Bring the best version of you to the stage
What does being in command feel like? Our work with ambitious and diversely successful women tells us it feels like actively choosing confidence, being intentional about the energy you bring to important moments (including eliminating distractions) and having control over how you respond to the situation regardless of how it evolves. It is not about trying to become louder or softer, more aggressive or more subtle versions of ourselves. We are training to become more deliberate, more assertive and more fully expressed when the moment asks for leadership. The best version of ourselves, not anyone else. That’s the beauty of it.
In the first edition of this journal, we focused on physical presence — posture, breath, and the signals your body sends before you say a word. This time, we move one step further: into the quality of your focus, the clarity of your message and your ability to stay with your point when the room gets noisy.
Today’s Focus: Agency Under Pressure
Women are still navigating workplaces where being heard is not a given. McKinsey and Lean In found that 50% of women in 2019 said they were interrupted or spoken over, while other research has documented that men interrupting, ignoring and condescending women on the job has implications that need addressing.
Below are sample exercises you can practice to help ensure you stay connected to what you came to do. They help you to stay on course regardless of pressure, personalities or that feeling that you need to minimize or apologize. Stay in command of your preparation, your state and your response.
Protocol 1: Know Your Role
Retain focus by staying anchored to what you are there to do and not getting pulled into everything else.
Steps:
Before the conversation, ask:
What is my role here?
What is mine to own?
What is not mine to carry?
Protocol 2: Structure the Message
Make your thinking easy to follow and your recommendation hard to miss.
Steps:
Choose a consistent script structure to organize your thoughts before important conversations and during your delivery. Example: Leaders’ Scriptfrom the Humphrey Group.
Keeping it as simple as possible, go through the script before your meeting — you can write it down or just go over it in your head if it is a simple discussion.
Protocol 3: Hold the Floor
Respond without losing agency when you’re interrupted, challenged or pushed off course.
Steps:
Control your body — Plant your feet, slow your breathing.
Don’t apologize or ask permission to finish your thought — “I will finish this thought and then I’ll respond to your question.”
Use “I” deliberately — “I believe”, “I’m convinced”, “my recommendation is ” and avoid minimizing language like “I was thinking that perhaps we should…”
Think of one conversation you have coming up this week. Write down your role, sketch your message using the structure above, and choose one sentence you will use to hold the floor if interrupted. That is how command gets trained.
Featured Voice: She Commands Founder, Myra Reisler
Founder Myra Reisler shares why She Commands exists as a women-focused business.
If you’re interested in being featured and celebrated in a future newsletter, reach out to boss@shecommands.ca with subject line: “Feature Me”.
Women in Command — Signals from the field
Executive presence is being redefined around clarity, trust, and influence (MIT Management Executive Education)
A recent MIT Sloan Executive Education article argues that developing executive presence helps women leaders expand influence and ensure their expertise is recognized.
The ambition gap… isn't about ambition (McKinsey & Lean In)
McKinsey and Lean In's 2025 Women in the Workplace report found that for the first time in 11 years, women are less likely than men to want to be promoted — but the gap disappears when women receive the same career support as men.
She Commands Update — Launch of free tools
We have officially launched the Commanding Presence Archetype Quiz, along with a sample Starter Kit, for subscribers.
The quiz is designed to help you identify your Commanding Presence archetype so you can focus on the right growth areas. The Starter Kit provides an immediate way to begin using the Power Pillar framework and simple daily command protocols to achieve that growth.
Retreats
We are finalizing the details for 3 more 1-day intensive retreats in Toronto in June, Septemer and November. Subscribers will be the first to know when dates are finalized and will get access to early bird pricing for limited tickets.
Virtual workshops
We are also developing a series of 1-2 hr online workshops with nutrition, fitness, mindfulness and life coaches covering targeted topics designed to help women take action in various facets of their life to enable their work and life goals.
1:1 Coaching
Our Founder and a number of our coach partners offer 1:1 Coaching in addition to She Commands program workshops. Reach out to boss@shecommands.ca to find the coaching structure that’s right for you.
Command Centre Membership
We are working towards a June BETA launch of our Command Centre membership with access to our personalized execution plan tool, exclusive content and community building. Reply to this email if you are interested in joining our BETA testing program!
Your full potential deserves structure, practice, and the right environment to come forward. That is the work ahead. More programs, tools, and experiences coming.
Continue to celebrate moments where you felt In Command — and don’t forget to tag us when you do on Instagram | Facebook/ LinkedIn