed, and encouraged her to go beyond her comfort zone.

Life is a journey, and life support isn’t reserved exclusively for the emergency room.

• The people we surround ourselves with need support on a daily basis. That daily nurturing of one another is what keeps us going.
• When she didn’t feel supported, Maria wondered what happened in their lives that led to judgemental or critical behavior. 
• It’s important to pause and shift energy to focus on the good of the person. 

Why is it important for women to support women?

• Women are innately nurturing, and we have strength in our vulnerability. 
• Brene Brown talks about this extensively. And, deep down, we all want to talk about this conversation. 
• Women should be comfortable in their skin, and we can drive this by showing up for one another.
• Do you think of something positive about someone you see? Bring it to life! What’s stopping you from speaking?
• Girls compete with one another, but women empower one another. And that speaks to maturity.
• We need to open the conversation, but we have so far to go. Unfortunately, that feeling and mentality still exist in many workplaces. 
• It doesn’t matter where you are on the corporate ladder. You can lead by example in all areas of life. 

How to be more supportive and uplifting: 

• We’ve been competing with one another to earn that seat at the table. 
• We can’t lose our femininity. (Meaning our instincts and intuition.) Our vulnerability is our strength, so don’t compromise yourself to be that seat at the table.
• If you notice someone has a negative mentality, ask yourself how you can shift their minds back to a supportive mindset.
• Don’t react defensively; begin with empathy. Find common ground and initiate the shift.

Maria’s parting thoughts? Never give another human the impression that what they’re saying doesn’t matter. When we interrupt each other, we’re saying what you have to say is more important than someone else. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn for more great content.

To end in a quote, “Women who understand how powerful they are do not give into envy over meaningless things. Instead, they fight or maintain the beautiful bond of sisterhood. These are the real women who know that we need each other’s love and support to survive in this world. Love is the essence of being a woman. We must be that light of love that seals the bond and unique beauty of our sisterhood.”

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.