A woman of Influence
Before I started to think exactly what this meant to me, I, possibly like you, attributed such a title to the women I saw plastered all over the covers of magazines like Vogue or Elle.
Our vulnerable and impressionable youth are no doubt a lot more influenced by Kim Kardashian than Aung San Suu Kyi - Burmese activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Each year, Forbes list the most powerful women in the world - a list that has changed significantly in its mix even in the past five years.
Beyonce, ranked 17th this year, did not make the cut in 2008.
It seems that the evaluative tools that measure the ability of others to influence us are constantly being reassessed.
In her time, Margaret Thatcher's influence on the people of Britain could never be questioned. Baroness Thatcher changed the behaviours and lifestyles of communities that had been established over many generations. Many would suggest she used more than influence to make this happen.
In our time, it is the wife of a great leader that is exhibiting huge influence over the communities of America. Michelle Obama will perhaps influence the lives and wellbeing of more families than her husband’s policy change on social issues such as health and welfare.
What influence can you and I have then? Without extreme wealth, power or media exposure, do we have any influence at all?
Nelson Mandela has risen to heights beyond imagination as one of the world’s most influential people ever! Yet his journey began from a position of little wealth, and action of absolute purity and sacrifice.
In such a vivid spectrum of influence where do we normal beings place ourselves?
The reality is that if you are reading this at the end of a busy day you would have already influenced the many people you have interacted with.
We are all a consequence of the environment we exist in, the experiences we have daily and the values of those we interact with regularly.
I am never prepared for the way my children speak when they are with their friends. I simply cannot understand what they are saying. So much for the private school education!!!
I believe that all women as mothers have a keen sense of the influence they have over their own children and I am not referring just to the obvious genetic influences either.
My children's table manners, their approach to solving challenges, their aspirations and even their fashion sense are irrevocably imprinted by me.
As I witness young mothers engaging with their young children I can tangibly sense the significant level of responsibility that they all acknowledge and adhere to with their new role.
Their maternal 'second sense' recognizes the ultimate role of influence that they play for their children.
Given the scope of my interaction with other women every day, I can never escape the responsibility I have as a woman of influence. My values, the experience I create and the environment I provide are all working to influence my team.
Like a new mother, I cannot escape what is a really tangible role of influencer.
Wow! So not only do I have to make my business keep working but I have to consider the manner in which I achieve success? The short answer… if I give a damn… is YES!
I really don't see Kim Kardashian giving a damn! Do you?
And this is where the real test of influence kicks in. For those who make any 'women of great influence' list, they do have to be aware of the associated responsibility their position holds.
Just as a good mother recognizes instinctively her new responsibilities, a woman of influence is very aware of why she does what she does!
Quite simply then, as soon as you acknowledge your key role(s) and responsibilities, you begin to influence your family, your relationships, your peers and yourself.
That we begin to influence family etc… in positive ways as earlier it is mentioned that we influence anyway just through our daily interactions, whether we acknowledge our roles or not…
You are that women of influence!
Now get out there and make a difference!
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