Why Playing Small Is Holding You Back And What You Can Do About it

When it comes to leadership, confidence is essential. Yet many high-achieving women still struggle to speak openly about their own impact. But as executive coach and Elevate Women founder Angela Timberlake shares in a conversation on Success Thru Connections, knowing your value and voicing it is a game-changer for career growth.

Confidently owning your unique strengths can reshape your professional path, open new doors, and position you as the leader you already are. The best part is that these shifts don’t require much just clarity, intention, and a willingness to stop playing small.

Here’s how women can start doing it with authenticity, purpose, and impact.

1. Shift from “We” to “I” and Own Your Success

Many accomplished women hesitate to step forward and claim their individual impact. Angela shares that she sees this all the time and instead of highlighting their own achievement, they tend to focus only on team achievements.

It is not about bragging, it’s about clarity. At senior levels or when seeking a board seat, people need to see what you specifically bring to the table. Speaking in “I” signals ownership, leadership, and highlights the forward-looking value you offer not just what the team accomplished in the past.

By making this shift, women can position themselves as the confident, capable leaders they truly are.

2. Start With Your Values and Then Define Your Value

Knowing your worth begins with knowing what matters to you. Angela encourages leaders to first ask:

• What are my personal and professional non-negotiables?
• What relationships or moments made me feel most energized and effective?

From there, define your value, the concrete impact you deliver, how you lead, and why it matters.

3.Trace Back Your Strengths

If listing your strengths feels difficult, start by identifying what drains you, tasks or roles that sap your energy. Then, look at where you feel most alive and impactful.

Ask yourself:

• When did I feel truly seen and successful?
• What was I doing, and why did it feel good?

Working backwards from these moments helps clarify where your natural leadership strengths lie and how to communicate them.

4.Tell your story beyond the resume

Executives and future board members shouldn’t just share what they’ve done, they need to share what they can do.

Instead of only listing credentials or past roles, frame your story around:

• The unique problems you solve
• The leadership impact you bring
• How your perspective fills a specific need on a board or team

This future-focused narrative makes you memorable and positions you as indispensable.

5. Build Authentic Connections, Not Just Contacts

Speaking up about your value isn’t enough if no one hears it. Angela advises women to invest in genuine relationships inside and outside their organization.

This means moving beyond transactional networking to build real, intentional relationships grounded in trust, shared values, and mutual support. When the right people understand your value, they don’t just remember your name  they advocate for you, champion your work, and open doors you didn’t even know existed.

Final Thoughts

Tooting your own horn is leadership. It’s how you help boards, teams, and stakeholders see the real impact you bring.

So stop playing it safe. Start by owning your value, speaking it clearly, and building the connections that turn potential into opportunity. 

 Want more insights like these?

Hear the full conversation with Angela Timberlake on the Success Thru Connections podcast. It’s packed with amazing tips and honest truths. Listen to the episode now !