Women leadership expert Monique Tallon is on a mission to show women how to tap into their feminine strengths and change the way corporations are led. Citing an international study of what people want in their leaders, Monique sees the 21st century as an opportunity for women to use their natural talents of caring, compassion and intuitive collaboration to change the business model and climate from the ineffective top-down masculine approach to management. She created a visionary roadmap for women, “The Feminine Leadership Model,” to help women recognize and embrace their feminine strengths for more influence and impact.
During her corporate experience, Monique wanted role models and mentors, but found that even other women were mimicking the men in their management style. She followed her own path and experimented with using vulnerability and inclusive management to empower teams to step up and take ownership of a common goal.
Today, she works to provide guidance for other women that she could not find for herself. Monique is CEO of her own company, Highest Path Consulting and founder of the Women and Power Forum, which specializes in developing 21st Century leaders through executive coaching and training programs.
Leading Authentically
Her new book Leading Gracefully: A Woman’s Guide to Confident, Authentic and Effective Leadership, analyzes both women’s and men’s different styles and looks at how today’s world requires the intuitive and collaborative strengths women naturally possess. It can be used as a self-coaching, how-to guide with exercises and resources for acquiring more confidence to use your natural talents and get that next promotion into management, or possibly into the C-suite. Women make competent, effective leaders; they just need to understand how to leverage their skills into those top positions.
Next Step—The Girls Club
Monique and Dr. Nancy discussed the need for women to support, hire and promote other women. Like men have “The Boys Club” where they high-five one another for their successes, women need “The Girls Club” to celebrate their own victories. Backstabbing and sabotaging one another have made women their own worst enemy. That may have seemed necessary in the last century when there were few positions for women at the top, but today their ranks in management are growing. Supporting, mentoring and helping each other up the ladder is crucial if the old stereotypes of men and women in the workplace are to be eliminated.
More Tips and Tools for Feminine Leaders
Listen to this interview to hear more stories about women leaders and Monique’s work. Check out her website, moniquetallon.com and follow her Facebook page for speaking events and workshops. Her book is available on Kindle and in hardback. Dr. Nancy considers it a must-read for any woman with aspirations to become a leading woman.
Listen to this conversation to learn more about how this very successful entrepreneur looks at work, life and how to get the best of both.