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 — the Institute for Leadership Culture in the Digital Age. As a management consultant, coach, and keynote speaker, she combines business experience with scientific depth and coined the concept of Alpha Intelligence®, which captures the key capabilities modern leaders need. With many years of leadership experience and as a coach for top decision-makers, she has supported organizations of all sizes for more than two decades on their path toward contemporary leadership — practical, strategic, and effective. Insights from her work have informed several books on self-leadership, networking, and leadership in the digital world. Barbara Liebermeister teaches at RWTH Aachen University, Kempten University of Applied Sciences, and other institutions, and also mentors students at universities in Hesse. She studied economics, holds a master’s degree in neuroscience, and has completed training as a business, management, and sports mental coach. Recognized work: For her pioneering work, she was nominated for the #digitalfemaleleader Award in 2017. In 2018, LEADT, the analysis tool developed by her institute to measure digital leadership maturity, received the renowned Wolfgang Heilmann Award at Learntec.
