I bet you’ve heard the saying, “Behind every great man, there is a great woman.” Well, behind every successful woman is a tribe of women rooting her on.
This woman is passionate, engaged and full of ambition. She has accepted the title of “BOSS” which is an undertaking that holds way more weight than words on a business card or a plaque you may see on her desk.
Being a boss comes with a lot of great perks. For one, you can manage your own schedule and workload without having anyone micromanaging your every move. But it’s not always as glamorous as it seems.
When you’re the one in charge, there’s no clocking out. You’re always “on” and you’re constantly thinking about the next move. You must learn to be disciplined, non-confrontational and of course, self-motivated.
I’m known as the Boss Lady at DASHA®. I have been a leader for as long as I can remember. I have a natural gift for motivating people, delegating tasks and then getting out of their way so they can do what they need to do. This is my way of showing them I trust the work that they do.
When hiring your tribe, I think it’s so important to look for people with different skill sets. You’re not going to hire two Beyoncé’s for Destiny’s Child. When your employees feel valuable and like their expertise is being put to work, they are more enthusiastic and motivated to subscribe to your vision.
Here are the core philosophies I’ve learned over the years:
- Have your team’s back – no matter what!
- Stand up for your tribe. These are the people you see every day – they need your support just as much as you need theirs.
- Be a great listener and make sure your tribe’s voices feel heard.
- Egos are checked at the door. Collaboration with your teammates is key.
- There’s no need for competition – unless it’s you vs. you!
- Be transparent.
- Most importantly, honesty is the BEST policy.
Don’t get me wrong, my patience has been tested many times. I’m not perfect and I’m sure other bosses out there would say the same about themselves. But I have learned that negative energy from a leader breeds a negative culture. Being positive and supporting your tribe – no matter what the situation – empowers your teammates.
