This morning the sky opened up to bright sunshine after intense rains; that’s my sense of what is happening across the country. The speaker this week at Women’s Business Exchange (WBE), a Seattle-based organization that brings Spirit to work, was Debrena Jackson Gandy.  Her message was about next level leadership and her words of inspiration left us with vibrancy, intention and energy. Here are three key requests she made of us if we choose to be next level leaders.  Midlife women, heads and hearts up, how well do you embody these capabilities?

As a next level woman leader, engage in conscious, continual, vitalizing self care.  So often in our culture we “do, do, do” until we have little energy or focus left for taking care of ourselves.  Debrenna knows to her bone that when we take time to go within and fill ourselves up with joy, we can be full to overflowing.  Over the last few years I have used several practices to access this, and my persistence has paid off!  This year, 2008 I join with many others in inviting women to Relax and Reconnect with their inner joy and wisdom. 

Debrenna, as a woman, particularly an African American woman rejoiced in how our President Elect, Barack Obama, models the next characteristic of a “next level” leaders, attentive listening.  She emphasized the great gift we give to each person that we truly listen to.  When one feels received in that way, our capacity to give grows exponentially.  What a difference that act can make in our marriages, our relationships with our children, friends, colleagues, and especially our enemies.  Walls will come down and hearts will open up.

Debrena’s third invitation was to activate ownership.  This means that when we have something to invite people to join us in, that we enroll them.  For example, rather than simply reciting the specifics of an offer, step into the highest expression of what you are about.  “During December we will hold a magnificent event which will transform your quality of life going forward.  To make this happen, I am asking six women to join me.  You are my first.  Will you join me?   “Yes,” was the eager response.

Midlife Women, how do you think we are doing in embodying these capabilities?

NOTE:  If you are in the Puget Sound region, join us at WBE next month, and experience the live lab where we will indeed be embodying self-care, attentive listening, and active ownership.