The Name Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović Might Not Sound Familiar, But The President of Croatia Is An Inspiring Female Leader

July 15, 2018March 7, 2023

Kolinda Grabar- Kitarovic joined the victorious Croatian players after the match to celebrate their win over World Cup hosts Russia last week, and since then much has been said of the President of Croatia.
The joy of the Croatian head of state is in marked contrast to those of English dignitaries, who have stayed away from Russia 2018. The 50-year-old was animated throughout the match, celebrating every goal and waving to supporters in the stands. After Croatia emerged victorious, the President celebrated her countries win in the changing room, supporting players and taking photographs – a reaction not seen from other Heads of State who have attended so far.

With the eyes of the world turned to the World Cup Final tonight, we’ve put together a list of why we believe President Kolinda is an inspiring woman, and how four of her tactics can help you inspire your team to win:

Be Your Own Leader: Recognise your own leadership strengths and weaknesses and avoid common leadership traps for women at work. President Grabar-Kiarovic cheered on her team with enthusiasm, and showed pride in her nation, and the game. As a woman, this is not only
unexpected, but many would view it as not the reaction you would expect. But by being unexpected and showing her knowledge and insight, Grabar-Kiarovic inspired her team in their defeat of not only Russia, but also England.
The Power of Communication: President Grabar – Kitarovic was not hesitant in expressing her joy at her team winning, cheering on and praising their success. Bring this approach to your next meeting, and praise your staff for their efforts, no matter how small.
Personality and Attitude: It is important to recognise the role that personality and attitudes play in communicating and leading effectively, not only in executive roles, but throughout your career. By being someone that colleagues can positively recognise as a supportive team member with a positive attitude, you are more likely to win their support in the long term.
Understand the Importance of Teamwork: as the world turned their eyes to the England vs Croatia game last week, much was made about the prowess of individual players. Yet the Croatian President celebrated the team’s success as a whole, recognising that working together was vital to their win, and without it, they may not have been as inspired to take on England.

At LEADWomen, we believe that harnessing these leadership techniques will not only help you lead and inspire your teams, but help you conquer your fears and lead with confidence, professionalism and wisdom.

Upcoming Related Courses: