ACTSHEON™: Follow Up to Move Up—Why Women Leaders Must Circle Back

Let me share something I’ve learned the hard way—and seen way too many brilliant women learn even harder: if you don’t follow up, you will be forgotten. 

I know that sounds harsh. But that’s life. 

We can have the best meeting of our lives, be told the promotion is “on the horizon,” get the nod for the big project, or have a coffee chat where someone says, “Let’s absolutely do this again.” And then poof—it floats into the ether, lost in the land of things people meant in the moment. 

And here’s the kicker: it’s not always malice—it’s just life. 

People get busy, priorities shift, and inboxes overflow. And if you’re not gently but firmly nudging that opportunity back onto their radar… well, you’re leaving your growth in the hands of someone else’s memory. 

And as your friend, may I point out the obvious? Their memory is not a growth strategy. 

The Soft Power of the Follow-Up 

Following up doesn’t make you pushy. It makes you powerful. It’s how you turn “that was a great conversation” into “I got the opportunity.” 

When you follow up, you’re not begging for a favor. You’re reinforcing value, demonstrating initiative, and showing that you’re serious. And let’s be honest, haven’t we all had moments where we thought, “Well, they know I’m interested. If they want to move forward, they’ll let me know.” 

But here’s the problem with that logic: you’ve made yourself optional. 

The squeaky wheel may not always be the favorite, but let’s be real—it gets the grease. So squeak a little. Send the email. Reiterate your interest. Circle back. 

Be the woman who follows through when others fade away. It’s not desperation—it’s leadership. 

Follow-Through: The Grown-Woman Glow-Up 

Now, following up gets you noticed. But following through? It gets you trusted. 

Whether it’s a career milestone you agreed to hit before a promotion, a timeline for pitching a project, or a deadline for a collaboration, do what you said you’d do. 

On time. With excellence.

But let’s not pretend this is easy. Life be lifing. 

Yet, following through builds your reputation in a way no self-promotion ever could. It tells people, “I don’t just talk leadership—I walk it.” 

And let me tell you, the women who consistently follow through are the ones who quietly and steadily climb to places others are still emailing about. 

It also means holding others to account—respectfully. 

If your supervisor said, “Let’s revisit this once you hit XYZ metric,” and you hit it? Schedule the follow-up. Bring receipts. Set the tone. 

Because being understanding has its place, but so does getting what you’ve earned. There’s a difference between grace and self-sacrifice, and too many of us blur that line in the name of being “nice.” 

Don’t be afraid to advocate for what was promised and what you earned. You’re not being difficult. You’re being direct. 

Don’t Let Your Future Sit in Someone Else’s Inbox 

We cannot afford to assume people will circle back. 

If you leave your next step sitting in someone else’s inbox—unreplied to, unread, or worse, mentally marked as “deal with later”—you risk giving away control of your own trajectory. 

The missed follow-up becomes the missed opportunity. The “meant to” becomes the “never happened.” And suddenly, someone else gets tapped for the role, the deal, the stage—because they asked. Because they reminded. Because they were still visible while you were politely waiting in the wings. 

This doesn’t mean you chase people relentlessly. But it does mean you check in with a purpose. You close the loop. You say, “Hey, just circling back on this—it’s still something I’m really interested in.” That sentence? It’s pure gold. 

And if they ghost you? That’s data, not defeat. You now know where you stand. 

Move accordingly. 

The Sisterhood of the Follow-Through 

Now—let’s shift gears for a second. If you’re a woman who’s learned how to follow up and follow through like a pro (cue slow clap), here’s your next leadership assignment: help another woman get there, too. 

Reach back. Tap a shoulder. 

Say, “Hey, did you follow up on that meeting yet?” or “Want me to review that email before you send it?” because sometimes, we need a little nudge or someone to say, “You’re not being annoying—you’re being strategic.” 

Too many women are out here trying to decode the silent rules of advancement on their own. If you’ve cracked even a part of the code, share it. It doesn’t cost you anything to make space at the table—and let’s be honest, most tables could use a few more women with receipts and reminders. 

Think of it like this: if we all followed through on helping each other follow up? 

Game. Changed. 

Let’s Get Real for a Moment 

Okay, I know all of this sounds very buttoned-up, but can we admit how awkward it sometimes feels to send that second email? 

You sit there like: “Okay, do I sound desperate? Is it too soon? Should I use an exclamation point, or does that scream needy? Is this too many words? Do I sound like a LinkedIn motivational quote?” 

Girl, send the dang email. 

Write the follow-up. Make the calendar reminder. Circle back even if you think you’re being “too much.” 

Because what you’re actually being is a woman who knows her worth. 

A woman who doesn’t let great opportunities slip by because someone else got distracted. A woman who’s rewriting the rules of leadership not by shouting, but by showing up again. And again. 

Your Call to ACTSHEON™ 

Don’t just be remembered—be respected. 

You already have the talent. You’ve already done the work. Now, close the gap between where you are and where you’re going by mastering what happens after the meeting. 

After the nod. After the promise. 

The follow-up is your bridge. The follow-through is your anchor. They’re two of your most powerful moves toward career growth or business success. 

So let’s not just sit around being “nice” and “patient” while doors close in silence.

Let’s knock. Let’s nudge. 

Let’s be respectfully relentless in our pursuit of what we’ve earned. Because at the end of the day, leadership isn’t just about showing up once—it’s about showing up until it’s done. 

And you, my friend? You are more than capable of that.