Motherhood great training ground for government leaders
A letter to mothers:
On this Mother's Day, give yourself a gift. Give yourself the permission to see yourself through a leadership lens.
As a mother, you truly are an influential leader with incredible sway in the world. All mothers, from the corporate executive to the part-time sales clerk to the stay-at-home mom, are much more than care givers. Your daily work as a mother reaches every corner of our culture.
Today, there is a palpable urgency for women to take on leadership roles in public office at all levels, from local office to positions at the state and national level. It's a commitment offering extraordinary experience and rewarding opportunities.
I began as a village clerk, a role requiring two evenings per month. I went on to serve as a village president and to seek positions in state government and Congress. Local government serves as a feeder for higher office, where the ratio of women to men is startling.
A Daily Herald report just last month found that women are the top elected leaders in just 15 of the 97 communities in the paper's circulation area,
A March article by the Pew Research Center called "The Data on Women Leaders" described how few women have a voice in politics. Only 21 percent of U.S. senators are women, the research found, and women make up only 19.1 percent of the U.S. House. In state legislatures, the figure is 24.8 percent, but perhaps most shocking is the proportion of women governors - just 8 percent.
Unfortunately, many women lack confidence that they can succeed in the political world, and some wonder where to begin. How many of us consider stepping up, yet confront ourselves with self-doubts, such as "Who am I to think that I could ever make a difference?" When urged to lead, we may resist because we fear that we are "not enough" or somehow unworthy.
Why is that? Perhaps it's because these powerful leadership traits are so second nature to us that we take them for granted. We shouldn't.
As a former mayor, I can tell you that most mothers are more prepared for office or public service than they realize. Women are natural leaders. Mothering develops our innate leadership abilities and the necessary skills to manage what often feels like a circus, and I brought these qualities to my role in government. As the 2008 recession hit, my diplomatic debate skills and innovative strategies for finding solutions helped to keep multiple projects affecting the quality of life in Long Grove on track, albeit slower than planned.
I can think of at least five specific leadership profiles that are second-nature to mothers. We can call them Warrior, Sherpa, Coach, Captain and Sage.
Despite conflicting responsibilities, mothers move through these roles effortlessly. We go from being a Warrior for one child to being a Coach or a Sage for another. If you're raising multiple children, you're more than a guide, you're a Sherpa!
Mothering also requires relentless management decisions and NASA-worthy logistical skills. When I hear that we need to vote for political candidates who are successful business people, I argue that mothering may be a better training ground. Many mothers are responsible for maintaining the family finances and adhering to budgets. Mothers are also masterful at working together with quirky, often strong-willed personalities. Since you can't fire your kids or other family members for underperforming, you find ways to get everyone on board with guidelines that foster a productive family life.
Aren't these the same leadership qualities and skill-sets we look for in professional or political leaders? You bet they are. Whether you run for office or not, your actions matter. Stop wringing your hands and looking for better leaders. The leader is you! And mothering offers a perfect platform.
So don't doubt yourself. See yourself as an influential leader. Conduct yourself as a person of power. You are fully equipped and have more impact than you know.
We have a chance right now to build on the accomplishments of women from the past. History has shown that female impact is significant and necessary to building whole and balanced societies. Yes, stories from the past may be inspiring, but perhaps the best story is your own. You're in control of your personal narrative. What do you choose it to be?
Maria Rodriguez is former village president of Long Grove. She ran for Illinois lieutenant governor in 2014 and for the 8th District congressional seat in 2010.