Are You Ready to Lead?
- Sonia Brown MBE
- Mar 21
- 7 min read
"Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable. I didn't have to become perfect because I've learned throughout my journey that perfection is the enemy of greatness." Janelle Monáe, Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, and activist
Leadership readiness is often signalled by the ability to navigate complexity with confidence; make decisions under uncertainty and influence outcomes beyond one’s immediate scope of responsibility. Leaders are not defined by their job descriptions but by their ability to drive change, foster collaboration and inspire action.
They anticipate challenges before they arise, communicate a compelling vision and create an environment where both individuals and teams can thrive. More importantly, they understand that leadership is not about control—it’s about empowerment, ensuring that those around them have the tools, confidence and support to succeed.
For women stepping into leadership—whether at the managerial, executive or C-suite level—the journey often requires breaking through long-standing biases about who gets to lead. Research consistently shows that women face higher expectations to prove competence and are more likely to be judged on past performance rather than future potential.
This makes it even more critical to demonstrate leadership behaviours consistently and visibly. Cultivating executive presence, advocating for strategic opportunities and aligning actions with long-term goals all play a role in reinforcing one’s leadership readiness. If you see these traits in yourself, the next step is to own your leadership, step forward with intention and position yourself for the opportunities you’ve already proven you’re ready for.
10 Signs You’re Ready to Lead
Leadership readiness isn’t about waiting for a title—it’s about stepping into the behaviours that drive impact. Let’s look at these signs that we hope will help to reinforce and accelerate your leadership growth:
1️. You’re a great listener – You engage before you speak. Your ability to understand before responding makes you an invaluable decision-maker. It’s important to practice active listening by using mirroring techniques—repeat key points back to the speaker to confirm understanding. This builds rapport and enhances your ability to lead with clarity. Cultivating this habit will help to strengthen relationships; improve decision-making and increase trust with colleagues and stakeholders.
2️. You champion inclusivity – Great leaders ensure diverse perspectives have a seat at the table and challenge exclusionary behaviours. Learn to use reframing actions to challenge unconscious biases. When faced with differing opinions, consciously shift your perspective to understand alternative viewpoints before responding. This will encourage innovative thinking, foster collaboration and positions you as a leader who values equity and diverse contributions.
3️. You take initiative – You don’t wait for permission to solve problems. You anticipate challenges and step in with solutions. Learn to visualise success using future pacing—imagine a scenario where you’ve proactively solved a major challenge and reflect on how you got there. Then, take the first step toward making it real. In the word ‘cant’ is the word ‘can’ Choose where you focus. By future pacing your confidence will increase, problem-solving abilities strengthened and you are prepared to take decisive action in critical situations.
“You can be the lead in your own life.” – Kerry Washington
4️. You own your development – You take responsibility for your own growth, setting clear goals and measuring your progress. Use anchoring to reinforce motivation—attach a strong positive emotion to a specific action (e.g., reviewing goals) to make personal development feel rewarding rather than daunting. In addition to this find yourself a mentor or join a peer group to keep you accountable; maintain momentum and accelerate career progression.
5️. You celebrate others – Leadership is about building people up, not just personal success. You recognise the achievements of those around you. Apply language patterns for reinforcement—use phrases like “I appreciate the way you…” instead of generic praise to make recognition more impactful. As a leader this will strengthen team morale, foster greater collaboration and positions you as a leader who genuinely values others.
6️. You’re reliable – Consistency builds trust. When you say you’ll deliver, you do. Implement meta-model questioning—ask yourself, “What specific actions will ensure I follow through on my commitments?” and set structured accountability measures. This enhances credibility, builds trust and increases professional influence where it matters!
7️. You lift others up – You share knowledge, mentor and create an environment where others can succeed. One of the most common techniques is to use modelling—identify a mentor or leader who excels at supporting others and observe their behaviours. Then, incorporate those strategies into your leadership approach. This will help to build leadership legacy, enhances influence and reinforces your role as a trusted authourity.
8️. You communicate with impact – You simplify complexity, convey your ideas clearly and inspire action through your words. Apply embedded commands—subtly guide conversations with directive phrasing (e.g., instead of “You should consider this,” say “As you reflect on this, you’ll realise why it works”). This helps you to deal with silent micro aggressions and the undermining traps that can hinder your progress. Impactful communication means you can enhances persuasion, improve clarity and strengthens your executive presence.
9️. You create real value – Leaders don’t just execute tasks—they solve problems that matter to the team, company and industry. You don’t need to eat the whole pie. Use chunking techniques—break down large problems into smaller, actionable steps or zoom out to see the bigger picture when stuck in details. This will allow you to increase strategic thinking, enhance decision-making and establish you as a solutions-oriented leader.
10. You have a growth mindset – You see failure as feedback, embrace continuous improvement, and are unafraid to evolve. By practicing cognitive flexibility, you can reframe setbacks—not as failures, but as valuable lessons. Instead of saying, “I failed,” shift to “This experience gave me insight into how I can improve.” As Einstein famously noted, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
This mindset reduces the fear of failure, strengthens resilience, and fosters continuous learning—key traits of adaptable, high-impact leaders.
Why This Matters
For women looking to move into senior leadership or the C-suite, these behaviours are critical. The road to executive leadership is often shaped by perception as much as performance. Research by McKinsey & Company and Harvard Business Review shows that women are often judged on proven results, while men are judged on potential.
This means that demonstrating leadership behaviours before stepping into a senior role isn’t just advantageous—it’s essential. Women must navigate additional scrutiny, often needing to consistently exceed expectations to be considered for the same opportunities. This reality underscores the importance of visibility, strategic positioning and proactive leadership development.
Women who reach the top aren’t just technically competent; they actively shape the narrative around their leadership. They understand that executive presence—a combination of confidence, strategic thinking and communication—plays a significant role in career advancement. This requires not only delivering results but also ensuring that those results are seen, acknowledged and aligned with the organisation’s strategic goals. Additionally, cultivating a strong network of sponsors, mentors and allies is a critical step in advancing to senior roles. Women who proactively seek out high-impact projects, take ownership of decision-making and consistently position themselves as thought leaders create undeniable momentum toward leadership.
Another key factor is the ability to navigate and challenge systemic barriers. Women in leadership often face unconscious biases, workplace cultures that favour traditional power dynamics and a lack of representation in decision-making spaces. Those who successfully ascend to the C-suite are intentional about breaking these cycles—not just for themselves, but for the next generation of female leaders.
They mentor, advocate for inclusive leadership policies and ensure that their rise to the top paves the way for others. If you recognise these leadership traits in yourself, now is the time to step forward, claim your space and actively pursue the next level in your career. Your leadership is not just about your success—it’s about reshaping the future of leadership for women everywhere.
What’s Your Next Move?
If you resonate with these signs, how are you positioning yourself for the next step?
Leadership readiness is not just about possessing the right skills—it’s about strategic positioning and intentional action. Are you proactively building relationships with decision-makers? Are you seeking out high-visibility projects that align with your long-term leadership goals? Are you mentoring and sponsoring others, reinforcing your leadership presence while cultivating the next generation of leaders? These are not passive questions—they are essential steps in shaping your leadership trajectory.
Stepping into leadership is not about waiting for permission—it’s about demonstrating readiness every single day. High-impact leaders don’t just respond to opportunities; they create them. They position themselves as solutions-oriented thinkers, communicate their value with clarity and align their efforts with the larger vision of their organisation or industry. They ensure that their work is seen, recognised and strategically leveraged for growth. Whether it’s advocating for a leadership initiative, expanding your influence within key networks, or refining your executive presence, deliberate action is what propels careers forward.
What’s one action you’ll take this week to step into your next level of leadership? Will you initiate a conversation with a mentor or sponsor? Will you take ownership of a strategic project that highlights your problem-solving skills? Will you challenge yourself to speak up in meetings with confidence and authority? The next step in your leadership journey starts with a decision—one that only you can make.
Your Next Leadership Move Starts Here – Let NBWN Elevate Your Journey
Leadership isn’t just about skill—it’s about strategy, visibility and positioning yourself for real impact. If you’re ready to step into your next level, the question isn’t if you should take action, but who you’re aligning with to accelerate your success.
At NBWN, we don’t just support leaders—we cultivate them. Our network connects you with the right opportunities, influential decision-makers, and game-changing strategies to ensure you’re not just in the room, but commanding the conversation. Whether you’re seeking high-visibility projects, looking to refine your executive presence, or ready to turn expertise into influence, we’re here to help you make the bold moves that set you apart.
So, what’s your next leadership move?
Let’s make it powerful. Let’s make it strategic. Let’s make it with NBWN. Reach out today and discover how we can support your incredible journey.
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