Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

457: Why Your Winning Strategy No Longer Works and How to Fix That

Sep 8, 2025

High-performing introverts may be stuck in their roles due to behaviors that don't align with executive expectations. The instinct to fix problems can actually hinder upward mobility. Learn strategies to enhance your influence and showcase your authentic leadership style. Uncover how to shift from being a doer to a leader without sacrificing your introverted nature. It's time to break free from the worker-bee trap and embrace a more strategic approach to leadership.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Problem-Solving Can Become A Career Ceiling

The problem-solving skills that made you a star can become a liability at senior levels when strategy matters more.
You must shift from fixing to designing systems that achieve bigger goals.

ADVICE

Reframe Problems Around Purpose

Observe how senior executives frame problems and ask why we're solving them before acting.
Redefine your mission to focus on systems and purpose instead of fixing every issue.

INSIGHT

Team Influence ≠ Organizational Influence

Deep influence with your team won't automatically scale to organization-wide impact.
To be a VP you must amplify through others and create alignment across the company.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

To see if Laura’s Executive Presence Mastery System 90-day coaching intensive is right for you, set up a strategy call here.

What if the very skills that made you a high-performing rockstar are exactly what’s keeping you from the executive table?

You’ve mastered the art of problem-solving, deliver exceptional results, and your team swears by your leadership. But despite glowing performance reviews, you’re constantly told to “be more strategic” — without being shown how. If you’re a high-performing introvert stuck in the same role while others leap ahead, this episode unpacks exactly why.

In today’s episode you’ll learn:

🐝 The top 3 behaviors that keep brilliant introverts stuck in “worker bee” roles, even with elite-level performance.

😱 Why your instinct to fix problems may be your biggest leadership liability — and what to do instead.

🔑 How to scale your influence and show executive presence authentically, without pretending to be an extrovert.

If you’re ready to stop being overlooked and start being seen as executive material, hit play and learn how to shift from doing to leading — without losing your introvert edge.

If you want to stop being the doer and finally be seen as the executive leader, go up these show notes, click the first link you find, or visit speakupwithlaura.com to book a call. I’d love to show you how this program helps high-performing introverts break the worker-bee trap—for good.

To get on our insiders email list please visit speakupwithlaura.com. Our Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning.

In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion opportunities.

By honing communication skills and fostering a trusted advisor mindset, aspiring executives cultivate mastery in public speaking and beat imposter syndrome. Your leadership becomes more strategic and inspiring.