Hi Reader,

When I was 8 years old, I auditioned for my first talent agent. I sang "Castle on a Cloud" for the woman who would later represent Anne Hathaway. Her feedback to my mom? "She's too shy."

As a driven kid, I was determined to prove her wrong. I learned how to transform from mumbling and looking at the floor to being "on" – making eye contact, projecting my voice, and owning my presence in a room. I didn't do it all the time, but I learned how to turn it on when I needed to. And I still do.

I see this same journey playing out with many of my executive clients today – especially the more introverted, naturally humble leaders who worry about coming across as arrogant. Here's what's fascinating: the leaders who most fear seeming arrogant are often those who have the deepest commitment to their teams' success. Their concern about overstepping actually reflects their greatest strength – their ability to build trust and bring people along with them.

What they often need isn't to dial back their considerate nature – it's to match it with an equal measure of conviction and bold presence. To trust that their voice matters, that their expertise has value, and that owning their power actually serves their team better than holding back.

In the entertainment industry, they use the term "range" to describe actors who can authentically inhabit many different types of characters (think Cate Blanchett or Daniel Day-Lewis). Great leadership requires this same kind of range. Your team and organization need you to be able to flex your style based on what is most needed for your team, your org and your business. You need to be able to:

• Drive accountability while maintaining psychological safety
• Challenge assumptions while building buy-in
• Push for excellence while showing patience for growth
• Share strong opinions while remaining open to feedback
• Lead from the front while empowering others to step up

With my more reserved clients, I challenge them to:

• Speak up earlier in meetings, rather than waiting for the perfect moment
• State their viewpoint clearly, without excessive caveats
• Hold people accountable firmly but fairly
• Share their expertise with confidence, knowing it helps others grow

I also get the best results with my clients when I bring different parts of my “range” based on what each person most needs in the moment:

• The big-picture catalyst who helps you connect your leadership to measurable business impact
• The playful challenger who calls out blind spots before they become costly missteps
• The wise, gentle mirror when we need to explore deeply held beliefs that are driving your behavior and results
• The no-nonsense New Yorker who gives is constantly driving for clarity

None of us are limited to one style of leading. When you can access different leadership modes authentically, you can be what your business and team need most from you in any given moment.

What part of your leadership range are you ready to expand?

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

• Having so much fun leading workshops and offsites across the country for Instacart
• Kicking off new work with my favorite makeup brand, Ilia
• Lead the final session of our 5-month custom manager training for family offices and getting ready to start our 3rd cohort

EVOLUTION OFFERINGS

• ​Legacy Table: Good People up to Good Things (in Morocco!) Invite only - let me know if you would like an intro.
• ​The Rebellious Leader: A 3-Month Leadership Program For Women Working In Male-Dominated Industries
• ​The Leadership Institute for Black Women: A 6-month Leadership Development Program

Warmly,

Tracy Podell

Senior Partner, Evolution