What do top women leaders know that can transform your career? Drawing from interviews with thousands of successful women for our book The Influence Effect: A New Path to Power for Women Leaders, we uncovered the five Ps that propelled them forward: purpose, presence, preparation, power, and positivity.
Related: The best career advice from successful people at the top
1. Purpose
Engaging in meaningful work fuels passion and makes demanding days sustainable. But what if you're not there yet? I once coached a talented woman stuck in a well-paid but uninspiring role with an easy routine. It sounded ideal—until it wasn't. Boredom eroded her sense of accomplishment.
Through targeted networking and careful research, she pivoted to a new field within her company, embracing a challenging assignment. She stepped out of her comfort zone into a role where her skills rebuilt a fractured team and sparked fresh vision. The real reward? Rekindled purpose, passion, and achievement.
2. Presence
Picture this: a conference room full, meeting ready to start—except the leader rushes in disheveled, papers spilling, laptop tumbling, over-apologizing for her lateness. That was me. Presence goes beyond sharp attire; it's about projecting confidence and trust. Do you stand tall with solid posture? Offer a firm handshake? Deliver concise, thoughtful points in meetings?
Seek feedback from trusted colleagues and refine continuously. Presence is a lifelong skill.
Related: Habits of 12 very successful women
3. Preparation
Preparation is vital but can become a trap. Many women grind away, heads down, hoping opportunities find them. I advised a high-potential leader eyeing partnership. Feedback revealed she missed crucial networking and visibility because she was "too busy" or "too tired" holed up in her office.
She worked harder, not smarter. Balance prep with action: jot ideas over casual lunches, allocate buffer time in meetings for notes and transitions, build routines that honor your human limits—not machine-like endurance.
4. Power
Women often wrestle with 'power' and office politics. Our book reframes it as influence—authentic collaboration over cutthroat tactics. "Studies show imitating male behaviors doesn't advance women," notes Kathryn Heath, founding partner of Flynn Heath Holt Leadership. "We thrive on inclusion and win-win outcomes. Influence is our missing link."
Leverage your expert power from skills and knowledge, then master nuanced personal influence to advance agendas and rally others.
5. Positivity
Who wants to follow a 'Debbie Downer'? Positivity draws teams, especially amid tough work and emotional investment. Research shows men may misread women's passion as 'emotionality,' and women can struggle to release negativity—what we call 'restrained anxiety.'
As emerging leaders, we must counter this by cultivating optimism. People follow positive visionaries. Focus here, enlist allies, and unlock your potential. You've heard echoes of this—now commit intentionally. Good luck!
Related: Strategies for Women to Lead the Workplace
