Time and again, I’ve encountered incredibly capable women being perceived as lacking a commanding presence. This perception can be career-limiting because executive presence is deemed crucial for inspiring trust and motivating teams. Today, I want to unpack this notion and explore how every one of us can project power in our roles by embracing our big boss energy.

Women often face a double bind: we're expected to be nurturing and excel in soft skills, yet we also need to assert ourselves to be seen as leaders. If we adopt traditional leadership styles, we might be judged negatively for not being feminine enough. Conversely, if we stick to more stereotypically feminine styles, we might not be seen as leaders. This conflicting expectation makes it tough to navigate the leadership landscape.

How do we hold these conflicting truths? By understanding that being a female leader doesn’t mean compromising on our strengths. It means defining what big boss energy looks like for each of us, owning our path, and confidently stepping up when necessary.

Creating big boss energy begins with understanding our purpose – knowing what drives us. This clarity fuels our motivation and confidence, allowing us to step out of our comfort zones and assert our presence. It’s not about being loud or aggressive, but about being visible, sharing our ideas, and projecting a commanding presence.

Now, a commanding presence doesn’t mean being one-dimensional. It's about having a toolkit of skills that can be adapted to different situations. Emotional intelligence, confidence, and strong communication skills are vital. Women can command a room and lead effectively while staying empathetic and genuine to who they are.

Consider leaders like Jacinda Ardern, former PM of New Zealand, who led with strength in a very untraditional way. She showcased how to lean into one's true self and still command respect and achieve great outcomes.

So, how do we create this commanding presence and get noticed as leaders? Understand your purpose and align it with your team's vision. Communicate clearly and compellingly to engage and inspire action. Non-verbal communication also plays a significant role – your body language and energy can make a substantial impact.

We also need to be willing to push past our comfort zone. Women often fear being seen as domineering, resulting in them playing it too safe. Confidence grows from stepping out of comfort zones and practising assertiveness without aggression. It's about building capability incrementally – no one wakes up fully confident one day; it’s a process of continual growth and resilience.

Ultimately, cultivating big boss energy means standing confidently in who we are, showing up with self-awareness, and understanding our motivations. Bringing energy and enthusiasm to our roles, we become powerful forces, shifting perceptions and driving impact.
So, as we conclude, take a moment to think deeply about who you are and what that strong, confident version of you looks like. And remember leadership isn't about titles or positions. It’s about our energy, presence, and ability to effect change.

LINKS:

Connect With Me:

Exceptional Leadership Framework: https://www.rebeccabangura.com/5-step-framework-to-exceptional-leadership

Book your strategy call: https://calendly.com/rebeccabangura/get_in_touch

Website: https://www.rebeccabangura.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccabangura/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrebeccabangura/

What leadership shadow are you casting on your team?

Are you even aware of the tone you’re setting in the workplace, and how it might be affecting the organisation?

As leaders, we really do have the power to create a positive work environment - as well as a toxic one. However, we often don’t realise just how impactful our habits, actions and overall leadership style can be on those around us.

By understanding what your leadership shadow is, you can begin to intentionally create one that aligns with who you want to be and how you want to influence others in your team, organisation and in your industry.

So, what is a leadership shadow?

Essentially, it's how a leader's behaviours, actions and decisions cast a shadow over their team, which ultimately influences organisational culture and performance. Our shadows often have both positives and negatives and because we’re in the middle, we don't necessarily see the amount of influence and impact we have.

Today, we'll explore developing an awareness around what our leadership shadow is and how to use it to create a strong, cohesive and high-functioning team.

The concept of a leadership shadow was developed by Pine Street, part of Goldman Sachs's leadership development team, and it comprises four key elements: what I say, how I act, what I prioritise and how I measure.

We’ll also explore three key components from a practical standpoint:

1. Role Modelling

2. Behavioural Impact

3. Communication Styles

Intentional cultivation of a positive leadership shadow starts with self-awareness and reflection. Although developing self-awareness is challenging, it can be achieved through self-reflection, feedback, assessments and regular check-ins.

So, what does your leadership shadow look like right now? What are its positive and negative aspects? I encourage you to seek feedback from those around you to gain insights you may not see.

Remember, we are all a work in progress. Being transparent about your journey fosters support and encourages others to think about their own leadership shadow. When everyone is aligned and working towards the same goal, that's when we see incredibly strong leaders and cultures that achieve sustained results.

LINKS:

Connect With Me:

Exceptional Leadership Framework: https://www.rebeccabangura.com/5-step-framework-to-exceptional-leadership

Book your strategy call: https://calendly.com/rebeccabangura/get_in_touch

Website: https://www.rebeccabangura.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccabangura/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrebeccabangura/

Have you ever felt trapped by your own high standards, constantly striving for flawless performance but finding yourself exhausted and unfulfilled? You're not alone. Many women working in male-dominated fields like property and construction grapple with the relentless pursuit of perfection.

That’s why I want to break down what perfectionism is, what it isn’t, and the grim consequences it can have. Don’t worry though, I’ll also be sharing three practical tips to help you break free from its grasp.

What Is Perfectionism?

Perfectionism is the tendency to set excessively high standards for oneself and to strive for flawless work. This goes hand in hand with critical self-evaluation and a constant concern about others' opinions. In our professional realms, this often manifests in over-preparing and an extreme attention to detail, which can drive dissatisfaction and burnout.

The implications of perfectionism are extensive. It keeps us entrenched in procrastination, avoiding risks, and staying within our comfort zones. This impasse limits our potential and opportunities—straining not just our stress levels but also our relationships and overall productivity. Speaking from personal experience as a recovering perfectionist, I know how easy it is to spend too much time planning and to hesitate in delegating tasks—a habit that ultimately stunts our growth.

So, how can we move away from this perfectionist mindset and start taking more impactful action? Here are three tips to help you break free from perfectionism:

1. Focus on High-Value Work

Shift your focus to high-value tasks—those that are critical to your role and cannot be delegated. Eliminate tasks that don't add value, and delegate where possible. For example, while preparing a presentation, you might focus on crafting the key messages and desired outcomes, while a junior team member handles formatting.

2. Set Boundaries Around Time and Effort

Planning and adhering to time constraints is essential. According to Parkinson's Law, work expands to fill the time allocated to it. Therefore, setting definite time limits for tasks can prevent perfectionist tendencies from taking over. You’ll also need to accept that not everything has to meet an A+ standard; sometimes B or B- work is perfectly adequate.

3. Practise a Growth Mindset

Our careers are a journey, and every day we have opportunities to improve. Embrace feedback, review what worked and what didn’t, and make necessary adjustments. Show up intentionally with a growth mindset, understanding that discomfort is part of the process, but it will lead to exponential career growth and fulfilment.

I know letting go of perfectionism isn’t as easy as I’ve made it sound. It’s difficult and uncomfortable - trust me, I've been there. But once you start releasing the need for everything to be perfect, you'll find you have so much more time and energy for the stuff that really matters.

LINKS:

Mid-Year Check-In Guide

Connect With Me:

Exceptional Leadership Framework: https://www.rebeccabangura.com/5-step-framework-to-exceptional-leadership

Book your strategy call: https://calendly.com/rebeccabangura/get_in_touch

Website: https://www.rebeccabangura.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccabangura/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrebeccabangura/