4 Leadership Qualities Women Need To Develop Right Now

Leadership qualities of women
Leadership qualities of women

3. Intentional

Women need to be more intentional about their career development, Helgesen said.

That doesn't mean that women need an elaborate ten year plan, Helgesen said, but they do need to put a stake in the ground and approach their career with intention. By doing that, Helgesen said women can focus on the skills they need to get where they want to be and let go of things they no longer need.

In fact, Helgesen said most successful women she has interviewed didn't have a ten year plan at all. Instead, she said they were ready to take advantage of opportunities that crossed their paths.

"In an environment and industry like yours where things change overnight and that continues to happen, that that attitude to be open and ready to take advantage of opportunity is precisely the attitude that will serve you best," Helgesen said.

4. Present

Something everyone can always work on is developing a leadership presence that is authentic to them, Helgesen said. While there are a lot of cosmetic things women can do to improve their premise, such as the way they stand or not ending a sentence with a question, Helgesen said the really important thing is to be as present as possible on the current task.

There are two benefits to that, she said, both adding to leadership presence but also cutting back on the stress of trying to be in two places at once.

Helgesen gave three strategies to help women be more present. First, women need to be "their own HR departments" by setting boundaries and time and technology. Second, they need to become more aware of compulsive multitasking that takes away from their productivity. Finally, Helgesen said women need to recognize that being present is a practice and take steps to check in throughout the day with themselves.

"Your full attention, your ability to be fully present is your greatest source of refreshment. It is your truest source of power and it is the greatest gift you can give others, whether it is in your own workplace, your customers or your family," Helgesen said.