Madeleine Albright shows off her Wellesley Blue sneakers "Be yourself."
You have heard it before. Everyone has said it--from your mother sending you out the door on your first day of school, to your BFF giving you a pep talk before that big job interview. But when this advice comes from Madeleine Albright, you somehow hear it in a new way. And it doesn't seem trite at all.
I was at Wellesley for my college reunion, and Madeleine (Class of '59) was speaking in conjunction with the opening of Read My Pins, an exhibit at the Davis Art Museum. She shared fascinating stories of how her pins were used to convey diplomatic messages. Then the floor was opened up for questions. A few were about how best to be a woman leader in a world where the double standard is still applied. Her response? "It is annoying when men do that, but that's just the way it is. Be confident in what you are doing, and don't take such criticism personally." She continued by explaining that the best way to lead is to be yourself. In a leadership role you need to know your strengths and play to them. Trust your instincts and your homework. Do not feel the need to become someone else's idea of what a leader should be.
I would extrapolate even further (to summarize what I have read in other books on women's leadership): that you are a leader because you are a leader. No need to second-guess. Be bold. Be confident! I was lucky to see many examples this weekend of classmates who were the embodiment of just that kind of leadership. They we enjoying themselves immensely, being themselves.
And then I came home and tuned in to the Tony Awards. I love watching stars, directors, playwrights, and others who create stage magic on Broadway honor their peers and celebrate their community. For me the surprise of the evening came when the stunningly talented Audra McDonald, overcome with emotion at winning her record-breaking sixth Tony, cried throughout her acceptance speech. McDonald's professional success depends on her self-knowledge and self-possession, yet she felt free to be undeniably herself.
In moments of heightened emotion (or heightened stress) we can give ourselves this gift. If we do not stand outside ourselves, worrying about how others will judge us, we can act on what our preparation and our inner guide tell us we must do. Great leaders know that being authentic, even when it means being vulnerable, is a mark of strength. Great actors do, too!
