5 Ways You May Be Giving Away Your Power at Work—And How to Get It Back
Your ability to get things done in your advancement organization is essential to your career growth—but so is how you carry yourself as a leader. Even as you take on more responsibility and build your power at work, you may unconsciously do things that diminish your influence and authority.
I learned the hard way early in my career what it means to unintentionally give away your power. Now, as a coach to senior advancement leaders, I help clients navigate these situations with confidence, compassion, and clarity. The good news is: You can regain your power at any time. It starts with understanding the subtle ways you may be holding yourself back.
Here are five common ways advancement professionals at every level unintentionally give away their power at work, and what to do instead.
HOLDING BACK ON SHARING YOUR IDEAS
You may hesitate to share your thoughts and ideas at work, especially when you’re unsure how they will be received or when more tenured leaders dominate the conversation. Sometimes your boss or peers may not ask for your feedback or ideas, but you’ll still need to find ways to contribute your insights when something is important to your team’s success. You were hired for a reason and your perspective adds value. In the best-case scenario, you may be able to influence other people’s perspectives or work outcomes. Even if the idea doesn’t move forward, you’ll feel confident knowing you led with intention.
PEOPLE PLEASING
Advancement professionals have a drive to help, which often makes them exemplary colleagues and stellar friends. When you consistently put others first—or overindex on caring about what others may think—you’ll risk depleting your confidence and influence. People-pleasing will diminish your ability to be a strategic leader. Prioritize your goals, time, and wellbeing. That’s how you can sustainably share power and model for others.
ALWAYS REACTING EMOTIONALLY
Fundraising and leadership are emotional work. You care deeply. You hold genuine relationships. This means we feel our work personally. Still, when every decision or comment derails your confidence or mood, you’re turning over too much of your power to external influences. Instead, approach a situation with curiosity as an observer from afar. Ask yourself: What’s happening in this situation? What am I feeling? What can I control or influence—and what can’t I? Emotional awareness is a leadership skill. Emotional reactivity isn’t. Learning how to leverage your emotions for good will build your power and presence.
NOT LETTING THINGS GO
High achievers are typically able to manage many things simultaneously at work. True leadership, however, requires you to let some things go. This can range from letting go of high expectations when delegating a project, the need to do everything yourself, discomfort around asking for help, or feelings of frustration or anger. In advancement leadership, your best and highest use of time isn’t in doing everything, it’s knowing what only you can do and guiding your team to manage the rest. It’s important to let things go at the end of the workday, too—so you can show up as your best self for the people who matter most to you.
BELIEVING YOUR WORK SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
Sometimes others will notice your good work, but too often they don’t. This comes up often in my coaching with ambitious leaders, especially women. Your ability to communicate your work outcomes matters as much as your results. Share your wins, progress, and insights with your boss and senior organizational leaders in one-to-one meetings, elevator conversations, and performance reviews. This skill is essential to building trust, alignment, and visibility.
Reclaiming your power at work means remembering who you are and leading accordingly. And with this power, you can create space for others to rise with you.
A version of this article was originally published in Fast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/90979534/these-5-unintentional-mistakes-sabotage-your-power-at-work
