Empowerment for women: Show more self-confidence!
Empowerment for Women: Show More Self-Confidence!
February 24, 2023 – "Dare to do more. Don’t hide your light under a bushel!" This appeal was directed at working women in a comment I wrote for the magazine TREND on the occasion of Equal Pay Day on February 16 in Austria. Leading employees and teams remotely and communicating with them online has become an integral part of the daily work of many leaders, as: In the past three years, many companies have permanently restructured their work under the keyword "New Work" so that a large part of their employees works from home at least occasionally. Nevertheless, many leaders still observe uncertainties in virtual leadership and online communication – for example, when it comes to questions such as:
• How do I ensure that the emotional connection with my employees is not severed and that team spirit is maintained while leading virtually?
• How and when do I address sensitive topics in online communication?
• What should I pay attention to when conducting online feedback conversations?
Women are often better at online relationship management
It is noticeable that male leaders, especially when it comes to digital relationship management with their employees, often show greater behavioral uncertainties than their female colleagues. This is likely because women, even in private life – generalized – use online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp more intensively to maintain their social contacts and exchange interests with acquaintances than men. Many studies confirm this. This affinity for online communication benefits women when leading employees at a distance. However, they are often still rather reserved when it comes to engaging in a so-called "personal branding" online (not only) and professionally profiling themselves.
If you don’t present yourself, you won’t have a career
Even before the turn of the millennium, that is, more than 20 years ago, the then-HR director of the Allianz Group, Ihno Schneevoigt, emphatically conveyed to young leaders: You must show yourselves; for if you always hide your light under a bushel, no one will notice you. Therefore, you won’t have a career. This statement holds true even more in the digital age or Social Media age. Hence, the appeal to female leaders can only be: Actively use social media like LinkedIn and internal communication forums to present yourselves and your skills to a broader public online. So shake off your ingrained modesty and present yourselves as leaders and "specialists in ..." just as confidently as many of your male colleagues. Then new career paths will open up for you ... and you will more easily receive the compensation you deserve.
Note: In Germany, the Equal Pay Day is not until March 7, as the wage gap between men and women in Germany is larger than in Austria.
Author: Barbara Liebermeister
About the author Barbara Liebermeister
Barbara Liebermeister is the founder and director of IFIDZ – Institute for Leadership Culture in the Digital Age. As a management consultant, coach, and speaker, she combines business experience with scientific depth and has coined the term Alpha Intelligence®, a concept that captures the essential skills of modern leaders.
With many years of experience in leadership positions and as a coach for top decision-makers, she has been supporting companies of all sizes on their way to contemporary leadership for over two decades – practical, strategic, and effective. Insights from her work have contributed to several books on the topics of self-leadership, networking, and leadership in the digital world.
Barbara Liebermeister is a lecturer at RWTH Aachen, Kempten University, and others, and also serves as a mentor at universities in Hesse. She studied business administration, holds a master's degree in neuroscience, and has completed training as a business, management, and sports mental coach.
Outstanding work: For her pioneering efforts, she was nominated for the #digitalfemaleleader Award in 2017. In 2018, the analysis tool LEADT developed by her institute, which measures digital leadership maturity, was awarded the prestigious Wolfgang Heilmann Prize at Learntec.
