Are you sacrificing your leadership voice on the altar of external validation in the workplace? I’ve watched countless brilliant executives become paralyzed waiting for others’ approval before moving forward with their ideas. This relentless need for external validation isn’t just exhausting—it’s quietly eroding your confidence in the workplace and undermining your authentic leadership presence.
In this episode, I share the breakthrough strategies I’ve used with senior leaders to help them stop outsourcing their worth and reclaim their inner compass of confidence. I’ll share practical tools to recognize when you’re outsourcing your confidence, create strong self-reference points, and lead from a place of authenticity rather than people-pleasing.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why brilliant leaders get stuck in the trap of external validation and how it silently erodes your leadership voice
- The real-world story of “Tanya,” a senior executive who couldn’t move forward without constant approval, and the breakthrough that freed her
- Four practical tools to reclaim your confidence in the workplace when you find yourself people-pleasing or second-guessing your decisions
- How to create a strong internal compass that allows you to gather feedback without surrendering your leadership presence
- The surprising reward that comes when you stop chasing approval and start honoring your authentic voice, even when faced with disagreement
Are you ready to break free from the external validation trap and lead with authentic confidence? Take a moment this week to reflect on where you might be outsourcing your confidence and identify one situation where you can practice honoring your voice first. Remember, true leadership presence isn’t measured by how many people applaud your ideas, but by your alignment with your deepest values and integrity.
I’d love to continue this journey with you—join me on LinkedIn where we dive deeper into these transformative leadership principles, or sign up for my weekly insights newsletter at janetioli.com to receive exclusive strategies for mastering the inner work of leadership.
Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership is your guide to leading with less ego and more soul. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach, advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 200 companies. In this podcast, she digs into the real deep work and empowers leaders to show up with authenticity, build emotional intelligence, and lead in a way that leaves a lasting impact.
Noteworthy Quotes from This Episode
“When we’re constantly tuning ourselves to match other people’s standards, we lose touch with our own. We don’t even know what our standards are because we’re waiting for other people to validate us. We dilute our voice, we delay our impact, and we slowly hand our confidence and our voiceover to everyone else in the room.”
“You don’t need to silence the part of you that wants that recognition or validation. You just need to make sure your compass isn’t pointing outward all the time.”
“You can absolutely validate and encourage others while also holding your own view. True leadership presence is both receptive and rooted.”
“Leadership isn’t about chasing approval. It’s about creating an alignment with your values, your voice, and your integrity when you lead from that place.”
“Let your worth not be negotiable. Let it be rooted inside, not dangled in front of you like a prize, and you are worthy only when other people validate you.”
Resource Links:
Connect with Janet Ioli:
Website: janetioli.com
Linkedin: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
Janet is the founder of Power Presence Academy. She helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose and lead with Less Ego, More Soul.
If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days. Check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.
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