Lucy Gernon (00:00)
Have you ever shared an idea in a meeting only to have it totally brushed aside and then five minutes later a male colleague says something similar and suddenly it is brilliant? If this has happened to you, you’re not alone and I hate to break it to you lovely lady, but it’s not just bad luck. There is a real reason this keeps happening and it’s costing you visibility, influence and career growth while you’re stuck in the weeds working harder than ever.
So today I’m going to reveal on the 360 Leadership Podcast, the number one thing that male leaders do differently that ensures they get credit for their ideas and why smart, capable women like you aren’t doing it yet. So tune in. I hope you enjoy.
Hello there, lovely lady. Welcome back to this week’s episode of the 360 Leadership Podcast. I am your host, Lucy Gurnon, a multi-award winning executive coach and founder of 360 Leaders Club, the only professional membership focused on leadership development for women in leadership so that you can achieve your career goals with confidence, master executive presence, lead with more strategic influence, all without burning out or missing out in life, because I’m all about that 360 degree success. And today on the podcast,
We need to have a heart to heart because I have been talking to so many of my clients when they come to work with me at the start and there is a really common problem that I am noticing that is most likely stopping you from being seen as an executive strategic leader who can be trusted and taken seriously. Now, whether you’re at executive level or you aspire to get to that level one day,
Positioning right now in your career is so important to help you to fast track that. And we need you to fast track that because there’s way too many men in senior leadership. And as much as I always tell you, I love the boys, I have nothing against them. They lead with confidence and that is a big issue. And today I’m gonna get into all of this because right now you may not even know this is a problem because you’re so busy doing the doing.
You’re plugging the holes, you’re fighting the fires, you’re making sure all the operations happen and everything gets done. So it’s really time that we paused and that we got on looked under the bonnet and got this sorted so that you can make the impact that you know you’re capable of all without this constant overanalyzing or overworking. And be sure that you come back next week too, because next week’s episode is all about how to fix this.
And if you’re listening to this live, I might just have another amazing free masterclass coming up to help you too. So you’ve got to come back next week to find out all the juicy details. So for today, I’ll start by telling you a story about an amazing VP in STEM that I coached inside 360 Leaders Club. Now, this lady is brilliant at what she does. Like all of the women that I work with in 360. She leads a high performing team.
She consistently delivers incredible results and she’s one of the most capable people in the room. But when she came to me, she was totally frustrated. And she said to me, Lucy, I feel like I’m invisible in every meeting where I’m one of the only women. I contribute, I problem solve. But when it comes to strategic discussions or promotions, it’s literally like I don’t exist. And meanwhile, my male peers are getting recognized for doing half as much. Can you relate?
This lady was stuck in execution mode. She was constantly delivering, fixing and firefighting. But instead of being rewarded for it, what happened? She was given more work. So here’s what I told her. I told her that your work ethic isn’t actually the problem. You’re being overlooked because honestly, leadership isn’t just about what you do, it’s about how you show up. So if you’re nodding along right now thinking, my God, that’s me, you’re not alone.
But let’s talk about why this happens in the first place. So the first place we need to start is that there is something that male leaders do instinctively that most women just aren’t taught. Can you guess what it is? Men don’t just contribute to the conversations, they control the narrative. So if you’re multitasking, come back to me.
They don’t just contribute to the conversations, they control the narrative. They speak in a way that makes their ideas sound valuable, even though their ideas are not better than yours. And here’s the thing, it’s actually not about being louder or more aggressive. It’s actually about the way they frame their ideas, the confidence they project and the executive presence they carry. So let’s think of an example.
Let’s say two leaders pitch the same ideas. One says it with confidence, using clear, concise, strategic language, eye contact. And then the other one over explains, hedges their words with, think, or waits for validation and says things like, sorry, I’m talking too much with a nervous laugh. Who do you think gets the buy in? This is why, lovely lady, your male colleagues are getting the credit. It’s not just about their ideas.
It is all in how they present and carry themselves. And I know you might be thinking right now, well, I don’t want to have to play the game just to be taken seriously. And I hear you. But let’s be real. You deserve to be heard. This triggers me. You deserve to be in that room. And this is about making sure you actually get the recognition that you have earned. Because I always say
You are either a player in the game or you’re being played by the game. And I know which one I would rather be. So now that we’ve brought the issue, let’s talk about what happens if you don’t start shifting in how you show up in these spaces. What’s the cost? So here’s what happens. You overthink. Tick. You overanalyze.
Tick, you overwork. Tick, did you tick all three? You keep pushing harder, hoping somebody would finally notice your operational efforts. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, your male peers are moving up. Well, what’s happening for you? You’re just getting more work piled on your plate. And then the worst part is it doesn’t just stay at work. You bring this stress home.
You’re missing moments with your family because you’re constantly replaying meetings in your head and saying yes to meetings that encroach on your family life. You feel guilty when you’re working for not being present with family. And then you feel guilty when you’re not working in case they think you’re not committed. And let’s be honest, this is exhausting. But here’s the thing. This isn’t your fault. No one teaches women in leadership.
how to show up with executive presence, how to command attention, and how to ensure they get the recognition they deserve. It’s literally why I founded 360 Leaders Club, because it’s just for women. So you’ve got that safe space to grow together. You’re not worried about male dominance. You’re not worried about being in a leadership team training with all of your peers where you can’t share freely. I created this so I can give you personalized tools and strategies to help you to succeed.
and to give you all the motivation, support and encouragement and to be in your corner. So if you’d like to learn more about that, just head over to 360readersclub.com because even though you are not taught these things or you may have done some leadership training at work, how much have you actually implemented in terms of yourself? I know you’re a builder of high performing teams. I know your team love you, but what about how you’re viewed?
So even though you haven’t necessarily taught or actually implemented any learnings on these things to the extent where you’re going to see actual results, it is your responsibility to change it. And the good news is next week on the Three Six Leadership podcast, I’m going to be teaching you exactly how to do this. Next week on the show, we’re going to talk about simple shifts that instantly change how people are going to perceive you.
We’re going to talk about how to make sure ideas land in meetings without having to fight to be heard. We’re going to talk about how to position yourself as a strategic leader so you get the recognition and career growth you deserve. And if you’re listening to this live, which is in 2025 sometime, I’m not sure exactly of the date, sometime in April, I or me, I might just have a free masterclass coming that will walk you through this in even more detail. So please be sure to come back here next week for all the juicy details.
Now, in the meantime, if this episode resonate with you, please share it with your female leader colleagues who need to hear this. This message is for all of my powerhouse ladies in STEM, financial services, all of you amazing women who are working in male dominated spaces. I am speaking to you today because I have been in your shoes. I speak your language. have walked.
I started my career in meat factories, working with six year old men who I had to tell put their hair nets on. You know, I had to work, go into boardrooms with, you know, old men in white suits and put together positions. That was in my very, very, very first job when I was 20 something years old. I have lived and breathed this stuff for over two decades. And I promise you, I want to spread this word because I know how difficult it is if you don’t know how to handle this. So share this episode far and wide. would so appreciate it.
and make sure you hit subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s episode. And be sure to get onto my Sunday night newsletter as I will be sharing three super powerful mantras. Just go to lucygarnon.com forward slash newsletter. We will link it as always below to help you to really own your power immediately. So you can show up and you can give the boys a run for their money. Because if you don’t step into your power and shift this now.
you will be in the exact same place next year. And that’s a fact. And deep down, you know it. And that is not what we want. So that’s it for this week’s episode of the show, lovely lady. Be sure to come back next week, same time, same place, so I can share how to fix this. Bye for now.
