How to Claim Leadership Space

As an EY Partner, I watched capable execs stall while others seized hidden wins. Here is how to claim your advantage: - Knowing where to look - Acting fast This is your 9-action blueprint: 1. Audit your orbit. ↳ Map who holds power and who’s overlooked. Influence lives where power meets neglect. ↳ Identify: a mentor, a gatekeeper, a sleeper talent. 2. Solve the silent pain. ↳ Every org has unspoken problems—fix one quietly. ↳ Listen for what’s not said in meetings. 3. Pitch a pilot. ↳ Small wins build trust—and a case for promotion. ↳ Frame it as ‘testing,’ not ‘changing.’ 4. Amplify the underdog. ↳ Champion a stalled but promising project. ↳ Their success = your leverage. 5. Bridge the silos. ↳ Influence grows at cross-functional intersections. ↳ Start with a shared pain point. 6. Hack the calendar. ↳ Get in the right rooms—find how you can add value. ↳ Visibility starts with proximity. 7. Reframe your wins. ↳ Tie past successes to the org’s next big move. ↳ Drop it in a 1:1—don’t wait for reviews. 8. Align with strategic projects. ↳ C-suite priorities = your platform. ↳ Volunteer for a cross-departmental initiative. 9. Ask the bold question. ↳ In a room full of silence, ask what no one else will. ↳ Pair curiosity with a solution—execs notice. The real power play? Stop waiting. Start playing the game. — I've led 100s of execs to fast-track or reinvent their careers. 🏵️ Like this? You’ll love my free newsletter, The Modern Executive. Click the link under my name. ♻️ Repost this to help shift career culture. ➕ Follow me, Misha Rubin, for actionable career, leadership, and life insights.

We've been conditioned to believe that "good" women make themselves smaller: speak softer, apologize more, defer quicker. But being a leader isn't about shrinking to fit other people's comfort zones. It's about expanding to fill the role that your vision, expertise, and impact deserve. And yet, we still catch ourselves minimizing our contributions in meetings, hedging our statements with "I think maybe..." and literally making ourselves smaller by slouching. We've been taught to be grateful for crumbs when we should be setting the table. That's space abdication. Women: your discomfort with taking up space is someone else's comfort with you staying small. Every time you shrink, you're not just limiting yourself; you're modeling limitation for every woman watching. And trust me, they're watching. (And if you're reading this, you're watching me so I'd BETTER take up space.) Taking up space isn't about becoming aggressive or adopting masculine behaviors (though there's nothing wrong with those either, if they're authentically you). It's about showing up as the full version of yourself, with all your ideas, insights, and yes, your strong opinions intact. Here's your roadmap to claiming your rightful space: 1. Speak first in meetings. Not after you've heard everyone else's thoughts and carefully calibrated your response. Lead with your perspective, then listen and adapt. 2. Stop hedging your expertise. Replace "I'm not an expert, but..." with "In my experience..." You didn't accidentally end up in a leadership role. 3. Take up physical space. Sit forward, not back. Gesture naturally. Use your full vocal range. (I've been accused of not having an "inside voice". Oh well!) Your body language should match the size of your ideas. 4. Own your wins publicly. When someone asks how the project went, don't say "the team was amazing." Say "I'm proud of how I led the team to deliver X results." 5. Interrupt the interrupters. "Let me finish that thought" is a complete sentence. So is "I wasn't done speaking." Your leadership isn't a consolation prize or a diversity initiative. It's a business imperative. The world needs what you bring, but only if you're willing to bring all of it. #womenleaders #communication #executivepresence

In tech leadership, especially as women, there's a stubborn myth that if we simply work hard enough, someone will eventually recognize our efforts and "reward" us with the promotion or opportunity we deserve. Let me be clear: no one is coming to hand you your opportunities—it's up to you to claim your space. The most successful women in tech don’t wait for permission or formal invitations. They confidently step forward, unapologetically own their achievements, and actively create opportunities for visibility. If you want to advance your career, here’s how to stop waiting and start owning your seat at the table: 1. Document your wins: Keep a running list of your achievements—problems solved, measurable impact, and meaningful contributions. This is more than a brag sheet; it’s your toolkit for advocating powerfully when opportunities arise. 2. Speak in statements, not questions: Notice how often you phrase your ideas tentatively. Replace phrases like “I think maybe...” with confident statements: "The data shows this approach will boost our conversion rates by 15%." 3. Create your own platforms: Don’t wait for someone else’s invitation. Launch your blog, organize internal knowledge-sharing sessions, or propose that speaking engagement or panel discussion. Visibility isn’t granted—it’s claimed. Taking up space isn't about ego; it's about ensuring diverse, important perspectives (like yours) are represented in key industry conversations. When you advocate confidently for yourself, you pave the way for those following behind you. Ask yourself this: Where have you been waiting for permission instead of boldly claiming your space? What small but powerful step can you take this week to change that? Have a lovely weekend! #WomenInTech #FutureOfWork #5xminority

Failing big isn’t the risk—playing small is. 6 bold ways to claim the influence you deserve. I coach leaders who hide their brilliance every day: → Waiting for permission → Doubting their expertise → Letting others define their worth Here's what I teach them: → The table doesn't have assigned seats. → The gatekeepers don't own the gates. → And "paying your dues" is often just corporate theatre. Claim the influence you deserve: 1. Master your domain → Expertise isn't optional—it's your armor. → Learn relentlessly until you can't be ignored. 2. Develop soft skills (I call them "power skills") → Without clear communication, technical brilliance fades. → Master the art of making complex ideas simple. 3. Relationships, relationships, relationships → Merit alone won't get you there. → Build relationships with those who can amplify your voice. My career skyrocketed due to one person making sure I was at the table. 4. Collaborate strategically →The lone genius myth is dead. →Your network becomes your net worth. 5. Make yourself visible → Brilliant work in silence = wasted potential. → Share insights that make others think differently. 6. Advocate unapologetically → Stop asking for permission to be great. → Your ideas deserve oxygen—give them voice. The cost of staying silent? Your impact dies in the darkness. Your potential remains just that—potential. Which step will you take to claim your influence?

6 Daily Habits to Stop Shrinking in Big Rooms (And how to show up with quiet power) I’ve never seen a grounded leader wait to feel confident. They don’t chase noise, they own their presence. Here’s what they practice daily (and how you can too): 1) Embodied presence → Shrinking starts in your body before your words. → Begin grounded: feet flat, breath deep, spine tall. Claim space early. 2) Internal validation → Relying on approval keeps you small and uncertain. → Each morning, write one thing you’re proud of. Root in your own proof. 3) Quiet preparation → Real confidence comes from clarity, not chatter. → Before big rooms, spend 5 minutes reviewing your value and key points. 4) Measured contribution → Silence signals doubt, but power isn’t volume. → Aim to speak once per room. Keep it sharp, not loud. 5) Post-room reflection → No reflection = repeated shrinking. → Ask after each room: “Where did I hold back and why?” Adjust with grace. 6) Identity rehearsal → If you wait to feel powerful, you’ll keep fading. → Visualize your grounded self walking in. Then be them. Quiet power doesn’t shout. It lands. It holds. It leads. Pick one habit. Practice daily. Stack from there. Which one’s yours this week? ♻️ Repost if you agree ➕ Follow Hava Maloku, DBA for more tips.