NEW YORK — Confidence and presence are well-known traits of successful leaders, but compassion and versatility are equally important, two leading insurance industry executives said.
Women leaders in business should be intentional in their approach to leadership, but also ready to adapt to changing circumstances, they said.
They spoke during a session last week at the Business Insurance Women to Watch Awards and Leadership Conference.
“Leadership is all about showing your clarity, your presence and leading with purpose. And so, a lot of it is really all about understanding who you are and who you want your team to be,” said Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld, co-president of RT Specialty and CEO of RT National Property at Ryan Specialty.
Exuding confidence greatly influences how people perceive a leader, she said.
Leaders also should learn from those around them, said Carolina Klint, chief commercial officer Europe, Marsh McLennan.
“At the beginning of my career, I really thought that leadership was about knowing all the answers, and I learned through experience that it’s not about that at all. In fact, it’s about asking the right questions and listening,” Ms. Klint said.
Ms. Austenfeld and Ms. Clint are two of 10 former winners honored as Iconic Leaders during the 20th anniversary celebration of the Women to Watch program.
Leaders also need to adapt to the increase in virtual meetings since the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Austenfeld said.
Addressing seemingly minor details such as a professional background, proper lighting and good posture can improve the perception that a person is “in charge,” she said.
“It sounds like you’re just in for a TV show, but it really does matter,” Ms. Austenfeld said.
Leaders also have to earn the respect and trust of staff, she said.
“Networking can open a lot of doors for all of us, and yet my true belief is that compassion is what keeps the door open,” Ms. Austenfeld said.
Compassion includes empowering others and lifting them up to leadership levels, too, she said.
International leaders also need to be aware of national and cultural differences, Ms. Klint said.
“There’s self-awareness in terms of how leadership styles translate, whether they translate well, or whether they’re totally misunderstood,” she said.
For example, in some northern European countries, leaders are expected to be assertive and direct, whereas in some southern European countries, they are expected to build relationships more slowly and discuss topics such as family and hobbies as they build rapport, Ms. Klint said.
