Allow me to introduce you to “Jennie”. (Name changed for anonymity)
The back story:
Jennie is a Finance Director with a very successful career under her belt. She’s respected by her colleagues but nobody ever told her that and she didn’t feel it.
She felt as though she wore a mask. She was acting the role, pretending to be who she thought she ought to be and worried that if the mask slipped, and they saw her for who she really is, that it won’t fit the executive mould.
She didn’t feel confident that, if she showed up as herself, she’d be taken seriously, listened to and respected. She was behaving like a version of an executive that she was modelling on other people.
Jennie’s in a senior position of responsibility, with all the pressure and stress that goes with that. Her teams look to her for guidance and support but she didn’t feel she had someone she could discuss her concerns with, fearing that would make her appear weak.
In board meetings, she felt overlooked. It seemed as though her ideas weren’t heard but then someone else would speak the same idea and they’d get the acknowledgement.
She felt as though she has to play the game, work hard and do a good job, so she didn’t risk putting her head above the parapet.
It felt to Jennie as though her wealth of experience didn’t count for anything and that working hard wasn’t enough. She’d like to progress, perhaps to COO/CEO but felt there were too many barriers.
On top of all that, her work/life balance was out of whack. She worked longer hours than her peers to try to appear good enough. That had an impact on home life. She rarely took time off and didn’t switch off the phone when she did.
She took the laptop on holiday and checked in with the team, even though she’d put cover in place and says she trusts them. She just wanted them to feel that they’re not abandoned if there is a problem.
Something needed to change.
It’d been going on for long enough that she was getting frustrated, she was annoyed with herself for falling into this pattern but didn’t know how to change it. Every time she thought she could do something the “yes, but…” voice of doubt kept her stuck.
Something needed to change and she realised she couldn’t do that alone.
That was the point she contacted Wild Empowerment.
Jennie found my profile on LinkedIn and got in touch.
We talked through all of the above and she came on board for executive coaching.
In the course of the following 6 months, when we met every 2-3 weeks, she became a confident, self-assured, highly respected member of the Board at the company where she works.
It quickly made a difference.
Jennie realised she had stopped “wearing the mask” and was comfortable being herself. A senior colleague commented how relaxed she appeared in Board meetings these days.
She believes that her ideas have value, when she speaks, colleagues listen and consider her input. She receives the credit she deserves.
She manages her teams well and empowers them to operate in her absence. Consequently, she can take time off, to enjoy and recharge her batteries, without worrying what is going on in the office.
She no longer habitually works late during the week and has reconnected with friends and social networks, now that she has evenings in which to socialise.
She still has days that are stressful but she has developed mechanisms to manage the pressure and takes them in her stride.
And, she has been promoted to COO in the organisation.
I’m delighted for her. Jennie went from being stifled by imposter syndrome to flourishing as a confident independent person in her own right.
She is one of many executives, professionals and leaders who have invited me to walk with them on their path to improving what’s been bugging them for far too long and I’m looking forward to the next one.
