When the Road Splits: You’re Carrying More Than Your Title

When the path ahead splits and both directions feel uncertain, leadership isn’t about knowing the answer—it’s about choosing with clarity and courage.

There’s a moment I’ll never forget.

My boss came into my office, looked past me out the window, and asked,

“When are you going to get results?”

He didn’t yell.

He didn’t have to.

I felt the weight of every unspoken expectation land on my shoulders.

At that point, I was managing the entire Seattle sales team.

Twelve people. A market in decline. A company expecting a turnaround.

On paper, I had the title.

But in real life? I was carrying far more:

• The culture shift no one knew how to talk about.

• The trust-building.

• The tension between driving results and keeping people engaged.

• The emotional labor of being “the one who gets it.”

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I thought I had to hold it all. Alone.

That moment in my office wrecked me.

I cried in the bathroom, makeup streaming down my face.

I packed up early that day and went home.

Not because I couldn’t do it—but because I finally saw what I was doing wrong:

I was leading from pressure, not presence.

I was holding the weight of everyone else’s expectations—and none of my own truth.

Modern leadership isn’t about doing more.

It’s about recognizing what you’re holding—and getting clear on what’s actually yours to carry.

That moment changed everything.

I stopped hiding behind my title. I started owning my presence.

And I learned to lead not from obligation, but from grounded confidence.

If you’ve ever found yourself holding more than your job description reflects, I see you.

You’re not weak.

You’re not doing it wrong.

You’re carrying more than your title—and that’s what makes you a leader.

Want support navigating these moments?

Download my free guide: Leading Through Uncertainty — it’s written for leaders like you.