Women urged to cultivate professional excellence, emotional intelligence to attain high career performance

Experts have advised that women seeking high performance in their careers and businesses should cultivate personal growth, professional excellence and emotional intelligence to effectively navigate through the complexities of modern employment.

They shared their views at the 9th anniversary of Women Without Borders International Foundation (WWBIF) which held in Lagos under the theme, ‘Becoming a high performing woman in the 202I century.’

The experts also stressed the need for women to develop a mindset shift and to be strategic in their approach to issues, adding that such would lead to continuous improvement, effective performance and productivity towards achieving their set goals and life purpose.

Speaking at the event, founder of Women Without Borders International Foundation, Olayemi Idowu observed that women of today are more informed than women of yesteryears, adding that they should therefore, attain greater heights in their chosen careers and businesses.

In her words: “We need to do more than our mothers did in the past because they did not have the opportunity we have; women are more enlightened now, they have better understanding, technology has changed the face of things, women can become mothers, wives, they can become a woman of substance as well.’’

She said that the organisation aimed to build both mental and emotional fortress for women via the creation of a knowledge-driven playing ground that viciously attacks the dysfunctionality and conventional reasoning that plagues women globally.

“We are out to reinforce the values of today’s woman through faith, family, finance and future; and this is with a view to creating the future we desire.

“In our organisation, we have four pillars which include: faith, family, finance and future; these we hold dear because we strongly believe that a woman that builds her faith but of necessity be intentional about the kind of family she wants to have, must seek out financial literacy by all means and apply all she learns to build a financial nest for herself and structure a future that will neither leave her stranded nor dependent on anybody to live a full life.”

Speaking on ‘Becoming a high-performing woman in the 21st century, Yemisi Rotimi of Leadway Assurance described high-performing individuals as those that have demonstrated a combination of skills, discipline, resilience, motivation, and continuous improvement.

For her, high performers often set and exceed ambitious goals, demonstrate strong leadership, manage time and resources effectively, and maintain a high level of productivity, all while fostering personal growth and maintaining balance.

While stating that the 21st century has ushered in unprecedented opportunities for women across the globe, she said: “From breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries to taking leadership positions in government, business, and society, women are increasingly making their mark in all spheres of life.

“While progress is being made, the journey toward becoming a high-performing woman in today’s world remains complex. High performance is not just about achieving success in professional life but also encompasses personal growth, resilience, emotional intelligence, and well-being.

“The increasing representation of women in leadership positions, along with greater access to education and economic resources, has provided a fertile ground for the development of high-performing women.

“Despite these advancements, women continue to face challenges related to gender bias, the gender pay gap, and balancing professional ambitions with personal life responsibilities.”

She however, explained that becoming a high-performing woman, means navigating societal and personal challenges while excelling in one’s chosen path.

Enumerating key characteristics of high-performing women, she said that it included self-awareness and emotional intelligence; resilience and mental toughness; continuous learning and growth: goal-oriented and driven and time management and Work-Life Integration among others.