“Action is the bridge between thought and reality.” – Richie Norton

The rule is simple – if you want to achieve something you have to do something. We all know that the only way to achieve your desires is to ACT ON THEM, but what if the actions you take are not getting you the results you want? Here are 5 things that you need to start doing today to become a successful female leader.

1.Take ownership

We don’t like to admit but everyone has made an excuse about a missed deadline, work not done or any other task that fell short of what we promised we would do. Sometimes excuses happen automatically or unconsciously because we want to avoid any responsibility for why things went wrong.

Sometimes we even say that we have a ‘good excuse’. Let me tell you one thing – there is NO such thing as ‘good excuse’. Giving an excuse means that for whatever reason, at some point or another, you have made the decision not to step up and take responsibility for your actions (or lack of actions thereof).

Remember that success happens only when you start to take ownership and stop making excuses when you start to say “if it’s going to happen, it will happen because I made it happen.”

2.Fight for your dream

Success is a tricky thing. Some people are destined to be successful but most of us succeed because we don’t stop fighting for what we want. If you want to achieve something you have to not only be fearless but also disciplined.

Discipline is the key factor that gives you the freedom to focus on achieving your goals. And if you get easily distracted and want to put off your long-term goals till ‘tomorrow’ just remind yourself that “discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most. And the truth is anyone who ever made anything important was disciplined.”

3.Surround yourself with the right people

Are the people around you right for your development? Do they encourage you to move forward? Do they make you more successful? Never underestimate the power of positive and successful people, they will make you feel that you can achieve anything in this life. Connecting with the right people will bring excitement and enthusiasm to your life.

A great way to connect with successful, like-minded people is to start attending networking events. Read more about the great benefits of networking events HERE. You can also join one of your regional monthly Business Breakfast Clubs HERE.

4.Don’t be afraid to ask!

Women often struggle to ask for help and claim their worth. We shy away from conversations that would allow us access to resources to drive us forward. Good leaders know how to ask for what they need to be successful. Instead of waiting for someone to offer a helping hand, women must learn and be empowered to take over the reins of these situations.

5.Invest in yourself

How often do we take time out to ensure that we, as female leaders, are receiving relevant updates and training, personal development opportunities and appropriate support from like-minded business people?

I bet the answers to this range from “Very rarely …” to “Never – I’m far too busy!”. Time to think again and ensure that you are investing properly in the most valuable asset you have: you!

Read more, listen to audiobook every time you have a spare minute and sign up for as many online training as you can to ensure your growth and development continues as a leader. Check out our webinar library HERE to learn about something new.

The mother of all awards #FLNationalAwards & Summit 2018 is coming to your region with events in Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Leeds! It’s an inspirational programme showcasing diversity in business, recognising the doers, trailblazers & inclusive leaders across the UK. Join the conversation and don’t miss out: https://www.forwardladies.com/national-awards/