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The Two Levers of Leadership: Power and Influence

The Two Levers of Leadership: Power and Influence

Update: 2025-06-10
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Today, I’m talking about the art of leading with both power and influence. After numerous conversations with college-aged women and coaching calls with experienced leaders, it’s evident that these two sides of leadership show up everywhere—at work, at home, and in our communities—but we often wrestle with when to exercise authority and when to win hearts and minds through connection.

I’m guiding you through what each approach really looks like and when to apply which. I’ll also share some practical tips that you can implement right away. Whether you’re making big decisions or building team buy-in, I’m breaking down the approaches that will help you show up with both confidence and genuine connection.

If you’ve ever wondered how to strike the perfect balance between being respected and relatable, or when to make the call vs when to rally support, you’ll find helpful ideas here. Let’s expand your leadership toolkit so you can lead in a way that actually feels good to you—your way!

Show Highlights:

  • Why power and influence matter in real-world leadership. [00:42 ]
  • Positional power vs. earned influence. [03:15 ]
  • The pros and cons of women’s leadership dynamic. [06:06 ]
  • Cultivating influence—and ways to practice it today. [09:55 ]
  • The five key skills of positional power. [15:43 ]
  • How influence is lateral while power is vertical. [21:01 ]
  • Balance power and influence with situational wisdom. [23:17 ]
  • Take action with this important reflection. [26:02 ]

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The Two Levers of Leadership: Power and Influence

The Two Levers of Leadership: Power and Influence