How to be a fierce leader
I know that when I’m inspired, I feel I can move mountains, overcome fear and follow my dreams. I feel a surge of energy that speaks to the very essence of who I am. I call this my fierce.
Being a fierce leader implies following that fierce power within. That can be extremely challenging in a world that has conditioned us to be wary of societal norms and expectations. As women, above all it often means not even recognising that we have a fierce power within. We are so conditioned to see power only in the predominant way that it is manifested in society – the positional power that is still largely reserved for white men.
Finding your fierce through self-leadership and purpose
Leading with our fierce therefore requires us to create a whole new definition of power and a new way of being in that power and leading from that power. Therefore, I call this kind of leadership ‘self-leadership’. Whilst we might find ourselves in positions of power within organisations or institutions, being a fierce leader means we are leading ourselves in accordance with our fierce power. Our guidance comes from within, not from complying with external norms and expectations that are imposed on us. We don’t follow the rules, we follow our own integrity.
In the face of fear - and being a fierce leader is not for the faint-hearted - we call on our purpose. Being focused and very clear about what matters to us and how we want to matter in the world is the fuel for our fierce. Spending time defining your purpose will be the foundation for your self-leadership. And a purpose comes with a bonus, it defines how you want to matter outside of any job description, further enhancing your own authentic power.
Defining and embodying your values
A fierce leader is defined by her values. She is clear what she stands for and she embodies her values. Drawing up a list of values that really matter to you – and they are likely closely linked to your purpose – will be an in-powering activity, that really brings your self-leadership to life. Did you know you can embody your values? You can even feel how values feel in your body. Try this out. Get to know how your values feel in your body and then be your values. That’s fierce leadership.
Find other self-leaders and co-create with them. It does not have to be lonely at the top – that is one of the myths that fierce leaders debunk. Co-creating is inspiring, it fuels our fierce and allows us to go to places we didn’t know existed.
Staying open to what we don’t know is key for innovation. Fierce leaders are passionate about knowing what they don’t know.
Leading from the emerging future
And finally fierce leaders lead from the emerging future…what does that mean? That means that fierce leaders are not scared to be radically present with what is! Really seeing and sensing into what is present here right now allows us to tap into a deeper knowing, a space where we can sense the future that is emerging in the present moment. Fierce leaders have a sixth sense for potentiality, and they trust that, they invest in it. That is why you can tell fierce leaders from a mile away, because everything around them is thriving.
In summary, to be a fierce leader is to:
Lead yourself
Be guided by your integrity
Be inspired by your purpose
Be defined by your values
Co-create with other self-leaders
Be open to innovation
Lead from the emerging future
Brita is the author of Fears to Fierce, you can read more about her here.
She has developed a Coaching Circle for Leading Women with Shivonne Graham, where you can practise being a fierce leader and learn all the skills outlined above. Enrolment is now open: www.britafs.com/coaching-circle-for-leading-women
