Let's get started. So welcome. Today's in today's session, we're going to talk about leadership courage and transforming teams through alignment and integrity.This is something that most leadership books skip over, and that's the courage it takes to lead with clarity, integrity, and alignment, especially in fast paced, high pressure environments like tech. Leadership courage isn't just about leading people. It's about inspiring teams to move as one with integrity, purpose, and alignment. As women leaders, it's an interesting journey, but there's one thing I've seen over and over again and it holds true. Where bold women lead, their teams thrive. You've probably seen this. Leaders know what need to hap leaders know what needs to happen, but they freeze when the time comes to make tough decisions. They avoid confrontation. They gloss over expectations. And teams they lead see and feel that. Courage is the missing ingredient between good intentions and powerful execution.

It's the bridge between knowing what needs to be done and actually having the courage to do it. I think of this as the courage gap. Do you have the courage to do what's needed to get your team to the other side? Or do you look at the gap, afraid to cross it, and freeze? One thing I know is that when roles are unclear, confusion wins. And when teams are aligned, the teams fly. Okay. Let's talk about role expectations and what true alignment looks like. Alignment is not about micromanagement. It's about clarity. And who owns that? And how do we win together? Bold leaders don't just set goals. They define how each person is instrumental in helping the team achieve those goals. They set clear expectations, and they measure each person's performance against those clear expectations. They coach. They guide. They give constructive feedback even when they would rather not say anything.

Job descriptions are not enough. When you start working in a role, you need to understand how your part affects the rest of the team and the team's ability to achieve its goals. Clear is kind and vague is cruel. Clarity takes courage. It means giving honest, growth oriented feedback even when it's uncomfortable or you'd rather avoid it. Courageous leaders don't sidestep hard conversations. They lean in with empathy and clarity to help their teams grow. They also know that honest feedback builds trust across the team. It shows you respect people enough to tell them the truth and that you you are invested in their success and that you're willing to have real conversations instead of keeping the peace at the expense of progress. Over time, this kind of openness creates psychological safety where feedback isn't feared, it's expected, it's welcome, and it's acted on. Trust is built in the small, almost invisible moments.

It's whether you follow-up when you said you would, whether you speak the truth when it would be easier to stay silent, it's whether you model the behavior you ask from others. So be the leader who says be the leader who does what she says. In other words, it is walking the talk. All of these tiny moments add up, and over time, they'll form the foundation of a team that doesn't just work together, but they also trust each other. Here's the truth about creating seamless customer experiences. It starts inside your organization. If things are broken internally, your customers feel it. Even if you think you're hiding it well. Friction points, lack of urgency, handoffs, unclear role expectations, lack of communication, frustrated teams, They all leak out into the experience your buyers and customers have with your company. Creating seamless customer experiences starts with alignment of your internal team and seamless internal experiences.

It's your team working together as one, trusting each other, and working together with cross functional teams to ensure alignment. And when internal teams trust each other and know what good looks like, they feel safe and own safe enough to own their mistakes, and that energy flows outward to your customers. In fact, 74% of consumers say that at they're at least somewhat likely to buy based on experiences alone. In most industries, customer experience is a competitive differentiator, and 78% of consumers would rather give a company a second chance after a mistake if the customer service shines. And these stats come from Forbes and Salesforce respectively. And it's important to recognize that customers do not expect perfection. They understand that mistakes happen. What truly matters is how we respond to those mistakes. In creating a culture where teams are empowered to address the issues promptly and empathetically is crucial.

By doing so, we not only resolve the immediate problem, but we strengthen that trust and confidence our customers have in us. So the seamless customer experience is built from the inside out. When you have strong internal teams that trust one another, that communicates and reflects outward to your customers. When your internal processes are aligned, those teams are committed to responsiveness, integrity, and customers truly feel the difference. One great question to ask your teams is, how does this process, action, or item benefit, help, or add value to our customers? Leadership courage looks different for everyone. Your courage doesn't have to look like anyone else's. What matters is that you choose to use your voice, your actions, and your energy to move your team forward, even if you're afraid when you do it.

So in addition to admitting mistakes publicly and giving honest feedback to your team, leadership courage might look like saying, I don't know, Or it might be protecting your team in situations, standing up for them when external pressures exist. You might say something like, the result wasn't what we wanted, and that's on me as the leader. Leadership courage might be holding a peer or executive accountable saying something like, I need to say something. It doesn't align with the values we all agreed on, and we owe our teams better. It might be challenging the status quo or saying no to misaligned work and not compromising the long term success of your team by focusing on short term gains. It might also be saying no to extra work without fair compensation. Leadership courage for you might be taking action before you feel a 100% ready.

For example, you might be launching a new idea or advocating for change. In doing so, even when you're scared or uncertain, you might say something like, I don't have all the answers, but I believe in this vision and I'm willing to move us forward. That's honest and it's courageous. Leadership courage could also be actively inviting perspectives from diverse voices, saying to your team, I wanna make sure everyone feels heard here, especially the voices that don't always step forward to the mic. And by doing so, you're creating space for those individuals to step forward. It also might be stepping up in male dominated meetings to share innovation or disagree with the consensus. Leadership courage might be negotiating your compensation even when it feels uncomfortable.

It might also be negotiating for your team's compensation. Leadership courage can also be saying thank you in taking credit for achievements instead of downplaying them and encouraging other women to do the same. It might be mentoring other women, especially in competitive environments, freely sharing your knowledge and experiences. It could be walking away when your values are compromised and saying no to unethical requests. Could be stepping down from leadership or moving to a different company when the existing leadership no longer aligns with your values. You might say something like, the decision compromise this decision compromises my integrity, and I won't stand for it. I won't move forward with it. Few more examples.

Leadership courage could also be investing in personal development, education, therapy, coaching, despite societal pressure to prioritize others. It might be owning your ambition unapologetically without shrinking into fit without shrinking in to fit those likable and agreeable expectations. It might be balancing leadership with motherhood without apologizing for either role. Those are just a few examples. Your team, your culture, and your customers. This is where it all connects. When your teams are aligned and grounded in integrity, you unlock the ultimate win win. Your team knows what's expected and feels seen, safe, and set up for success. Your bin your business benefits from velocity, trust, and retention inside and out. Your employees, customers, and partners are engaged and all have great experiences. That's the power of leadership courage. And it's not just about leading, it's about transforming.

And when you lead in this way, everyone around you rises. That's the kind of leadership that leaves a legacy and creates more courageous leaders because people are watching your example.