Hey everybody! I am ending this week with the final interview for Her Leadership Mindset! I reached out to Faith and Four Letter Words in hopes of getting their perspective on women in leadership roles/the work environment in general, and I was intrigued by the response. “Faith and Four Letter Words is an unapologetically real look at surviving the boys’ club, Perfect Polly and motherhood all while living in a glass fishbowl.” Amanda Goodman and Tara Thomas are the ones being the platform, and I got the chance to collaborate with Tara. Let’s get into the article…
Through your events and podcasts, do you see that empowering women helps them become more effective leaders? Could you share any examples or stories women have shared with you?
Tara talked about how empowering women does in fact help them be more effective leaders. She specifically mentioned that if they are able to be their authentic self it makes them not only seem more confident, but also sincere which leads to more engagement. Tara also shared that their podcasts and events have been very impactful with women. She informed me that some women “had the courage to quit a toxic job, start their own business, or simply start advocating for themselves.” Tara shared the following story, “One woman left her tattoo parlor boss because of our message, started her own shop, and booked appointments through an entire year almost overnight. It was wonderful to be a small part of her story.”
What experiences have made you a better leader in your professional or personal life?
Tara shared that she was mistreated by former bosses/management. In response to that she said “you never forget how someone made you feel, so I try not to lead defensively – meaning forcing people to get on board vs. being good at convincing them when I feel strongly about something. Personally I have never been a better wife and mother than when I don’t have to take the stress of my job home – and that has ebbed and flowed over my working years.” I thought that Tara’s answer to this question was powerful. She was able to take a negative moment and turn it into a positive one that has changed parts of her life!
What are your strengths as a leader? What is your weakness as a leader?
Tara’s Strengths:
- “Decisive, the ability to see the big picture and play devil’s advocate to anticipate any negative fallout, and highly organized and strategic with multi-tasking approach”
Tara’s Weakness:
- “Taking things personally”
In the business world, do you believe men have more significant roles in leadership? Do you believe it is now trending more towards a 50/50 split of leadership roles?
Tara said: “I think men will always have more significant roles in leadership simply because of the gender reality women have to carry and birth the next generation. We understandably are more likely to take time off or scale back duties to focus on our babies. And I would never apologize for that. A 50/50 split is reachable, but not likely in high level management unless the women never have children.”
Finally, do you have any recommendations for women, whether that is a podcast(s), book(s), websites, classes, etc. to view or read, to empower women to become strong(er) leaders both personally and professionally?
I found Tara’s answer powerful. She wrote: “For me personally, the Bible is where I draw a lot of strength as a female Christian leader who never apologizes for my faith. Scriptures in Proverbs and other books within are the blueprint for my life in many respects. A favorite verse I quoted on my last night on the local news is, “To whom much is given; much is expected.” In other words, I have been blessed with a platform that I feel obligated to use for positive influence. I hope I am rising to the challenge.”
I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with Tara! This article was very insightful for me, I hope it was for you as well!
-Brea
Wanting to learn more about Faith & Four Letter Words?
Podcast is on Spotify & Apple
Social Media Platforms:
One comment on “Unapologetic Leadership: Faith, Power & Finding Your Voice”