Hey Leader,
But day to day, she was operating like the Chief Everything Officer.
On paper, she looked like a strong leader.
The kind organizations often reward. She:
Said yes to everything and was dependable
Was in the weeds with her team, making sure they were successful
Was in back-to-back meetings and always available
Fixed problems before others even noticed them
And yet, she had little time for her own high-value work, pitched ideas that weren’t greenlit by her boss (super frustrating!), and felt like she had to earn a role she already landed (I’m guessing you’ve felt this, too).
This is where a lot of women leaders get stuck.
Not because they’re missing skills, but because everything runs through them. Decisions. Problems. Momentum.
Cassie was leading like a manager who fixes everything, not like a strategic leader who sets direction.
So we made a very specific shift.
We stopped optimizing her for responsiveness and got her out of the Chief Everything Officer role she’d unknowingly stepped into.
That looked like:
Coaching her team instead of jumping in to fix
Protecting recovery and thinking time instead of squeezing it in last
Choosing which ideas actually mattered, and building the case for them
Delegating in a way that didn’t boomerang work right back to her
Putting her career goals back at the center instead of treating them as optional
Nothing about her personality changed. She didn’t get louder or more aggressive.
She changed how she showed up, and the results speak volumes:
29% raise without being the department safety net
77% increase in event attendance without running point on everything
Ideas greenlit; new teams and initiatives handed to them
50% fewer fire drills, and no longer the fixer between teams
And most importantly, she stopped feeling like everything would fall apart if she wasn’t there.
On days she took time off or covered for someone else, she didn’t spiral or feel the need to jump in and guide every move. Her team handled it, and things moved forward.
If you’ve been telling yourself, “Once I catch up, I’ll lead differently,” here’s the truth Cassie lived out:
Leading differently is how you catch up.
If this hit close to home, reply “Yes” and tell me one place you’re still leading like the fixer.
Lead boldly, live fully, & don’t forget to breathe.
In your corner,
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Scroll-Stoppers
This week’s most valuable scroll-worthy stuff, from tools to truth bombs!
Reactive vs. Proactive Managers: How to Be the Best Leader in Any Situation. A clear look at how constant reactivity keeps leaders stuck in the weeds, and what proactive leadership looks like in practice.
Mastering Boundaries for Leadership Success. Why strong leaders don’t wait for permission to protect their time, and how setting clear boundaries is a strategic move (not a personal one).
The 3 Ds: Dream / Design / Do. A simple way to sort ideas without killing momentum, so every new thought doesn’t turn into an urgent project.
Try This Today
Reset your role in one recurring meeting.
Pick one meeting where you’re usually the default problem‑solver and let people know you’re taking a step back. Ask questions, frame the decision, then let them come up with the solution. You still get veto power, but delegating a one-way door decision is a great way to start exiting Chief Everything Officer mode. Cassie didn’t exit the room entirely; she exited the role of fixer.
Start with goals.
Before you pitch your next idea to your boss, get clear on what your boss actually cares about and what the department is being measured on. Then write a tight 5‑sentence brief: the problem as it shows up for them, your recommendation, the trade‑offs, the impact on their goals, and the decision you’re asking for. This is how Cassie stopped pitching ideas and started getting them approved.
Name what you’re no longer carrying.
Identify one responsibility that technically lives with your team but still sits on your plate. Explicitly hand it back, with expectations, and don’t pick it up again. Strategic leadership starts with deciding what’s no longer yours. It’s ok if they, or you, are uncomfortable with this at first.
Your Power Reframe
Because what you believe shapes how you live & lead.
This Sparked Something
Little joys, leadership sparks, & random things we’re loving this week!
Anticipatory joy: My eldest brother is getting married this week, and I get to be a bridesmaid. Feeling very lucky and very excited. 💛 ~Pau
Journal love: I’ve been waiting for an entire month to really crack into my 2026 Curation journal, and I’m in LOVE with it. Bonus points that TJ got me new pens & highlighters for Christmas to really get my artsy-ness on 😀 ~Alli
Unexpected: My all-time favorite Christmas song growing up in Mexico City, los peces en el río, is from an album that came out in 1986. I still sing it at FULL VOLUME each year while my parents roll their eyes at me (but they secretly love it!). And yes, we still listen to it on the CD they got when I was 5. ~Alli