Dr. Sarah Renee Langley

Women were consciously or subconsciously expected to fit the mold of what we consider is the quintessential leader. Rugged, persistent, charismatic, and relentless, just to name just a few. Moreover, many female leaders felt compelled to follow in the footsteps of those before them, especially since this was such untrodden ground.

However, I believe that having the freedom to experiment with your leadership and lifestyle is crucial to reaching your full potential. And believe me, I know there’s a lot of unlocked potential. Every day, the women I see around me are brimming with ideas, teaming with passion and a simple yearning to be allowed to be themselves.

The power to lead a happy life lies within

It’s a simple premise, really; people unfurl wonderfully if you let them. If we could, for one moment, dismantle the preconceived notion of what it is to be a leader, successful, and happy, we would create a landscape where attaining all three at once is possible and perhaps even easy. 

When we define our lives for ourselves, we are encouraged to live well. We trace the lines we wish to follow and generally know where they’ll lead us. We are capable of identifying our strengths and weaknesses accurately, so that we can always put our best foot forward and know when to step back. Through this alone, we become impervious to judgment, doubt, and harsh criticism. You see, when you know the way, there’s no time for detours! And when you know yourself in and out, there’s no room for doubt! If that doesn’t sound like a good leader, I don’t know what does.

We’re also much more capable of viewing the bigger picture as we understand the values, experiences, and dreams behind our goals/life plans. I believe this may be what they call a sustainable life plan. 

And after all, a leader is meant to be someone who can set an example that others want to follow. There’s little more compelling, engaging, and enticing than someone who lives and leads to the beat of their own drum. 

A necessary step forward

Nonetheless, there will be those who accuse me of viewing the world through rose-tinted glasses, those who protest that leadership can’t indeed be limitless. To them, I say, I’m not recommending regulations be nullified or caution thrown to the wind; I simply aspire for women to take control of their lives. Creativity is necessary for crafting the idea of a future, and daring is responsible for making it happen. As of now, these two forces can rarely exist within the confines of our current leadership structure.

As Jacinda Ardern, the current prime minister of New Zealand, expressed beautifully, “One of the criticisms I’ve faced over the years is that I’m not aggressive enough or assertive enough or maybe somehow because I’m empathetic, it means I’m weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.” It’s clear that Ardern has chosen her path and has ultimately been a success despite running into pushback along the way.

We truly are in an era of change. We are experimenting with what works and what doesn’t. Women are entering into roles that no women have ever occupied previously. It is entirely up to us to define how we assimilate. 

It’s easy to get caught up in the hum-drum of our day-to-day lives that we forget this movement is a slow yet steady revolution. And it’s a revolution that every woman has her part to play in.

Finally …

While reimaging your life and leadership strategy may satisfy you, you can also be assured you’re influencing the world. By choosing to live your life as your own and set your boundaries, you’re paving the way for others to the same.

But most importantly, you’re living life by your own rules, setting your standards, and simply doing your thing – and that’s all we can aspire to do.