Leading Fearlessly: Why competent women resist the leader label — and what organizations can do to support women’s advancement

Leading Fearlessly: Why competent women resist the leader label — and what organizations can do to support women’s advancement

What if the biggest barrier to women’s leadership isn’t a lack of ability, but a lack of self-recognition of their identity as leaders?  I’ve seen this phenomenon in action. When I worked in financial services, I had a colleague named Patricia, a talented woman who — even without formal authority — was effective at leading teams and delivering exceptional results. When she was recommended for a promotion, however, she declined the opportunity, …