When you think of the word "authority," what is the first thought that comes up for you? 

For many high-performing women leaders I coach, "authority" is a loaded word. 

Here’s why that makes sense. We’ve spent years navigating structures where authority was questionable or its misuse eroded our trust. Conditioned to be self-effacing and humble, we often view traditional authority as brash or bombastic. 

I teach a concept called Itty Bitty Sh*tty Committee (not a new idea 💡 — I first heard it from Kara Snyder when she coached me about a decade ago, and I’ve run with it ever since).

Itty Bitty Sh*tty Committee, or IBSC, for short, is the voice of our inner critic.

Ask a bright, ambitious manager how they’d know they have executive presence — and you might hear something that sounds more like a hostage situation than leadership.