this is NOT revolutionary leadership

I’ve been breaking my own leadership rules lately, and I didn’t even realize it. đ¤Śđżââď¸
I broke it because, tbh, I havenât been fully honest with myself about what I want in my business.
Iâve been so focused on whatâs:
- realistic
- feasible
- necessary
Instead of being honest about what I actually want and finding a way to make that realistic, feasible, and necessary.
Iâve been so focused on whatâs good for everyone else – my team, my clients, my partnerâŚ
âŚ.that I completely left myself behind in the process.
Let me clarify this for the folks who are just catching up:
That is NOT revolutionary leadership.
Yes, as revolutionary leaders, we value people over profit.
We consider our team and clients to be true community, and treat them as such.
But one thing thatâs easy to forget is:
You are one of the people you need to prioritize over profit, too.
Thatâs easy to say when your needs align with your communityâs needsâŚ
âŚbut itâs so much harder when it feels like your needs are in direct opposition to everyone else’s.
As women and femmes of color who are socialized, shamed, and guilted into being caretakers and side characters of our own damn lives, it can often feel like:
đđżclaiming what’s really right for us means taking something for someone else
đđżtaking up space for ourselves and our voice means thereâs less for others
đđżending an agreement that is no longer in alignment for us means abandoning someone we love
Excuse me while I take a deep sigh of exhaustion for all of the unnecessary drama we all experience from living in a world that thrives on binaries and scarcity mindsets.
I’m gonna be honest.
When it comes to claiming your needs as a leader⌠sometimes, it really does hurt.
Sometimes meeting your needs is going to mean:
đđżYou canât be there for someone, because you donât have capacity
đđżYou have to end something, because while itâs good for your community⌠it sucks for you
đđżYou lose a community member, employee, or worse, friend who is offended by your need to prioritize yourself (itâs sad how often this one is true, yâall)
And – itâs okay, because I know you, revolutionary. Youâve got all the tools in the world to handle hard things. You can be with the difficult emotions, tough conversations, and grief that comes with owning your âno.â
Youâve done it before and survived.
You can do it again, and thrive.
Claim your needs, revolutionary – because you are just as important as those you lead and serve.
It doesnât make you selfish to say “no”…
âŚ.it makes you a motherfucking inspiration.
xx,
Gieselle
P.S. – Feeling like you want some support around ruthlessly claiming your needs, wants, and boundaries as a revolutionary leader – even when it’s hard as hell? Good news, precious –Â 1:1 coaching with me is only one click away.


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