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With the daily dose of turmoil in our governments, marketplaces, workplaces and communities throughout the world, it is sometimes difficult for all of us to realize there is much about our lives that we can influence.
In reading Maureen's post from The White House Project, we were reminded again of the power and appeal we hold in our hands in a world full of turmoil, war and destruction. With a startling frequency, we are seeing women step up to lead and people reaching out to accept their leadership of change.
Just yesterday, the headlines heralded, Argentine First Lady Claims Victory as Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, "with partial results indicating Argentines elected a female president for the first time and launched their country's most powerful political dynasty since Juan and Evita Peron.
Fernandez is a lawyer and senator who followed her husband as he rose from an obscure governorship to the presidency, drawing comparisons to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. She would bring a feistier and more glamorous style to the Pink House, Argentina's presidential palace, in which she has already spent the last four years." Washington Post (AP Photo)
With Hillary ever-rising in the polls here in the U.S., one realizes that there is a possibility that we could also see a woman President. It seems the world is ready for women, but do you think people are here in the United States are ready too?
I remember when Maureen and I both were taken by the TV show COMMANDER IN CHIEF because it gave us a weekly window into how it might be if a woman became President of the United States. I wrote about my impressions in September 2005 before Hillary had made her claim to run. This is what I saw at the time:
"I loved seeing President Mckenzie Allen. She was beautiful. Strong. Bold. Courageous. Decisive. Loved her family. She used her innate skills as a woman right before our eyes to bring a human-side to leadership that we've not seen much lately in world.
Actually, I found watching the show unexpectedly emotional. I'm not even sure exactly why I felt this way. Even though it is make-believe right now, it made you realize that reality of a women as President of the United States is not too far off---watching made it seem possible. As I watched, I found myself feeling deep sense of gratitude for all those who paved this path long before any of us showed up. It made all my own pioneering as a woman seem meaningful and worth it!
What I really struck me was how the character, President Mackenzie Allen, responded to being dealt some unexpected blows that called her to RISE UP! The one that stayed with me was when she went to speak before congress. The ol' boys apparently managed to have her teleprompter go down just after she began to speak. She stopped. Stayed visually calm and within a few seconds resumed her message, speaking powerfully from her heart without a note.
We can do this same thing in our own lives as the unexpected shows up.
Can you recall a time in your own life?
We know how to stand tall. Women are doing it all over the world. We know how to heal the world and bring people together. The future is in our hands. The doors are opening to a new expanded idea of women in leadership. Perhaps even Mackenzie Allen will make a contribution to helping every one get use to having a woman at the helm.
What do you think? Are you ready for a woman president?
Debbe Kennedy
Visit us at Women in the Lead.
Early in my leadership career women role models were few and far between. One woman who helped me truly understand my power as a leader is Frances Hesselbein. Initially, I only knew her through videos and books. However, through a series a unexpected twists and turns, I ended up meeting her and learning from her as I've written previously. She taught me three powerful leadership lessons:
1. Leaders, at their best are unpretentious, warm and friendly.
It saddens me when I see women leaders rise in stature and unfortunately, forget the most valuable gifts we have as women leaders by nature if we develop them and let it show: The ability to connect with others; to nuture; to encourage; to be real.
2. Every person is important.
It is easy for a leader to be dazzled by statistics and reports not remembering that most often there is a human story and life behind them. Great leaders put a high value on each and every person that makes the team operate.
3. Being accessible and ready to help is an exceptional leadership quality.
I will never forget the first time I talked personally with Frances. I called at her office in New York and got right through to her. She made me feel welcomed and talked with me as if I was surely her most important caller that day.
Each one of these learnings has a wonderful story behind it. Read tribute to Frances Hesselbein, capturing highlights of her way of being a role model in every action.
Learn about Frances' bestseller book: Hesselbein on Leadership
Debbe
Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center
Home of Women in the Lead
Sometimes when we least expect it something happens to connect us as people. We meet each other in some unimagined way. This experience has happened so many times on our Women in the Lead BLOG. We've met so many wonderful women and men right here. Many of you don't write comments, but I know you've been here. Those of you that do or send email messages, we greatly appreciate hearing from you and knowing your stories. Beyond the tracking of the blog itself, I also sense your presence. I feel you hover even when you don't comment. This is why Maureen and I keep writing.
Recently still another experience came along that I wanted to share with you. This is a story of collaborating in the distance with two people I've never met. The result is a small miracle! A moving story and tribute emerged from it. One that speaks to each of us about the strength of the human spirit!
THE STORY
Imagine reading a page in a book that moved you to write a poem to tell the story you heard. This is what happened for Sara Robinson. She was reading Viktor Frankl's classic book, Man's Search for Meaning.
Sara Robinson wrote me an email some time back. She wrote telling me she had written a poem about Viktor Frankl. At the Global Dialogue Center (home of Women in the LEAD), we have a Viktor Frankl COLLECTION, honoring the famed author, psychiatrist and holocaust survivor. She inquired if there was some way we might publish the poem.
What resulted was a beautiful visual online self-learning exhibit featuring Sara's poem. It is now showing at our WOMEN's GALLERY at the Global Dialogue Center. I hope you will come "walk through the gallery" and listen to Sara share the story of the poem's inspiration. She also did a reading of the poem. Be sure to listen to it as you guide yourself through the gallery exhibit. It is a story of a young women demonstrating for us how it is possible to find inner strength and joy in the worst of circumstances.
Light in the Dark
...A Tribute to Viktor Frankl
with a poem by Sara Robinson
at the WOMEN's GALLERY at the Global Dialogue Center
The miracle in it all beyond the magnificent collaboration is that it was a work completed without one meeting or with any of us meeting physically. This is how it came together: Sara Robinson wrote the poem and recorded her reading and story. Sally K. Green, Bay Area Artist did the exhibit design and production, Dr. Alex Pattakos, author of Prisoners of Our Thoughts, wrote the Reflection at the end of the exhibit and Kevin O'Connor from Elevation did the technical production. And I recorded the introduction and served as a writer/producer. This is a tiny example of the power of real collaboration and what we can do together.
I hope you stop back by to let us know what you think.
How have you been able to reach inside to experience the strength of the human spirit?
Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center
Home of Women in the Lead
