How to reclaim mental space as a woman leader

We've been conditioned to believe that "good" women make themselves smaller: speak softer, apologize more, defer quicker. But being a leader isn't about shrinking to fit other people's comfort zones. It's about expanding to fill the role that your vision, expertise, and impact deserve. And yet, we still catch ourselves minimizing our contributions in meetings, hedging our statements with "I think maybe..." and literally making ourselves smaller by slouching. We've been taught to be grateful for crumbs when we should be setting the table. That's space abdication. Women: your discomfort with taking up space is someone else's comfort with you staying small. Every time you shrink, you're not just limiting yourself; you're modeling limitation for every woman watching. And trust me, they're watching. (And if you're reading this, you're watching me so I'd BETTER take up space.) Taking up space isn't about becoming aggressive or adopting masculine behaviors (though there's nothing wrong with those either, if they're authentically you). It's about showing up as the full version of yourself, with all your ideas, insights, and yes, your strong opinions intact. Here's your roadmap to claiming your rightful space: 1. Speak first in meetings. Not after you've heard everyone else's thoughts and carefully calibrated your response. Lead with your perspective, then listen and adapt. 2. Stop hedging your expertise. Replace "I'm not an expert, but..." with "In my experience..." You didn't accidentally end up in a leadership role. 3. Take up physical space. Sit forward, not back. Gesture naturally. Use your full vocal range. (I've been accused of not having an "inside voice". Oh well!) Your body language should match the size of your ideas. 4. Own your wins publicly. When someone asks how the project went, don't say "the team was amazing." Say "I'm proud of how I led the team to deliver X results." 5. Interrupt the interrupters. "Let me finish that thought" is a complete sentence. So is "I wasn't done speaking." Your leadership isn't a consolation prize or a diversity initiative. It's a business imperative. The world needs what you bring, but only if you're willing to bring all of it. #womenleaders #communication #executivepresence

The Silent Productivity Killer No One Wants to Talk About As we mark Stress Awareness Month, I'm calling out the elephant in the professional room: the toxic dance between #stress and #anxiety that's destroying our potential. Here are three radical ways to reclaim your mental space: ✅ 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿. Constant availability isn't hustle. It's self-destruction. When you protect your time and energy, you're not being difficult - you're managing your anxiety and preserving your mental health. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Create dedicated focus blocks in your calendar where meetings are off-limits. This is your time for deep, meaningful work that actually moves the needle and provides relief from mounting professional anxieties. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵. Your value isn't measured by how quickly you respond or how many meetings you attend. Anxiety thrives in constant comparison and perpetual performance mode. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Carve out regular reflection time to review your genuine progress. Disconnect from the noise, challenge your anxious thoughts, and reconnect with your actual goals and achievements. ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿. High performance isn't about endurance. It's about sustainable energy and protecting your most valuable resource - your mental clarity and emotional well-being. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. Create a shutdown ritual that signals the end of your workday, helps quiet anxious thoughts, and allows you to disconnect and recharge truly. -- Burnout does NOT make you stronger. Anxiety does NOT define your worth. They drain your potential. Productivity isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters while protecting your mental health. Coaching can help; let's chat. | Follow Joshua Miller #StressAwarenessMonth #MentalHealth #ProfessionalGrowth

When was the last time you truly had space to think and strategize about your work? …Still trying to remember? Last week, I spoke with several advancement leaders who felt overwhelmed by never-ending to-do lists, struggling to find time to strategize and think beyond their daily demands and the challenges of being a leader today. Here’s the thing: For leaders, time to think isn’t a reward—it’s a requirement. I say this as someone who has wrestled with getting out of “doing mode” and into “being mode,” both as an advancement AVP and now as a CEO. Some of my best thinking happens on an airplane or during a run—places where I can’t check tasks off a list and can let my mind rest. But we can’t wait for those rare moments. We need to create this space in our daily lives. This is the exact strategy I coached clients through last week, and I’m sharing it to help you, too. How to Create Your Own Thinking Time ▪️Schedule a "30-Minute Strategy Meeting with Shanna" Secret: It’s not actually a meeting with me. But putting it on your calendar makes it just as official as an invite you received to someone else’s important meeting. Plus, now you have an accountability partner (me!) to help you prioritize your thinking time. ▪️Change your scenery Step outside for a walk, hop on the treadmill, or move to a different space. Shifting your environment can shift your mindset. ▪️Capture your thoughts You might find it helpful to talk into your phone as you walk. Sometimes speaking your thoughts out loud makes them clearer. ▪️Need a thinking prompt? Try one of these What do I want to celebrate with my team one year from now? What is one thing I can control or influence to improve my work right now? What would my successor do differently than what I’m doing now? ▪️What not to think about “I should be doing [something else on my to-do list].” That thought will pull you out of the moment. Give yourself permission to focus. When you’ve completed your strategy session, send me a DM or email. I’ll send you a virtual high five!

