Global Women's Leadership Network - Pink Paper

WHAT CREDIT UNIONS CAN DO TO INCREASE WOMEN’S CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM #1 Offer listening groups, support mechanisms such as psychological or spiritual counseling, and other interventions GWLN members suggest that credit unions can offer services and support to help women improve their self-confidence and self-esteem and advance as leaders. Creating mental health awareness and listening groups enabled one credit union to support women “to talk about everything and understand what they feel and how they can help each other.” One GWLN Sister Society organized a martial arts workshop to build women’s confidence. One woman shared how working with a spiritual counselor helped identify a new life direction that brought purpose and meaning through a new form of leadership. When credit unions provide services and support women in addressing their self-confidence and self-esteem, they empower women to become stronger advocates for themselves and other women as leaders. #2 Destigmatize mental health to address employee well-being GWLN members suggest that credit unions can contribute destigmatizing mental health simply by recognizing and talking about challenges. They say that when a credit union addresses mental health, it creates space for employees to bring their whole selves forward. This includes women striving for leadership positions. One leader, observing the need to address mental health, simply advised that “we can be more proactive about checking in with one another.” GWLN members cite the Covid- 19 pandemic as having spotlighted the need for mental health support. WHAT WOMEN CAN DO TO INCREASE CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM #1 Be willing to examine yourself GWLN members say that alongside addressing systemic barriers to leadership, women also need to take personal accountability for examining and strengthening their own self-confidence and self-esteem. This offers women an alternative to feeling disempowered by systemic barriers that may be largely out of their control. Taking the brave step to explore challenges to self-confidence and self-esteem through therapy, spiritual counseling, or talking with trusted friends can help women begin to address the ways we hold ourselves back. 18 | 2021 GWLN Pink Paper “We have the power within us to rise up. How do we seek that power? How are we then accountable to ourselves for our own life journey?” “When you start to question yourself, you’ve got to be willing to do a lot of reflection (journaling, therapy, meditation, etc.) that is not comfortable or easy. Put the mirror before you to acknowledge what is you and what is not you.” RESOURCES FOR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING Credit union leaders cited the following resources to support women’s confidence and self- esteem: • 1:1 psychological counseling • group therapy • spiritual counseling • mindfulness meditation & yoga • martial arts