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You got good at handling things yourself for a reason. It made you reliable. Capable. The person everyone could count on. ... And it probably helped you get promoted. ... But the same habit that helped you become a leader can quietly become the thing holding you—and the people you supervise—back. ... In this episode, we’re talking about why delegation can feel so uncomfortable, what happens when you keep stepping in to solve everything, and how doing it yourself can turn you into the bottleneck without you realizing it. ... We’ll cover: • Why short-term efficiency can create long-term dependency• How constantly solving problems trains employees to stop thinking for themselves• Why being needed and being ready for more leadership are not the same thing• The difference between “they did it wrong” and “they didn’t do it my way”• Three practical shifts to help you delegate without lowering your standards Because leadership isn’t about proving how much you can handle yourself. It’s about proving how much you can build through other people. If you’re stepping into leadership—or still figuring out what the heck you’re supposed to be doing now that you’re the manager—find me on Instagram @ordinarytobadass and DM me 90 DAYS. I’ll send you my free guide on what to do in your first 90 days as a manager.

Being the person that everyone relies on feels like a good thing. ... You know the answers. You solve the problems. You get things done. ... But what if the exact habit that made you valuable is also keeping you stuck? ... In this episode of Ordinary to Badass, Marie breaks down the hidden downside of becoming the go-to person at work—and why constantly solving everyone else’s problems can quietly hurt your chances of moving into bigger leadership roles. ... You’ll learn why answering every question can train the people around you to depend on you, how doing everything yourself can make it harder for your boss to picture you at the next level, and what strong leaders do instead. Marie also shares simple ways to start stepping back, asking better questions, delegating more, and helping the people around you build their own judgment. ... Because leadership isn’t measured by how fast you can solve every problem. ... It’s measured by what happens when you’re not in the room. ... If you’re stepping into leadership—or getting ready to—DM “90 days” to @ordinarytobadass on Instagram and Marie will send you her free guide, Your First 90 Days as a Supervisor.

Getting into the room doesn’t mean everyone has the same path forward. And sometimes, working harder isn’t enough to change what happens next. ... In Part 2, Marie explores four more women whose stories offer powerful lessons for navigating your career and leading with intention: Mileva Marić, Taylor Swift, Sheryl Sandberg, and Harriet Tubman. ... From understanding the unwritten rules of opportunity to building leverage after a setback, these stories challenge the idea that leadership is about having all the answers or waiting until you feel confident. ... You’ll learn why access and opportunity aren’t always the same thing, how to focus on what you can control when someone else makes a decision you hate, why you shouldn’t negotiate against yourself before anyone else has said no, and how preparation makes decisive leadership possible. ... Whether you’re working toward a promotion, navigating a predominantly male industry, or learning to lead people, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to become someone else to get where you want to go. You need to understand the room, build your evidence, create options, and be ready to move when the opportunity comes. Leadership isn’t a personality type. It’s a strategy. To your Badassery,Marie

What can Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oprah Winfrey, Hedy Lamarr, and Rosalind Franklin teach us about leadership? ... A lot more than “be brave” and “keep going.” ... In Part 1 of this two-part episode, I’m breaking down four leadership lessons from women who changed the room—and the strategy behind how they did it. ... We’re talking about influence, leverage, perception, visibility, and why doing great work is not always enough. ... You’ll learn why being right doesn’t automatically make you influential, why building options matters, how other people’s perception can affect your opportunities, and why your work does not always speak for itself. ... These aren’t just history lessons. They’re leadership lessons you can use right now. And this is only the first four. Part 2 is coming next with four more women and four more lessons that might completely change the way you think about leadership.

Most people start preparing for a promotion when the position opens. ... That’s already too late. ... In this episode, I’m breaking down how to start preparing before the opportunity shows up—so you’re not scrambling to prove you’re ready at the last minute. ... We’ll talk about: What your job announcement is actually telling you How to identify the skills and experience leadership is looking for My Have It, Prove It, Build It method How to create a 6–12 month promotion plan Why you shouldn’t automatically disqualify yourself when you don’t check every box How to start building the experience, relationships, and proof that make you a stronger candidate Because the goal isn’t to suddenly look ready when the promotion opens. ... It’s to spend the months before it opens becoming the obvious choice. ... Want more help with promotions and leadership? Join me on Sundays at 6 PM PST @OrdinarytoBadass community for LIVE weekly Q&As and coaching. To your Badassery,Marie

