Confidence & Mindset

Can I say something gently, the way I would if we were sitting across from each other with an almond milk latte? If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “Dang it. I should have said that,” you’re not alone.

January has a way of inviting performance. New goals. Clean slates. Confident declarations about what’s coming next.

Let’s cut to the chase: Executive presence isn’t about how you sound. It’s about how you listen. Not just to others.

If you lost your job tomorrow, would your self-worth go with it? There’s a story so many of us have believed: Do the work. Get the title. Protect your seat. And you’ll be safe.

Last week, I led a workshop series called UNIGNORABLE. A deliberately designed space, a *taste* of the Executive Presence Accelerator, to show what happens when brilliant women stop shrinking, stop overfunctioning, and start leading from their actual authority.

Let me tell you about the time I felt like a baby seal being skewered during a job interview. I was living in Colorado, interviewing for a job in the energy sector.

Howdy, partner. Did you hear tell about the mysterious stranger people been seein’ about town? They’re saying they move about the shadows, always keepin’ themselves hidden. I’m not about to go believin’ everything I hear, but I’d like to know who it is and why they ain’t showin’ themselves. Though I’ve got a pretty good idea…

This one is for you–a powerful woman leader in STEM. I see you sitting in your power suit around the ‘big boy’ table. I see you. But do they?

Spoiler alert– I’m writing another book! It won’t be like any other…kind of like my oh-so-brilliant audience. (Hint: that’s you– the inspirational female leader in STEM.)

As we gear up for another year, let's talk about something near and dear to my heart and absolutely critical to the future of the world (yes, the WHOLE world)–the incredible power and unstoppable rise of female leadership in male-dominated industries. And let’s just pause for a moment to acknowledge and celebrate that you're not just part of this movement; you're at its forefront!

Has it been just one more year and one more round of playing small in a man’s world? Has it been another umpteen months of your brilliant ideas being hijacked? I’m looking at you, Powerhouse. If this is how your year has been–aren’t you tired of watching from the sidelines while your brilliance and light get snuffed out or overlooked altogether?

Today, let’s talk about resilience in the “Boy’s Club”–yeah, I’m looking at you STEM (science, tech, engineering, and mathematics.)

How often does someone get promoted to a leadership (or C-level) position because they’ve produced amazing results in their technical role but do not have a clue how to actually lead?

For Megan Trainor, it’s all about that bass, but for excellent performance from your teams, it’s all about that situational leadership. Four types of situational leaders are visionary, coaching, delegating, and directive. Today’s blog post is brought to you by the letter D for Directive Leadership.

The author humbly advises you to read the following in your best Morgan Freeman voice. Behold the industrious prairie dog; humble, head bowed, quiet, perfectly content to stay out of sight.

“Come on in, Ted. Grab a seat for our quarterly meeting, and let’s find out which balls we’ve been dropping for the last six months and who needed support but didn’t get it!” Sounds silly, doesn’t it?

“She was born to be a leader.” Sounds like a compliment, doesn’t it? I mean, you’re praising her leadership: It’s so good it must be in her DNA.