Powerful Role Models
When I was a child I could visualise myself as Olympic champion in the 100m/200m sprints and long jump. I absolutely LOVED running and watching athletics (I still love watching but less so the running). I was inspired by the great Olympians of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Michael Johnson, Denise Lewis, Maurice Green and Alison Felix just to name a few.
Looking back I can see why I could so easily visualise myself as an Olympic sprinter. I saw people who looked like me, so I could logically compile my passions with the possibility that I too could achieve such greatness.
Now, probably 25 years later I am not an Olympic athlete! I am a mum of 3 amazing children, a wife and a working mum with a corporate career. My dreams and goals may have changed, however, the relevance and importance of role models have not.
Role models can be so so powerful
I attended a future female leaders panel discussion at work this month and came away from the event invigorated and inspired. Why? It was because hearing and learning from women who have done the things I’m aspiring to reignited the belief and mindset needed to achieve the extraordinary. To me a role model is a tangible example that what I aspire for is attainable.
At this particular panel all 3 women were inspiring but all so different.
One panelist retold her career journey and I immediately found similarities in our experiences. I could relate very easily with some of the challenges she had overcome, particularly shyness and imposter syndrome. She also has 3 children and so could talk realistically about the challenges faced by working mothers. One thing she addressed was the notion of a work life balance, a concept she immediately critiqued. Why should we try to balance work with ‘life’? Is this even possible? Should we give work and ‘life’ equal importance?
What I took away was clarity on my values, this is knowing what is most important to me and the why behind my aspirations.
I believe that taking time to define your values will help get the clarity needed to implement boundaries that allow you to navigate the conflicting demands of being a working mother.
The saying “seeing is believing” is on point here. Research shows that role models have a greater benefit for women due to gender bias, negative stereotypes and institutional barriers. This is especially important in STEM and politics.
Research in 2015 by Morgenroth, Ryan, Peters summarises why role models matter:
role models represent and expand what is possible
role models inspire women to be more ambitious and aim higher
role models demonstrate the mindsets and behaviors of how to rise
We can all be a role model for others, aspiring to follow our footsteps, but we can all benefit from role models who inspire us to the next level in our careers. This is the heart of why I started Attainable You.
I want to showcase many more role models that we can relate to no matter what stage of our career we are in and have decided to make it happens. Lots more to follow.
Who are your role models?
How have role models impacted you and your career?
I’d love to hear from you, please comment below.
