Shirley Chisholm Lessons: 7 Inspirations For Each Level of Your Career
Regina King (center) as Shirley Chisholm in the film, “Shirley.” (photo by Glen Wilson/Netflix)
The new film, Shirley, with Regina King as U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in her 1972 run for the presidency as the Democratic Party nomination, is a vibrant reminder of the value of male allies and mentorship for younger women—regardless of party affiliation.
In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, these are key lessons women can take to heart in every field and into practice at every step of the ladder from college to early career to mid-career, C-suite and even the highest office in the country.
“In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential #election, these are key lessons women can take to heart in every field. #leadershiplessons”
The film and the real life history of the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968 and the first Black presidential hopeful, provide lessons in battling racism and discrimination with empathy, directness and facts—what every person identifying as female as well as BIPOC leaders can use in the workplace.
Chisholm was advised by four Black men including her advisory board, campaign manager and husband. She mentored Robert Gottlieb, a white male college student, and a Black single mother, Barbara Lee, a Congresswoman from the 12th District of California since 1988.
According to her website, Lee is “the highest ranking African American woman appointed to Democratic Leadership, serving as Co-Chair of the Policy and Steering Committee. She also serves on the Budget Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee, which oversees all federal government spending.”
The career path and leadership lessons of Chisholm, who passed in 2005, align with Take The Lead’s mission and the 9 Leadership Power Tools and the Intentioning mindset that Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead, created. Chisholm’s leadership style celebrates the tool, “Embrace Controversy,” as well as “Use Your Voice” and the shift of having power over something or someone to a mindset of having the power to do something, particularly to initiate the change of systems.
Read more from Gloria Feldt on Intentioning
Here are seven key learnings from Chisholm’s work that can be applied to every individual in each career level aiming for productive, inclusive and world-changing workplaces.
“Here are seven key learnings from Chisholm’s work that can be applied to every individual aiming for productive, #inclusive and world-changing #workplaces. ”
1. Be inclusive and diverse in hires and promotions. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 report declares diversity, equity and inclusion a moral, legal and economic imperative. As a manager and leader, be sure to recruit and hire from different universities and companies, looking for ways and opportunities to include different candidates from different backgrounds, and give them a voice in decision-making, committees and meetings.
Read more in Take The Lead on DEI inclusion at work
2. Be clear in your messaging. According to Morning Consult, Gen Z adults are all about their personal brand on social media and in person in the workforce, with 67% reporting they think a personal brand is important and 61% saying they are actively building one. What you say and how you present at work and online are crucial in hiring and retention. Morning Consult reports, “As Gen Zers continue to age into the workforce, this habit may also raise questions for employers looking to recruit and retain them.”
“What you say and how your present at work and online are crucial in hiring and retention. #personalbrand #careergrowth”
Read more in Take The Lead on your social media presence
3. Build a cohort of male allies. Yes, women need to support women, but the numbers show there are more men in leadership than women in every sector. “By actively supporting and championing gender equality initiatives, male allies help challenge stereotypes, bias, and discrimination that women face in the workplace. They recognize the value of diverse perspectives and work towards fostering an environment that encourages collaboration and equal opportunities for all,” Women in Tech reports. Unfortunately, according to Harvard Business Review, research shows men overestimate their role as allies to women. The remedy would be to pursue male allies and also accountability on outcomes.
“Unfortunately, according to @HarvardBiz, research shows men overestimate their role as allies to women. #allyship”
4. Speak up about concerns. From her fist day in Congress, Chisholm was openly and unabashedly naming the bias by the overwhelming dominance of white men in Congress. Regardless of what level you are on in your career, you have something to contribute. According to CEO magazine, ”In the average business meeting, 75 percent of the talking is done by men. This would be shocking in 1990, but in 2024, it’s doubly so. And this isn’t an isolated study. Research shows that women are interrupted in meetings about 50 percent of the time, and that in a room full of men, about 75 percent of women feel uncomfortable speaking up.” Plan your talking points for the meeting and write them down with supporting evidence, so it does not seem like a random response. CEO Magazine continues, “If you’re not getting the space to speak, consider interjecting with, ‘I hear your point, and want to add something to that…’ or ‘If we don’t have time today, I would like to put this on the agenda for the next meeting…” ’In the event that someone does interrupt you, remain calm, but don’t take it lying down either. Consider explaining, ‘I haven’t finished what I was saying…’ before continuing.
Read more on Take The Lead on voting for women for office
5. Demonstrate empathy. In A McKinsey & Co. podcast recently, Jamil Zaki, a research psychologist at Stanford University and author of The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World discussed the critical need for empathy in the workplace. He said, “When I train leaders in empathy, one of the first hurdles I need to get over is this stereotype that empathy is too soft and squishy for the work environment. It’s easy to debunk that. There are decades of evidence showing that empathy is a workplace superpower.” Zaki adds, “Empathy comes not from the things we say but from the questions we ask and the way that we pay attention.”
““Empathy comes not from the things we say but from the questions we ask and the way that we pay attention.” — @Zakijam. #workplace ”
Read more in Take The Lead on inclusive workplaces
6. Make your goals known. Articulate what your plan is for your career path first to yourself, and then to your colleagues, management and organization leaders. You can start by mapping out what you intention for yourself, what the outcomes will be and why, making each step realistic and doable as well as fleshed out. “Your objective is what you want to accomplish. This objective should be ambitious and exciting, making you smile and not quite believe you’re aiming so high,” Fast Company reports. Also, “Track progress on these key results regularly.” And certainly make sure these goals align with your organization’s mission, according to Fast Company.
“Articulate what your plan is for your #careerpath first to yourself, and then to your colleagues, management and organization leaders.”
Read more in Take The Lead on women running for office
7. Be gracious about setbacks and failures. Be accountable and admit mistakes, ideas and actions that did not go as planned. Do not hide and feel embarrassed, learn from the process and move forward. Exhibit no anger, but you can be disappointed. You can also ask for input and suggestions. Forbes reports, “Defensiveness is a natural but sure sign of a closed mind in the wake of a mistake, and a closed mind isn’t going to help you learn anything. Notice when you feel defensive and take a breath.” Additionally, “Remember also that it’s only a failure if you make the same mistake twice. Know that innovation and creativity inevitably mean taking risks, and it is understood that the risk taker will sometimes stumble.”
It is possible to learn so much from a history-making leader who not only earned the respect of allies and colleagues, but also the respect from those whose ideology was directly opposed to her own. Chisholm visited openly racist Alabama Governor George Wallace in the hospital after he was shot multiple times and paralyzed. Apply any or all of these lessons and see where they can take you in your work.
“Apply any or all of these #leadership lessons and see where they can take you in your work. ”
Leadership Takeaway Of The Week:
“Empathy comes not from the things we say but from the questions we ask and the way that we pay attention.” -- Jamil Zaki, Stanford University associate professor of psychology and author.