Most women in leadership don’t struggle because they lack experience. They struggle because they lack this one thing: They don’t see themselves as leaders in the first place. Every day, I work with women who’ve led billion-dollar initiatives, sit on boards of major companies, and even turn entire organizations around. Yet, when I ask them to own their power and step into their thought leadership? They hesitate... all because they don't have the right mindset. Here are the 4 biggest mindset shifts women need to make if they want to confidently step into leadership roles: 1. Start Packaging Yourself as a Leader One of my clients is the chairman of a board. She's got a running document where she tracks every skill she’s ever learned. And when any new opportunities come up? She pulls from that document to decide how to position herself. She's an exception – because truth is, most women don't do this. But if you don’t tell the world what makes you extraordinary, don’t expect anyone else to do it for you. 2. Give Yourself Permission to Take Up Space A lot of the women I speak with feel like they don't have the right to share their expertise, even if they're the leading expert in their field. So I always ask them the same simple question: “Do you believe you’re the expert in the room?” Because if you don’t believe it, neither will anyone else. 3. Stop Thinking of it as Boasting – Think of it as Educating Women are taught to avoid the spotlight. To be humble. To downplay their achievements. But here’s what I say: You’re not bragging, you’re teaching. You’re showing others what’s possible and how they can achieve it. Flip the script and start educating more. 4. Your Failures Are What Make You Relatable Most women think they need to showcase all their wins to be seen as credible. But if your audience can’t see themselves in your story? They won’t connect with you. So you need to share: → The missteps → The challenges → The moments that almost made you quit Because that’s where people really see themselves in you – and that's a powerful thing. Here's the reality: Women already have the credentials, experience, and expertise. But leadership isn’t just about what you’ve done. It’s about how you own it. - P.S. What's your one "superpower" you need to start sharing more to elevate your thought leadership? Let me know in the comments below.

"I don't have time to meditate" is the most common objection I hear from busy professionals. My response? You don't need 30 minutes in lotus position to be mindful. What you need are strategic micro-moments that fit into the workday you already have. I've coached executives who initially dismissed mindfulness as "not for them" but still needed mental clarity for high-stakes decisions. What they discovered was transformative: mindfulness isn't just about meditation. It's about intentional presence you can access in seconds. Here are five micro-practices you can implement between meetings, during projects, or anytime your mind feels scattered: 1. Three conscious breaths Take three slow, deliberate breaths. That's it. Notice the sensation of air entering and leaving your body. This resets your nervous system in under 30 seconds. 2. The sensory check-in When stress peaks, pause and notice: • 3 things you can see • 2 things you can feel • 1 thing you can hear This pulls you out of rumination and into the present moment. 3. Transition moments Use everyday transitions as mindfulness triggers. Before opening your inbox, starting a meeting, or entering your home, pause for 10 seconds. Feel your feet on the ground. Set an intention for who you want to be in the next moment. 4. Single-tasking For 10 minutes, do just ONE thing. No checking notifications, no multitasking. Whether it's analyzing data, writing an email, or listening to a colleague. Be fully there. Notice when your mind wanders, then gently bring it back. 5. Mindful listening In your next conversation, practice listening without planning your response. Notice how often your mind jumps ahead. When it does, return to the speaker's words. This builds connection and reduces miscommunication. These micro-practices aren't productivity hacks. They're the foundation of purpose-driven leadership. They create the mental space needed for clarity, wisdom, and human connection. The most effective leaders don't separate mindfulness from their workday. They integrate it precisely when the stakes are highest. Try even one of these practices today. Notice what changes. And if you're ready to build resilience and mental clarity that transforms your leadership presence, I've created something for you. Subscribe to my newsletter here → https://lnkd.in/g9ZFxDJG You'll get FREE access to my 21-Day Mindfulness & Meditation Course with practical strategies to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose. And feel free to repost if someone in your life needs to hear this.