Leadership is a journey for all of us. And there’s a magic that comes with taking time out to reflect on the things that will make a difference. Coaching leaders is my way to invigorate, challenge, encourage them to shake off whatever is holding them back – through offering a non-judgmental space where they can be themselves – and keep striving to become more of themselves in their lives.

It might be easy to dismiss what a leader goes through, after all they did sign up for it. But this in no way minimises what they actually go through in order to lead. There are countless cases where vulnerability and being humane are touted as the best thing for a leader to be, but ultimately in all situations they are seen through the power lens. That isn’t always a pretty place to be in. Having a coach, who is firmly in your corner, can help you tremendously to walk on this tight-rope.

There is nothing like a perfect mentor. Different mentors bring out different aspects in us and help us grow.

In a virtual world, where people connect with each other only to be engaged in some form of quid pro quo, meaningful workplace relationships are fast becoming rare. But it is only those relationships where you feel that a colleague cares for you and will stand up for you- that you would find the encouragement to come to work every day and give your best.

When it comes to mentoring, sharing gender related frustration is a part of the process but the group keeps each other invested in spite of everything else that’s going on and you delve deep. It’s like Jane Fonda says “It’s my women friends that keep starch in my spine and without them, I don’t know where I would be. We have to just hang together and help each other.

The Personal Brands of founders make for a heady cocktail of realistic and aspirational. These founders are emotionally involved in their own brands and that of their organization, but only a genuine, consistent and relevant brand resonates with stakeholders. Always get inspired from the best. 

Entrepreneurial innovation is a globally thriving sector; and both men and women get penalised if women founders aren’t given their due weightage. Till the time funding women is seen as impact funding, there will be no movement in this sector for women and it will be a loss for the global economy as a whole.

Personal Branding requires self-awareness and also feedback from those who know you. You can start building a brand depending on the clarity you achieve at a particular point in time – but it is a dynamic process.

Look for simple solutions. Find the courage to voice them and see where that takes you. Every thought doesn’t have to be backed by a plan today. These are unique times, where you can build the plan as the days take shape.

For women having the stage today, it is important to understand what we can do as women in a position of power to ensure that the next generation of leaders doesn’t take another 25 years. 

Every leadership brand is a story that unfolds with time and experience. I know so many that didn’t begin because they were afraid of ending the previous one. In case you are wondering, it’s never too late to reinvent yours, to begin yours.

We need leaders today who can keep it real and be unashamed of the realities today. All systems are overworked, people are overworked and there is no visibility on payments and salaries. But we are all in it together and we have some able folks leading us, and sometimes they need to be led too. Keeping it real is the only thing that will help us in keeping it together. 

These skills can be cultivated by leaders irrespective of their gender. If you aren’t a leader today who can’t make space for the way the world is evolving, then you are losing. Very soon, after the dust settles, people will realize that what motivated them earlier doesn’t motivate them any longer.

If you need to understand how your customers’ needs are changing, what needs to be done today? Look for simple solutions. Find the courage to voice them and see where that takes you. Every thought doesn’t have to be backed by a plan today. These are unique times, where you can build the plan as the days take shape.

Leadership, as most of us will experience, is not a systematic, manageable set of actions but a long and tentative exploration, full of false starts and small triumphs.