Well Behaved Women…

10 Ways to Make Everyday History

Wherever you are, as a woman, you have as much right to be there as anyone, and you can find the strength to exercise your power. Behave, or mis-behave, as you define it, in ways that make history. Perhaps not visible to the world at large, you make history as a shining example to the people in the room with you, no matter their gender.

1. Wear It! Wear the red lipstick, the bright yellow dress, the dramatic hairstyle. Authenticity is the leader word of the decade, so bring your style, and celebrate the ‘you’ that makes you YOU. What you wear and how you look does not determine your value or how others may treat you.
2. Ask It! Bring your questions to the situation. Chances are, others have the same question as you, but may be afraid to ask. Demonstrate that it’s okay to ask questions, even the ‘hard’ ones.
3. Share It! Your ideas are valuable, and we need you to bring them forward. And when it is ignored but then brought forward later by a man, who gets accolades for saying the same thing you just said…move to point #4.
4. Call It! You are not invisible, and you deserve to be heard. Call out situations where you’ve been missing from the conversation, and point out when what you said becomes amazing as it comes out of someone else’s mouth. “Thank you for summarizing the point I shared earlier…”
5. Learn It! Work on learning about yourself and how you want to show up in the world. Keep learning, growing, and being curious.
6. Teach It! Encourage others to be allies of women. Sometimes this may mean shining the light on women who think it is okay for a man to be direct, but get annoyed by the same behavior in women. Same goes for men. Ask, ‘would you have had the same reaction if Jim said it as when Maria did?’
7. Encourage It! Coach, listen, respect other women as they find their voice. Let other women know what you admire about them, and if they do something you find brave, tell them. We all need encouragement.
8. Grow It! The children are our future, it is said. The way you behave, and allow others to behave, leaves a legacy that is seen by young eyes, hearts, and minds. You have an opportunity to shape the future.
9. Break It! Chances are, somewhere in your life, you will be the first. The first college graduate, the first teacher, the first at a sport, the first, and ONLY, you. Sometimes the glass ceilings we most need to break are the ones we build around ourselves.
10. Be It! You ARE enough. You are not TOO anything (pretty, smart, direct, emotional, serious, bold). Embrace your story.

Women are a powerful force in the global community, economy, and for the future. You, and your allies, help shape history for women by influencing where you are, everyday.

Embrace your power and (mis-)behave accordingly.