It’s been a busy 2 months of International travel – Australia, Indonesia, and India. Phil (philcooke.com) and I have been blessed and privileged to have been able to speak, teach or shoot a project in all these countries. It is always a delight to spend time with women around the globe who are passionate about media and entertainment and doing significant work. We all face many of the same challenges. One of which is that of working as a professional woman in a room full of men.
Here’s one thing we chatted about together at Christian Media Australia 2013. We have all felt from time to time that we are never fully ready or qualified for the work or the job given to us. But we need to give ourselves a break. Men don’t either! We all have that self doubt that creeps in. But… if you are the only woman on the team, this can cause you to act out of fear and intimidation and not as a confident Godly female leader! Our job is to do our homework and to work hard to provide the best information, insights, and expertise to the projects we work on. We need to allow our talents to flourish and not faint under the pressure of stress and fear. And as female leaders, when we are in those tough situations remembering to “lean on” the arms of Jesus and not “lean in” to our co-workers unleashing our own personal stress, fears, and insecurity on them is God’s wisdom to us. When the pressures and challenges mount micro-managing the situation will only exhaust us and belittle the men and women around us. Lean on… don’t lean in!
Proverbs 3:5/6/7 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
