Building Your Community: The Power of Relationships for Female Leaders

In the latest episode of Your Permission to Pause, we’re talking about something incredibly powerful: Communities. And trust me, this isn’t just a buzzword. Communities, support groups, and networks play such an important role in our journey to leadership success, especially for driven female leaders like us.

Why Communities Matter

When I look around boardrooms today, I’m happy to see more women than ever before making significant contributions across various sectors. It’s inspiring and encouraging. But despite this progress, many of us still face unique challenges that can feel overwhelming and isolating. The journey to the top often feels like cycling uphill while others zoom past on electric bikes. We’ve come a long way, but some obstacles remain – gender bias, imposter syndrome, and the elusive work-life balance.

Just last month, I had several one-on-one clients who spoke candidly about feeling like imposters. Despite their competence and achievements, they doubted their worth. I was deeply moved because they lacked the supportive scaffolding needed to break free from these debilitating thoughts. This episode aims to address precisely that; how to build a community that supports not just your career but also your well-being.

Identifying Support Systems

Let’s get honest about relationships that support our leadership journey and well-being. Too often, “networking” gets reduced to transactional, stilted meetings that don’t actually nourish us. Instead, let’s focus on cultivating relationships with people who challenge us, cheer us on, catch us when we fall, and hold space for us to process our next moves.

Personally, I’ve never enjoyed typical networking meetings – they often felt too salesy and less about genuine connection. One of my colleagues brilliantly dubbed those early morning networking events as “sausage meetings,” where the real focus seemed to be on the breakfast buffet rather than meaningful interactions.

Setting Intentional Goals

To create a supportive network, begin with intention. What is your goal? What do you really need? If you’re not clear about your purpose, you’ll struggle to make meaningful decisions about who should be in your community. Start small. Think about your most immediate needs and seek out individuals who meet them, but also consider what you can offer in return.

Building Resilience Through Community

A supportive community helps us build resilience. Life is full of ups and downs, and with the right support, we can bounce back from setbacks more quickly. Emotional support isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for mental health. Whether you’re returning from maternity leave or navigating perimenopause, emotional support from your network helps manage anxiety and fosters a sense of belonging.

Diverse Perspectives

When you’re building your community, consider diversifying it. Confining yourself to like-minded individuals might feel comfortable, but it limits your growth. Including varied perspectives not only enriches conversations but can drive innovative thinking and collaborations.

Creating Your Support Ladder

I once attended a retreat where the concept of a “support ladder” was introduced. Imagine a ladder divided into three tiers: mentors and coaches at the top, peers and trusted friends in the middle, and your outsourced helpers at the bottom. Each tier serves a different purpose but collectively provides holistic support.

For instance, on the professional side of your ladder, you might have a career coach or mentor. In the middle, you’d find colleagues or peers who can offer feedback and listen to your ideas. At the bottom, you might include a virtual assistant or bookkeeper to whom you can delegate tasks. The same applies to personal needs. Who are the people you depend on for emotional or practical support in your everyday life?

Taking Action

Here’s what I suggest to you: audit your current network. Look around and ask if the people you’re spending time with are helping you achieve your goals and supporting your well-being. Building a community is an ongoing process, requiring intention and occasional reevaluation.

Having the right support in place isn’t optional for us female leaders; it’s necessary. Together, with the right people around us, we can achieve incredible things. So, take a moment to reflect, reevaluate, and renew your support systems. You can listen to the full episode here.