Breaking Free from the Status Quo: Empowering Women and Challenging Power Dynamics
The status quo. Just the mention of it can create stress and discomfort.
“The status quo” is that pervasive belief that things should remain as they have always been, with little room for questioning or challenging the norm. But for me, the status quo is not just stressful; it's a barrier to truth and authentic living and WILDLY unsustainable.
One aspect of the status quo that particularly strikes a chord with me is top-down leadership.
Picture this: a company boasting about its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. They may even have a Chief Diversity Officer in place. But when you look at the leadership team, it's filled with predominantly white, older men. There's a stark disparity between the company's proclaimed values and representation within the upper echelons of power.
This incongruence triggers a visceral and physical reaction within me. It's a dissonance. The status quo perpetuates inequalities and hinders progress. It keeps us from realizing our full potential and making a difference in the world.
And right now, the status quo is NOT SUSTAINABLE. The pace. The expectations. The inequity.
As someone passionate about empowering women, I am guided and committed to challenging the status quo by reminding women that they deserve a seat at the table. Not just one seat but multiple seats that reflect true representation. We must resist the distractions of perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking. The belief that we must do it all for everyone is a trap perpetuating power imbalances and again, IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
It's not just about equity in the workplace; it also extends to equity at home. The status quo keeps women busy juggling countless responsibilities, leaving little room for them to ascend to positions of empowered leadership. This paradigm must change.
I recognize that breaking free from the status quo requires a collective effort. It means dismantling existing power dynamics and challenging long-held beliefs. It's about creating a culture that values diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences. It's about fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of race, gender, or background, has an equal opportunity to thrive.
It’s time to shift our mindset and actively advocate AND PARTICIPATE IN change.
It starts by recognizing our worth and asserting our right to occupy spaces of power and influence. It's about championing inclusivity, amplifying marginalized voices, and supporting one another in our quest for equity.
One of the main barriers to shifting status quo, in addition to inequitable systems, is that women are often taught NOT to disappoint others. We are socially conditioned to put others first and ensure that others are comfortable. The physiology of challenging the status quo can be tremendously uncomfortable and keep us paralyzed or silent. We then unintentionally perpetuate the status quo by default.
For me, learning to manage and untangle myself from disappointment has required sustained effort and consciousness. For the women I lead, it’s been a source of empowerment and relief to have a framework for navigating disappointment. You can learn my method here by taking The Disappointment Class. You’ll learn the repeatable 3 step method to reframe disappointment as you traverse the terrain of Updated Leadership by challenging the status quo. This class will help you whether you worry about disappointing others OR you are consistently disappointed BY others. Powerful!
In this time in our history, we are being called to create space for innovation, creativity, and collective growth. Where women lead in sustainable, equitable, and mutually beneficial ecosystems of leadership. To cultivate communities that foster a win/win/win consciousness. Will you join me? Let’s go!
