“Recognize that what you do is more important than what you say. People ultimately judge you more based on your actions than on your words.”
– Jill Granoff, CEO of Eurazeo
For women entrepreneurs, leadership is not just about vision, it’s also about embodiment. When it comes to decision-making, the choices you make every day, for example, how you lead your team or how you respond when experiencing pressure, show your team your values without you having to articulate them. As Jill Granoff, CEO of Eurazeo, powerfully states: “Recognize that what you do is more important than what you say. People ultimately judge you more based on your actions than on your words.” In business, it’s crucial to align your intentions and your actions.
Often when we speak to business-owners, decision-making is brought up as one of the most demanding and defining parts of entrepreneurship. Each decision we make carries weight, whether that decision is around hiring new employees, pricing products and services, or pitching ideas to investors. We have often said that mistakes are inevitable, but they’re not failures; when approached with curiosity rather than self-criticism, failures can become data to help us make better decisions the next time, while honing our discernment. Strong leaders are not those who avoid making mistakes; instead they are those who know how to learn from them quickly and move forward with clarity.
As women build businesses in competitive and uncertain environments, the ability to problem-solve is a critical skill. It’s human nature to dwell on what went wrong but what’s really powerful is to ask: “What’s the next right move?” Having a solution-oriented mindset not only makes you more confident but also shows those around you that you are resilient and they can trust you to make decisions.
Equally as important is the authentic cultivation of relationships. When you establish genuine connections with prospective clients and others, you are laying the foundation for long-term success. Trust is built through consistency, which means showing up, following through, and leading with integrity.
In a nutshell, your business grows in the direction of your decisions. Make decisions with intention and lead through action, and success is inevitable.
Looking for more reads on leadership? Read this myCEO blog on why embracing failure is something that smart leaders do.
