From Where Do You Derive Your
Power? By Maritza Diaz
www.maritzaidiaz.com
THIS PAST MONTH ON LINKEDIN, I POSTED MY NEXT LIFECHANGING MOMENT. IN THE ONLINE SPACE, WE OFTEN ANNOUNCE OUR NEXT PROJECTS, EVENTS, AND OTHER NEWS TO PROMOTE AND CONNECT. THE DESIRE TO CONNECT HAS BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT FOR US ALL.
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his past summer, with so much unwanted change, served as a time to reflect and dive deeper into my core to discover what would be next. Gaining more knowledge was the chosen path. Over the summer, I enrolled in Cornell’s Executive Women in Leadership Certification. The course was far beyond what I expected. The program was an intense course where reflection took center stage. In retrospect, the course served as a counseling session on my past work experiences. What I discovered is a treasure trove of examples that provided different types of leadership styles. Some of these leadership styles were effective, but most of my observations on their leadership behavior were less flattering and largely ineffective in moving the organization to the next developmental growth level. Those past experiences shaped my perspective to empower others by customizing plans managing talent upward, rather than out of the organization. This years’ pandemic has crippled some of us and has caused us to reflect and seek a more purpose driven life and be COVID-conscious.
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| MUMPRENEUR MOVEMENT
It has caused most of us to search for our innate power to continue the process of evolving, adapting, and becoming something extraordinary. For some, we are still searching. Many people are relocating to other cities, changing careers, enrolling and acquiring more education, and sadly saying good-bye to those we have lost to COVID as I have. Throughout the Cornell course, ‘gravitas’ was often used to show how we can carry ourselves. Gravitas is a quality of deep seriousness, a dignified bearing that commands respect in others, and the ability to maintain grace under fire. Gravitas is a Roman virtue and the foundation of effective leadership. My gravitas led me to complete the leadership certification. Now I embark on my next journey to start to complete a graduate degree in marketing to learn how