Today I want to talk to you about something that comes up more often than you’d expect – even among smart, capable HR professionals.
I was having a conversation the other day with a talented HR leader. She’s experienced, driven, and respected. But she said something that really stuck with me.
She asked:
“Can I really be successful if I show up as me? Or do I have to fit into some executive mold that doesn’t quite feel like mine?”
Maybe you’ve asked yourself a version of that question too.
👉 “Do I have to be louder?”
👉 “More aggressive?”
👉 “More ‘corporate’?”
👉 “Less emotional?”
👉 “More like… them?”
The short answer? No.
You don’t have to become someone else to be successful.
But – you do have to learn how to think like an executive.
That’s what today’s episode is all about.
First off, if this topic hits home for you, I want to remind you to register for my free 3-part Leadership series, Lead With Confidence.
Workshop 3, is titled “Thinking Like an Executive”
It’s where I’ll walk through exactly how to access the mindset, decision-making, and presence that senior leaders operate from – without losing your authentic voice.
More on that later – but for now, let’s talk about why so many HR professionals struggle to see themselves as executives… and what to do about it.
Why HR Leaders Doubt Their Executive Potential
One of the biggest mindset blocks I see in HR professionals is the belief that leadership success looks a certain way – and they don’t fit that image.
We’ve internalized subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages:
- Strategic = cold
- Executive = emotionless
- Powerful = domineering
- Respected = reserved
So if you’re thoughtful, empathetic, relational, and lead with connection – it’s easy to wonder, “Do I belong in that room?”
But here’s the truth:
Leadership doesn’t require you to fit a mold – it requires you to own your presence.
What Thinking Like an HR Executive Actually Means
So what does thinking like an HR Executive actually mean?
Thinking like an executive isn’t about pretending.
It’s about:
- Making decisions with a strategic lens
- Speaking in terms of business impact
- Balancing advocacy with accountability
- Communicating vision and value clearly
- Trusting your own voice in high-stakes spaces
You don’t need to become louder – you need to become clearer.
You don’t need to be harder – you need to be more focused.
And you don’t need to shrink your personality – you need to scale your influence.
From HR Invisible to HR Influential (Without Losing Yourself)
The shift from operational to executive is often invisible – until suddenly it’s not.
When you start making your value known, when your input gets sought out, when your presence changes the energy of a meeting – that’s when you know you’re leading from the inside out.
I’ve watched HR professionals, myself included, go from:
- “I’m not sure they take me seriously…”
to - “They won’t make a decision without checking with me first.”
But that shift doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when you stop trying to be someone else… and start thinking like the leader you already are.
That’s exactly what I’ll walk through in Workshop 3 of the HR Leadership Series.
Weekly Challenge: Define Your Executive Energy
Here’s your challenge for the week:
Think of a time you felt most confident, clear, and respected at work.
What were you doing? How were you showing up? What made others listen?
That’s your authentic executive energy.
Now, start leading from that space more often – and you’ll stop questioning whether you belong in the room.
You don’t need to wait for someone to give you the green light to start thinking – and leading – like an executive.
Don’t forget to register and join me for the Leading With Confidence leadership series.
It’s free, and starts next week!
If you haven’t registered yet, you can find the link to register in the podcast show notes. Or you can simply go to my website at www.HRHigherVersion.com and download the free guide. You will be registered for the leadership series and also receive my free guide: 4 Ways HR Professionals Can Be More Strategic with Their Time and Move Toward an Executive Level Role as a thank you.
Until next time — keep showing up as the higher version of you.