What if the biggest thing holding you back at work isn't your ability… it's the way you talk about your ability? In this episode, I sit down with engineer, consultant, and creator Kim Porter to talk about imposter syndrome, leading in male-populated industries, and the subtle ways women unintentionally give away their power at work. We dive into: Why saying "I think" can quietly undermine your credibilityHow to communicate with more confidence without pretending to know everythingWhy great leaders admit mistakes instead of hiding themThe power of leading with data instead of emotionHow to build trust with your team before making changesWhat it really means to keep your power in difficult conversationsWhether you're stepping into leadership, navigating imposter syndrome, or simply trying to speak with more confidence, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put to work immediately. If this episode resonates with you, share it with another woman who's building her career in a predominantly male industry.

Getting promoted is exciting… until you realize nobody prepared you for what comes next. Most women spend years working toward their first leadership role. But once you get there, the challenges change. In this episode, I share the 8 things nobody told me before my first promotion, including: Why leadership can feel lonelier than you expectedHow your relationships with coworkers change overnightWhy hard work alone won't make you successful anymoreWhy being trusted matters more than being likedHow to navigate the pressure, self-doubt, and shifting expectations that come with leading othersIf you're preparing for your first promotion—or you've recently stepped into leadership—this is the conversation I wish someone had with me years ago. Resources:📩 Join the free community for women in predominantly male industries: DM "community" to @OrdinaryToBadass on Instagram.

She spent two and a half years watching the guys around her get away with the exact same mistakes that were landing her in someone's file — and the whole time, one thought kept running the show: I don't want to be that girl. Attorney and former undercover narcotics deputy and SWAT operator Bridget Truxillo joins Marie to talk about what staying quiet actually costs women in predominantly male industries — the discipline nobody talks about, the exact legal line between "a jerk being a jerk" and illegal discrimination, and the thirteen years it took her to stop protecting everyone else's comfort but her own. This one covers how to tell if what's happening to you is actually illegal (and what to document if it is), why "everybody already knows" is never the same as it being on record, and the leadership habit — six praises for every one reprimand — that changes whether people actually hear you. Listen if you've ever decided not to make a big deal out of something that's already been quietly costing you for years.

She spent 20 years earning a seat that was never built for her — and found out the hard way that being good at the job doesn't make you safer. It makes you a bigger threat. ... Retired Fire Chief Deena Johnson Lee joins Marie to talk about what actually happens once you start winning in a predominantly male industry: the "belonging trust" nobody tells you about, the women who turn against other women, and the moment a boyfriend in the academy told her, "I just don't want you to be better than me at anything." ... This one covers the unwritten rules nobody hands you on day one, why competence alone never gets you accepted, and the question that changes everything: would you rather be liked, or respected? ... Listen if you're tired of doing everything right — and still getting picked apart for it.

You were told to wait your turn. Be patient, keep your head down, and eventually it'll be your time. Here's the problem: the person who got promoted last quarter didn't wait for anything. ... In this episode, Marie breaks down why "wait your turn" is one of the most dangerous pieces of advice a woman in a predominantly male industry can follow — and why time in your seat only makes you eligible, never chosen. Key takeaways: Time in your position makes you eligible. Being chosen is a completely different decision your boss makes about risk — and eligibility alone doesn't win it.Waiting doesn't remove workplace bias against ambitious women — it just delays the moment you have to face it.Your boss sees a fraction of your work. If you're not making your impact visible, "wait your turn" quietly becomes "wait forever."Four shifts to make instead of waiting: from waiting → asking, time served → building a case, hoping to be noticed → being known, and fair → strategic.You're allowed to want the next seat, ask for it, and build your case before anyone tells you it's your turn.Resources mentioned: The Obvious Choice™ (Marie's program on positioning yourself for promotion) If this hit home, share it with someone who's been "waiting their turn" a little too patiently — subscribe and leave a review so more women find the show.

