What does it mean to lead? One thing we miss as women, aspiring to be leaders of our organizations is this: We give options when leaders are expected to give direction. We outline pros and cons. But we should be talking about recommended path forward. Maybe because we want to be thoughtful (or maybe at times just playing it safe!) And if you’re wondering how to gain authority at work, this is exactly what needs to change. The Recurring Pattern Watch what happens in senior rooms. A woman...

Speak the language of a leader You asked me the other day, “I don’t understand what else I need to do to be seen as a leader.” You’re working harder than most people in this building. And you keep telling me, “I don’t understand why they don’t see me as a leader.” I’m going to tell you something that might sting a little. It’s not your presence. It's not what you are wearing. It’s not that you need to speak up more. It’s that you’re not speaking in the language the room respects. ...

“It feels like we’re always mid-air.” She didn't say we were overloaded or over-worked. Just… mid-air. At first, I defended us in my head. We were growing. Moving fast. Handling complexity. Of course it felt intense. But when I replayed the week, I saw it. We were drowning in "unfinished" meetings. In other words, I had left meetings assuming we were aligned. Why Leadership Clarity Starts With How You End a Meeting We talk a lot about running better meetings. Better agendas. Better...