Dearest gentle readers,
Every era carries its own expectations of women.
In the Regency period, a woman’s future was shaped by marriage, manners, and conformity. Today, the corsets may be gone, but the pressure remains — simply dressed differently.
Modern professional women are expected to be confident, capable leaders at work, emotionally present partners at home, steady parents, reliable friends, and endlessly composed — all at once.
And somewhere along the way, many women quietly begin to question themselves.
Am I good enough?
Do I really belong at this level?
Why does leadership feel so hard when I’m clearly capable?
The Invisible Weight Women Carry in Leadership
For women aged 30–60, particularly those balancing professional responsibility with family life, leadership challenges often show up as:
- a lack of confidence despite clear competence
- imposter syndrome that undermines self-belief
- anxiety around presenting ideas or speaking up
- avoiding difficult conversations
- feeling torn between authenticity and expectation
Our culture, upbringing, family dynamics, and even our location shape the values we believe we should lead by. In places like Cumbria, where community, modesty, and resilience run deep, many women feel an added pressure to “just get on with it” — quietly.
But effective leadership doesn’t come from fitting yourself into someone else’s mould.
Authentic Leadership Is Not About Becoming Someone Else
The most impactful leaders are not those who shout the loudest or follow a prescribed leadership style.
They are the ones who lead in alignment with who they truly are.
Authentic leadership means:
- confidence without arrogance
- clarity without harshness
- presence without performance
- authority rooted in self-trust
It is not about adopting the values of others — your organisation, society, or even well-meaning mentors — but about understanding and leading from your own.
A Confidential Space to Explore the Leader You Already Are
I work 1:1 with professional women who want to develop their leadership skills in a way that feels genuine, grounded, and sustainable.
From my calm, confidential coaching space in the South West Lakes or virtually, I support women to:
- build lasting confidence
- move beyond imposter syndrome
- strengthen presentation and communication skills
- manage difficult conversations with calm authority
- lead in a way that aligns with their values and identity
This is not about “fixing” you.
It’s about creating space — to reflect, recalibrate, and grow into the leader you already have the potential to be.
An Invitation
If this resonates, I invite you to book a free, no-obligation discovery call.
Tell me what’s happening for you right now, and together we can explore whether working together feels like the right next step.
Because in every era, the women who lead most powerfully are those who choose to lead as themselves.
Helen
