Strategic leadership and menopause—two things that seem worlds apart but share a surprising amount of common ground. Both demand resilience, adaptability, and a touch of humour to navigate their challenges.
So I am taking a look at the whimsical journey through the four qualities of great strategic leaders, viewed through the colourful, often hilarious lens of menopause.
Self-Oriented Capacities: Mastering the Art of Self-Execution
Imagine you’re in the throes of menopause, juggling a million tasks while battling hot flushes that make you feel like you’re living in a sauna. Now imagine trying to execute a strategic plan amidst this chaos. That’s where self-oriented capacities come in.
A great strategic leader is like a menopausal woman with a fan in one hand and a to-do list in the other, gracefully handling whatever comes her way.
It’s about having the internal fortitude to stay on course, even when your brain feels like it’s stuffed with cotton and your body is betraying you with sudden sweats.
Strategic leaders need to channel this inner strength, executing their plans with precision and resilience.
Other-Oriented Capacities: The Empathy to Help Others Strategise
Menopause is a team sport. You swap stories, share tips, and support each other through the ups and downs. This camaraderie translates perfectly to the realm of strategic leadership. Helping others strategise is about being the wise sage who’s been there, done that, and can offer guidance with a knowing smile and a reassuring pat on the back.
Imagine you’re leading a group through a labyrinthine project. You’ve faced the dead ends and found the shortcuts. Your role is to illuminate the path for others, offering support and encouragement just like you’d share a secret stash of dark chocolate during a particularly rough day. It’s all about a collaborative spirit and lifting others up as they navigate their own strategic journeys.
Strategic Thinking: Balancing Self and Conceptual Clarity
Menopause is like trying to remember why you walked into a room—every room. Strategic thinking requires cutting through the fog and finding clarity amidst the confusion. It’s about seeing the big picture, understanding the complex interplay between your organisation and its environment, and charting a clear path forward.
Think of it as solving a giant puzzle where the pieces keep shifting. One moment you’re piecing together customer trends, the next you’re deciphering market shifts. Like a menopausal detective, you need to connect the dots, turning disjointed fragments into a cohesive strategy. It’s the art of transforming brain fog into laser-sharp focus, guiding your organisation with vision and insight.
Strategic Influencing: Convincing and Communicating with Flair
Menopause can make communication feel like a comedy of errors—words escape you, and you sometimes speak in riddles. Strategic influencing is about turning those riddles into captivating narratives that engage and inspire others. It’s like convincing your partner that buying three fans is a necessity, not a luxury.
You need to channel your inner storyteller, using humour, authenticity, and passion to rally your team around your strategic vision.
It’s not just about talking; it’s about making others feel heard, valued, and motivated to join you on the journey. Strategic leaders are the bards of the business world, weaving tales that persuade and unify.
Strategic Role Modelling: Leading by Example with Menopausal Wisdom
Finally, we come to strategic role modelling—leading by example with the grace and wisdom of a menopausal Yoda. It’s about embodying the strategic direction of your organisation and demonstrating the leadership qualities you expect from others.
Imagine you’re the calm in the storm, the rock everyone turns to when the waves of change hit. You lead with integrity, showing through your actions what it means to stay the course and achieve your goals. Just like navigating menopause with dignity and a dash of humour, you inspire others by being a living example of strategic excellence.
Menopause and strategic leadership both require a hearty mix of resilience, empathy, clarity, communication, and exemplary leadership. Embrace the hot flushes, the mood swings, and the strategic hurdles with a wink and a smile. If you can navigate the rollercoaster of menopause, you’re more than equipped to lead your organisation to greatness. After all, who better to steer the ship than someone who’s already weathered one of life’s most unpredictable storms?
Keep plodding on Meno-Mirth Michaela
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