Can I get vulnerable with you? For years, I felt like the word “leadership” didn’t apply to me. I’d hear it and picture corporate boardrooms, executives in suits, or maybe military generals—definitely not a woman running her own business while juggling school pickups, baseball practices, client calls, and managing a growing team.
Sound familiar?
The truth is, many women entrepreneurs don’t see themselves as leaders, even when they’re making decisions, setting vision, and guiding others every single day. We often dismiss our natural leadership abilities because they don’t fit the traditional mold.
But here’s what I’ve learned: true leadership isn’t about titles, corner offices, or how many people report to you. It’s about how you show up, the impact you create, and the way you empower others along the journey.
What Leadership Really Means for Women Entrepreneurs
Leadership starts with how you guide yourself before you can guide others. For women building businesses, leadership means making confident decisions that align with your values, even when those decisions feel scary.
Let me tell you something that surprised me when I first started coaching women entrepreneurs. Nearly every client I worked with—no matter how successful they appeared from the outside—struggled with claiming their leadership role. They could market, sell, deliver amazing results, and still feel like “not a real leader.”
This matters because how you see yourself directly impacts how others see you. When you own your leadership role, you:
- Make decisions with more confidence
- Set clearer boundaries with clients
- Raise your prices to reflect your true value
- Build teams that support your vision
- Create systems that protect your time and energy
Leadership isn’t some magical skill you’re born with or a certificate you earn. It’s a set of behaviors, mindsets, and practices that you can develop and strengthen over time.
The 5 Core Elements of Authentic Leadership
Through working with hundreds of women building their businesses, I’ve identified five key elements that make up authentic leadership. These apply whether you’re running a solo consulting practice or building a team of dozens:
1. Self-Awareness
Leadership begins with knowing yourself—your strengths, your weaknesses, your values, and your vision. Self-aware leaders understand what motivates them and how their behaviors impact others.
For female entrepreneurs, self-awareness means recognizing your natural talents and building your business model around them. It means noticing when you’re operating from fear rather than confidence, and making adjustments.
Try this: Set aside 15 minutes this week to write down your three biggest strengths as a business owner. Then ask yourself: “Am I building my business around these strengths or trying to fit into someone else’s business model?”
2. Clear Communication
Leaders communicate their vision in ways that inspire action. They know how to translate big ideas into practical steps that others can follow.
Many women entrepreneurs struggle with clear communication because we worry about coming across as bossy or demanding. We soften our language with qualifiers like “maybe” and “just” that undermine our authority.
Strong leaders say what they mean and mean what they say. They express their needs, ideas, and expectations directly, with kindness but without excessive apology.
Try this: Review your last five client communications or team emails. Count how many times you used minimizing language (“just checking in” or “I was wondering if maybe”). Challenge yourself to rewrite one communication more directly.
Learn more about clear communication with my blog post: 6 Game-Changing Communication Skills That Will Transform Your Leadership
3. Decisive Action
Leaders make decisions, even tough ones, with confidence. They gather information, consider options, and then move forward without endless second-guessing.
This doesn’t mean making perfect decisions 100% of the time. It means making the best decision you can with the information you have, then adjusting course if needed.
For women building businesses, decisive action often means letting go of the need for universal approval. Not every client, team member, or family member will agree with every business decision you make—and that’s okay.
Try this: Identify one business decision you’ve been putting off. Give yourself a deadline to make it, gather the information you need, and then commit to a direction.
4. Empathetic Connection
The best leaders connect with people on a human level. They recognize emotions, understand different perspectives, and build relationships based on mutual respect.
Empathy is often a natural strength for women entrepreneurs, but we sometimes downplay it as “soft” or “not business-like.” In reality, empathy is a leadership superpower that builds loyalty, trust, and ultimately, business growth.
Try this: Before your next client meeting or team check-in, take a moment to consider what might be happening in their world. How might their current challenges or priorities affect your interaction? Use this awareness to guide your conversation.
5. Continuous Growth
True leaders never stop learning. They see challenges as opportunities and actively seek feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable.
For women building businesses, continuous growth means investing in yourself as much as you invest in your business operations. It means seeing failures as data points, not personal defects.
Try this: Ask a trusted colleague, mentor, or coach: “What’s one way I could grow as a leader in my business?” Listen without defensiveness and consider how their feedback might help you level up.