Have you ever watched a man get credit for an idea that came out of your mouth five minutes earlier? ... Or noticed that the women around you somehow became the party planner, office therapist, note taker, and scheduler—on top of the job they were actually hired to do? ... In this episode, we're talking about the rules of the game nobody explains when you work in a predominantly male industry. The unwritten rules. The invisible expectations. The things that affect your career, credibility, and leadership opportunities—but somehow never make it into the training manual. ... You'll learn: Why many women end up with a second, unofficial job descriptionWhat to do when your ideas are ignored until someone else repeats themHow to walk the tightrope between being "too soft" and "too aggressive"Why some people get exceptions—and others don'tHow to adapt to the room without losing yourself in the process... I also share a personal story about advocating for myself during one of the hardest periods of my career and what it taught me about speaking up, asking for help, and navigating systems that weren't built with us in mind. ... If you've ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or exhausted from carrying responsibilities nobody acknowledges, this episode is for you. ... Because you're not behind. You're probably just missing the guidebook nobody gave you. Connect with Marie:DM "COMMUNITY" on Instagram @ordinarytobadass to join the free community for women in predominantly male industries. Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonates. The more women we get in the room, the faster we change it.

How many opportunities have you talked yourself out of because you didn't feel ready? ... In this flashback episode, I sit down with mindset coach, personal trainer, and Girls on the Run Long Island Chairperson Nancy Feinstein to talk about confidence, self-doubt, and why waiting until you feel ready might be the very thing keeping you stuck. ... Nancy shares how she rebuilt her life after divorce, overcame stage fright, transitioned into a completely new career, and learned that confidence doesn't come before action—it comes because of it. We also dive into:✔ Why "yet" might be the most powerful word in your vocabulary✔ The hidden cost of waiting for perfect timing✔ How to stop comparing yourself to everyone else✔ Why messy action beats perfection every time✔ Practical mindset shifts that can help you move forward even when you're scared If you've been waiting for more confidence before making your next move, this conversation is your reminder that confidence is built in the doing—not the waiting. Connect with Marie:Instagram: @ordinarytobadass Enjoying the podcast?Leave a review and share this episode with a woman who needs the reminder that she doesn't have to feel ready to get started.

If being direct feels mean, this episode is for you. ... Many women are taught from a young age to be agreeable, accommodating, and keep the peace. Then they step into leadership and discover that clarity, accountability, and difficult conversations are part of the job. That tension can make leadership feel uncomfortable. ... In this episode, Marie Sonnemann breaks down why directness often feels so hard for women, how passive communication creates more anxiety than clarity, and why avoiding conflict doesn't make you kind, it makes you unclear. ... You'll learn: Why directness is often the kinder leadership choiceHow passive-aggressive communication damages trustWhat employees really need during difficult conversations.The difference between being nice and being clearWhy strong leaders create clarity while weak leaders create confusionHow to stop worrying about being perceived as "too much" and start leading with confidenceMarie also shares a personal story about navigating a grumpy week, the power of resetting when you're off your game, and why getting back up after a setback is one of the most badass things you can do. ... If you've ever softened your message, over-explained yourself, or worried that being direct would make people dislike you, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership and communication. ... Because leadership isn't about being harsh. It's about respecting people enough to tell them the truth.

You were taught not to brag. Keep your head down. Work hard. Be humble. And for a lot of high performers—especially women—that sounds like good advice. The problem? Leadership can't advocate for work they can't clearly remember. In this episode, we're talking about one of the biggest career mistakes strong employees make: assuming hard work speaks for itself. Because evaluations, promotions, and opportunities aren't just based on effort. They're based on what leadership can see, explain, and defend. ✨ Theme: Visibility & Advocacy We're talking about why great employees often get weaker evaluations than they deserve, why documenting your impact isn't bragging, and how to make sure your contributions don't disappear into someone else's memory. You'll hear: 🔥 Why your boss remembers far less of your work than you think 💡 The "fraction problem" that causes high performers to get overlooked 💬 How to document your impact without sounding arrogant, awkward, or self-promotional If you've ever felt like your evaluation didn't fully reflect your contributions—or you've wondered why someone with similar performance seems to get more recognition—this episode is for you. 🎁 Grab the free resources at ordinarytobadass.com 💬 DM me on Instagram @ordinarytobadass and tell me: What's one accomplishment your boss might not know about? ⭐ And if this episode helped you rethink visibility, I'd love for you to rate and review the show. It helps more women find the strategies they need to become the obvious choice for promotion—without becoming someone they're not.

Most employees think:“if I work hard enough, leadership will notice.” That’s not how promotions work. In this sprint episode, I break down: why high performers get stuckhow bosses actually evaluate leadershipthe “fraction problem”and why hard work alone can quietly sabotage your career.