Unleashing Your Inner Lion

Have you ever felt like you were "too much" for your workplace? Too loud, too passionate, too intense? I recently worked with a client who felt exactly that way. Let me tell you about Sarah.

Sarah was a force of nature disguised as an executive. When she walked into our first coaching session, her energy filled the room before she'd even said a word. But here's where it gets interesting – she thought that was a problem.

"I need to be a more effective communicator," she told me, her voice clear and confident despite her words. "I know I can be a bit much sometimes.” Here was a lioness convinced she needed to meow like a housecat.

As we dug deeper, I realized that in Sarah’s world, power and strength equaled force. So she'd been working overtime to downplay her natural gifts, determined to "fix" herself. But here's the thing – Sarah didn't need fixing. She needed permission to roar.

Over the next few months, we worked on stepping out of the box she'd put herself in. We explored what communication really means (hint: it's not about being quieter). We challenged her assumptions about leadership. And you know what? Magic happened.

Sarah started networking outside her department, letting her natural charisma shine. Suddenly, new opportunities were popping up left and right. She found herself with not one, but three job options.

Now, the old Sarah might have hesitated, might have tried to shrink herself to fit what she thought others wanted. But not anymore. This time, Sarah did something bold. She crafted a position that was perfect for her – a mix of responsibilities that played to her strengths and pushed her growth. And then, she asked for it.

When Sarah spoke from a place of confidence and authenticity, her tone naturally softened. She didn't have to force it. She wasn't meowing – she was purring, and it was powerful.

Sarah got the job. And when the offer came in? She negotiated for even better terms. The lioness was well and truly out of the cage.

In a world full of copycats, dare to be a lion. Your unique voice is your strength. Use it wisely, use it well, but most importantly – use it authentically.