Common Leadership Myths That Hold Women Back
Now that we’ve covered what leadership is, let’s talk about what it isn’t. These myths keep too many brilliant women entrepreneurs from stepping fully into their leadership power:
Myth #1: Leaders Have All the Answers
Many women business owners believe they need to know everything before they can lead. They spend years studying, researching, and preparing—often delaying action in the process.
Truth: Strong leaders aren’t afraid to say “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” They build teams with diverse skills and aren’t threatened by others’ expertise.
Myth #2: Leadership Means Constant Availability
The “always on” approach to business has many women entrepreneurs checking email at midnight, responding to clients on weekends, and burning out in the process.
Truth: Effective leadership requires boundaries and rest. When you protect your energy, you make better decisions and model sustainable success for your team and clients.
Myth #3: Leaders Put Everyone Else First
Women are often socialized to prioritize others’ needs above their own. This can translate into business practices that drain your time, energy, and profitability.
Truth: The best leaders understand that self-care isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. Taking care of your needs allows you to show up fully for your clients, team, and family.
Myth #4: Leadership Looks the Same for Everyone
Many women try to copy leadership styles that feel unnatural because they believe there’s only one “right way” to lead.
Truth: Your leadership style should reflect your unique personality, values, and strengths. Some leaders are quiet and thoughtful, others energetic and visionary—both can be equally effective.
Myth #5: Leaders Never Show Vulnerability
The old model of leadership valued stoicism and emotional distance. Many women still believe showing emotion or admitting struggles will undermine their authority.
Truth: Authentic vulnerability—shared appropriately—builds connection and trust. It shows your humanity and makes you more relatable, not less respectable.
Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Leadership Skills
Leadership isn’t theoretical—it’s practical. Here are specific actions you can take to build your leadership muscles as a woman entrepreneur:
Create Your Leadership Vision
Take time to define what success looks like for you. Not what your industry, family, or social media feed says success should be—what YOU want.
Ask yourself:
- What impact do I want to make through my business?
- How do I want clients and team members to feel after working with me?
- What values are non-negotiable in how I operate?
- What kind of lifestyle do I want my business to support?
Your answers form the foundation of your leadership vision—a compass that guides your decisions, even when the path gets foggy.
Build Your Decision-Making Muscles
Leadership requires decisive action. Start strengthening your decision-making skills with these practices:
- Set clear decision-making deadlines to avoid analysis paralysis
- Create a personal decision-making framework based on your values
- Practice making small decisions quickly to build momentum
- Review past decisions objectively to learn, not to beat yourself up
Remember, a good decision today is better than a perfect decision next month.
Develop Your Support Network
No leader succeeds alone. Build relationships with:
- Peers who understand your challenges
- Mentors who’ve walked your path
- Coaches who can provide objective feedback
- Team members who complement your strengths
- Friends and family who support your vision
Look for people who will tell you the truth, not just what you want to hear.
Communicate Your Value Clearly
Many women struggle to articulate their worth. Practice:
- Describing your services in terms of results, not just activities
- Stating your prices confidently, without apology or justification
- Setting clear expectations with clients and team members
- Giving constructive feedback when needed
The more clearly you communicate, the more effectively you lead.
Prioritize Your Professional Development
Leadership growth requires intentional learning:
- Read books and articles on leadership and business growth
- Listen to podcasts from diverse leaders in your field
- Attend workshops and conferences that challenge your thinking
- Invest in coaching or mastermind groups
Treat your leadership development as a business priority, not a “nice to have.”
Your Leadership Matters
Look—I know claiming your leadership role can feel uncomfortable. It might even trigger that voice that whispers, “Who do you think you are?”
But here’s the thing—your leadership matters. The way you show up in your business creates ripple effects that extend far beyond you.
When you lead with confidence, you:
- Show other women what’s possible
- Create opportunities for your team to grow
- Help your clients achieve meaningful results
- Model healthy success for your children and community
- Build a business that supports your life, not the other way around
You’re already leading. The question is: how will you choose to strengthen and express your leadership today?
Ready for more personalized support with your leadership journey? Learn more about my Strategic Planning Day, where we’ll help you create a clear roadmap for your business that aligns with your unique leadership vision.
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249: Behind the Scenes of a Collaborative Book: Advice from the Authors of We Lead: Volume 2 (Part 2)