ACTSHEON™: Own the Room with Clarity and Command

Let’s get this straight: the version of you you’re waiting for—the “perfect” one who magically arrives with flawless timing and full confidence? 

She’s not coming. 

Because leadership isn’t about becoming some polished, peak-performing unicorn. It’s about moving before you feel ready—especially when you’re stepping into higher-stakes rooms, being called to lead at a new level, or needing to show up when you’d rather stay in the background. 

You’ve been taught—maybe subtly, maybe loudly—that you should master every skill, check every box, get every credential, and earn every drop of permission before you dare go for more. 

But here’s what I know—and what I need you to really let sink in: 

Confidence is the result of action, not the prerequisite for it. 

So today, I want to talk to the woman who’s holding back. Who’s questioning herself. Who’s delaying her next move until she feels 100% equipped. 

Yes, I’m talking to you—in the mirror, in the rewind, in the middle of another “maybe next time.” 

You don’t need more time.

You need to trust that developing your skills in motion is the fastest, truest path to the competence and confidence you're craving. 

Let’s get into it. 

You Don’t Need to Be the Most Skilled to Start 

Skill matters. Let’s not pretend it doesn’t. But far too many brilliant, qualified women linger on the sidelines, thinking they need more—more preparation, more credentials, more permission—before they make a move. 

Here’s the truth: skill is built through practice, not perfection. 

You gain competence by doing—not by waiting. And the more you put yourself in the room, the more you anchor your value, not just in what you know, but in what you do. 

A recent McKinsey & Company report found that women hold only 28% of C-suite roles—and women of color hold just a fraction of that. One key reason? Too many of us wait to be overqualified before we even raise our hand. 

Over-preparing is costing you opportunities. 

Confidence Follows Competence—But Only If You Move 

A lot of people confuse competence and confidence—so let’s make the difference plain: 

• Competence is your actual ability to perform.
• Confidence is your belief in that ability. 

Here’s the twist: Most people want to feel confident before they move—but that’s not how it works. Real confidence comes from the movement. 

It comes from trying, failing, learning, refining, and showing up again. And again. 

Think of a baby learning to walk. She doesn’t wait for balance and muscle memory to show up first—she moves, wobbles, falls, and rises until she builds what she needs. 

Leadership is the same. You build readiness by moving, not by waiting. 

Owning the Room Starts with Owning Your Preparation 

Let’s shift the conversation from just “speaking up” to showing up with clarity and command—because that’s what “owning the room” really looks like. 

It’s not about dominating the conversation. It’s about being: 

• Grounded in your purpose
• Clear on your value
• Ready to contribute—not when you feel perfect, but when the moment calls for presence 

A Harvard Business Review study in 2023 showed that women who contribute with consistency—not just brilliance—are more likely to be perceived as high performers and credible leaders. 

So let’s break that myth: you don’t have to be the loudest.

You have to be present. Prepared. Strategic. 

Whether it’s how you manage your team, deliver your insights, or hold the energy in the room, you’re not just showing up. You’re shaping the tone and setting the standard. 

If You Stay Hidden, You Stay Overlooked 

Here’s what I want you to know, especially if you’re still telling yourself “they’ll see me when I’m ready”: 

The room can’t recognize what you refuse to reveal. 

I know it’s tempting to keep your head down. To wait until you’ve read the next book, nailed the next certification, or feel totally secure. 

But let me lovingly remind you: 

Hiding doesn’t protect you from judgment. 

It just ensures you won’t be remembered. 

The table you want to sit at isn’t looking for the perfect résumé. It’s watching for the woman who brings clarity, consistency, and leadership energy—even in motion. 

So What Does “Owning the Room” Really Look Like? 

It’s not about being the loudest. It’s about being the leader who moves with intention. 

It looks like: 

• Coming into the meeting with insight, not just updates
• Pitching your idea without pre-apologizing for it
• Asking a clarifying question that reframes the conversation
• Leading a room without overpowering it—by directing energy, not just attention
• Delivering results and presence—not just output 

Your leadership isn’t in your volume. It’s in your clarity. Your preparation. Your ability to hold space and move strategy forward. 

That’s how you own the room. 

Final Word, Friend to Friend 

You won’t always feel ready. But readiness isn’t a feeling—it’s a decision you make in motion. 

You don’t need to be the most experienced, the most confident, or the most articulate. You need to be present, prepared, and willing to grow in real time. 

That’s what builds real leadership. That’s what builds trust. That’s what earns respect—not just in rooms you’re invited to, but in the ones you create. 

Your Call to ACTSHEON™

This week, I want you to practice owning a room before you feel fully “ready.” That might mean: 

• Taking the lead on a call
• Speaking up earlier in the meeting
• Asking a strategic question
• Showing up prepared with insight—not just information 

Just one bold action. One room. One moment where you don’t wait to be perfect, you show up to practice presence. 

Because you’re not preparing for your future leadership—you’re in it now.