Feminine Leadership: The Art of Partnership

At each moment of the day we work to balance the inherent feminine and masculine internally and externally. Both states are present within our natures – the dynamic and the receptive. In our work, we speak to the feminine in all – men and women. Yet, in the conditioning of the western world, many have come to see the feminine as women in the physical form – so lets explore there.

Women of vision have taken us to new heights over the years. We are not the same women as our mothers. We are deeply grateful to those who walked before and more determined than ever to be the diverse people we are meant to be.

Many recognize the lack of understanding in the history of feminine power. For some this has resulted in a great deal of emotional pain and lack of connectedness to ourselves as women. This disconnectedness to our feminine nature and/or emotional body creates a great imbalance for humanity and ourselves. We can choose, at this time, to acknowledge those before us and move forward from the constructive past. We can choose to commit to partner with each other in potential.

In the last thirty years, we have been witnessing a rising of feminine voices among women of all races. Voices of women who speak of women's ways of being, learning, teaching, sharing, influencing and advocating for change. The voices we hear are sure, loud, soft, beautiful, struggling, provocative, and scholarly. Voices that are filled with creativity, vibrancy, curiosity, anger, yearning, rage, joy, laughter, and power. Voices that hear the call to remember by retelling ancient stories and weaving a tapestry of new ones. They speak to the feminine in this moment in time--the here and now that affirms what was, what is, what will become.

Institutions everywhere are struggling to meet the challenges of models and structures that were developed in the past and are no longer relevant. Many hope that technology will solve the challenges of rapid change, globalization and changes in the labor force. The truth is that we must generate new ways of thinking, working and learning in order to find a viable solution.

Our work focuses on assisting leaders lead between the lines. Leading between the lines is about supplying people tools that go beyond the classics of strategic planning and teambuilding and reach into the realm of harnessing the chaotic power of these changing times – sensing, a coaching mindset, imagination, uncovering the incredible power of the human spirit. If leadership's role is to create conditions for success within the organization, leaders must address not only the tangible and the linear, eg, 'the lines', but also the intangible and non-linear, 'between the lines'. Most of us didn't learn how to manage the non-linear in our education, but we face the effects of not knowing how to manage it every day. When we learn how to effectively work with the non-linear AND the linear, we promote sustainability and betterment of our organizations and businesses, our communities and our lives.

Our work is our contribution to emerging human systems based on collaboration, affirmation of the human spirit and interconnectedness. Partnership is our primary focus because we believe it is the essential ingredient for authentic and empowered relationships in our increasingly interdependent world. We believe that partnership is essential to addressing the larger challenges of society. Relationships are essential --- business, personal or professional, same or different gender. Whatever the context, our goal is the same: to increase ease and competency in managing the challenging and creative power of partnership.

"I look forward to the day when we abandon our collective need for safety through homogeneity and reclaim our natural curiosity about what is not like us. Maybe that day will be the day that we no longer need to "manage" diversity, and will have no need other than to engage it and open ourselves to receive its gifts."