Your presence is part of the work
I often hear leaders say they just want to “do the work.” But once you’re at the table, your presence is part of the work. Influence is not a side effect of good ideas. It’s something you build: deliberately, ethically, and visibly.
This is where many values-based, experienced leaders begin to feel the tension. The instincts that earned them a seat - discretion, reliability, functional excellence - can start to cost them traction. They underplay their ideas and wait to be asked. Often they try to avoid “politics” altogether. But when you do that, you lose the chance to shape outcomes that matter.
There’s a quiet irony here. Many of the most thoughtful leaders are the least comfortable with their own power. But power, used well, is not dominance… it’s impact.
A question to consider:
Where might you be minimising your presence out of habit or hesitancy rather than intention?
Until next week, take care of yourself and others
Madeleine
I help accomplished professionals untangle difficult career questions so they can thrive in work and life.
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