Masculine & Feminine Power: How Authentic Leaders Use Both
Do you believe your title gives you the right to lead?
Or do you know that authentic leadership has nothing to do with the nameplate on your door?
When I sat down with the brilliant Caroline Murphy, she challenged us to explore why many of us are still trapped in a mindset that says position equals power. But here’s the truth: depending on a title, force and control is a short-term game. It stifles creativity, undermines trust, and leaves people feeling used rather than inspired.
In today’s world, leadership demands a new mindset. One that recognizes that who you are is more powerful than any position you hold. Let’s break it down into three shifts you can make today.
1. Understand the Cost of Positional Leadership
One of the questions Caroline asked is “How did he get to that position?”
Have you ever had an interaction with a manager that left you asking the same question?
Too often, we assume someone deserves to lead simply because they hold a title. However, as Caroline reminded us, many leaders are appointed to positions through legacy, privilege, or a system that favours the status quo. We promote others because they excelled at their entry-level position. Unfortunately, the skills required to excel at a job most often don’t earn the trust or respect needed to lead.
Leadership requires a mindset that enables you to inspire and influence the people you are leading. Unaware of this mindset, many new managers rely on their title and the authority that comes with it.
When you lead only from position, you create cultures where people comply to survive rather than take the initiative and risk needed to thrive. You end up harvesting their energy instead of harnessing their brilliance.
As Caroline put it: “It’s so important to harness potential, not harvest it.”
Mindset Shift: Stop harvesting your team’s energy. Start harnessing it. See your position as a responsibility to uplift, inspire, and tap into each person’s unique brilliance.
2. Break the Glass Ceiling Within
“Part of leading through and breaking the ceiling…you have to first break it within yourself.” — Caroline Murphy
We become leaders through the inner work no one sees. Caroline shared that her journey was never about waiting for someone to hand her permission. It was about becoming the kind of leader who could break barriers and inspire others.
Part of that inner work is to step outside the male-modelled leadership norms and embrace our feminine and masculine energy. Too many of us, especially women, believe we must be tough and put on a “masculine armour” to succeed in leadership.
According to Caroline, effective leadership isn’t about choosing only to embody an authoritative male energy. Instead, leadership is about integrating our bold, action-oriented masculine energy and our empathetic, collaborative feminine energy. This integration is what creates transformational influence. The kind that fosters psychological safety, inspires people to step up, and brings their best selves to the table.
Mindset Shift: Ask yourself: Which part of me have I silenced? Am I leading with both my confident, decisive masculine side and my creative, intuitive feminine side? Bring both to your business and leadership. That’s how you break through for yourself and for those watching you.
3. Model Possibility, Don’t Manage Through Control
For far too long, we have confused leadership with management. Management focuses on controlling the outcome and telling people what to do. Leadership is about modelling possibility, inspiring action, and mentoring and supporting people to become their best selves. The key is to determine whether management or leadership is necessary in any given situation. Experience has taught me that when I lead effectively, the need to manage occurs less frequently.
“You don’t realize you have become an influential person in their lives for your example.” — Caroline Murphy.
Caroline reminded us that people don’t learn by being ordered around. They learn by watching you rise, stumble, grow, and keep going. You become a living symbol of what’s possible. And when you embody humility and growth, people will follow you, not because they must, but because you have created a safe space for them to stumble, rise, and grow while pushing the envelope to see what is truly possible.
Mindset Shift: Stop asking: “How do I make them do this?” Start asking: “How do I become the example they want to follow?”
A Leadership Model for the New Era
I invite you to let go of leading from a position alone and explore the power of mindset, as well as the blending of your masculine and feminine energies. Embrace the responsibility to inspire people, not just command them.
When you lead from your whole self, you create the inspired culture that your team, clients, and community crave.
If this blog resonated with you, you’ll love hearing the entire conversation on our latest podcast.
Listen to “Leading in the New Era: Why Authority, Force, and Control Is No Longer Enough” on The Influencer’s Journey Show. Discover even more insights to help you lead from the inside out.
Tune in, reflect, and join the journey.
Your next level of leadership starts here.
