Why Do You Work? | E185

Do you find yourself frustrated because your team isn't working the way you expected? Are you struggling to understand why your employees don’t seem to share the same drive and commitment that you bring to your business? In this episode of *Leadership is Feminine*, host Kris Plachy explores the diverse reasons people work and how understanding these differences can transform your approach to leadership. Kris explains that it is easy to assume that everyone’s motivations for working are the same, but the reality is often very different. The assumptions leaders make about others' motivations for working can create conflict. She explains that leaders often expect their team members to share the same level of dedication, only to face disappointment when reality doesn't align. Kris introduces the concept of the "leadership lens," highlighting that each person views work through their own set of experiences, values, and beliefs, which can greatly differ from those of their leaders or colleagues. As Kris states, “The reason we work is ours and ultimately, the only person who is accountable for whatever that reason is – is you.” She encourages listeners to take responsibility for their own motivations while also fostering a culture of accountability within their teams. Kris provides a practical solution by emphasizing the importance of setting a strong foundation: ensure the vision is clear, values are well-defined, and team members understand their roles and agreements. She stresses that leaders must hold employees accountable to these expectations while consistently providing feedback to foster growth and alignment within the team. This episode offers practical guidance for leaders who want to move past frustration and build a workplace where different motivations are understood and valued, leading to more effective collaboration and results. Key Takeaways From This Episode Understanding Your Reason for Why You Work Differences in Perspectives, Employees vs. Leaders: Recognizing that everyone’s reasons aren’t necessarily the same. The Leadership Lens: How perspectives and assumptions affect work environments. Conflict in Workplaces Based on Assumptions We Make: Importance of mutual understanding and avoiding assumptions in interactions. The Need for Accountability: How accountability issues, on either end, can affect the overall work environment. Advice for Employees and Employers: Encouragement for employees not satisfied with their jobs to seek better opportunities and advice for leaders to be clear about company vision, values, and goals. Ownership & Responsibility: The role of honesty and emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility in job performance. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Have questions? Want more details about the ways we support women Visionary Founders? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

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For most women, when we are invited to study leadership the teachers, scholars, authorities and models are primarily… men. We are indoctrinated from the time we are born that men are the leaders and that natural male characteristics are the strengths you must also possess to be a good leader. Powerful. Strong. Authoritative. Direct. Assertive. Decisive. These and so many more are attributes that are typically associated with the male model of a leader. And so, for the better part of the last one hundred years as women have made their way into the fold, in a variety of leadership roles, we have learned and studied to walk the way of a men to achieve success. Women dismiss their own knowing because we’ve been so indoctrinated in male leadership models. We dismiss what we know for what others tell us to be and how to be seen. There is another way to lead. To be in alignment. To not feel like an imposter. It’s time for the reimagining of leadership. That’s not to disparage any of the progress that has come before us. Progress is progress. For those of us who stand in the footsteps of the women who came before us we are here because of their courage, bravery and resilience. I wonder instead if women equally looked to the characteristics they learned from their mothers for leadership. I wonder if we were taught to lean on different qualities to drive success. I wonder what might happen then? The traditional qualities of mothering are communication, nurturing, listening, strength, support, grace, and yes… love. What if to be the best leader you can be as a woman, you integrated the best of both? This is how women will stand with integrity in their role as leaders. As women, we can be assertive, direct, powerful, and authoritative but we need not only rely on those attributes for success. After 25 years of watching and studying leaders, I can tell you that for sure many traditional male attributes are effective in the short run, but they typically only serve a few. Whereas, when leadership is feminine. When the leader possesses the strengths of femininity and grace the results are for all. This podcast is my like my gentle request and invitation to my fellow female leaders that we reclaim the world leadership as one that is a feminine definition. That we continue to work with all of our allies to build organizations and systems that include more support, collaboration, grace and communication. And that we do so not because we are uncomfortable with the more traditional male-dominating models, but because we truly do know that leadership is a feminine strength and attribute. And the world needs more of us leading. Now more than ever.