Ambition Isn’t the Problem. Misaligned Power Is.

Ambition gets blamed far too easily, especially for women and leaders of color.

We’re told to slow down, be patient, or practice gratitude when what we’re actually experiencing is misalignment. The expectations are high, the responsibility is real, but the power structure doesn’t match the load.

That disconnect is exhausting.

Ambition Exposes Power Gaps

Ambition doesn’t create burnout. Carrying leadership without the right power does.

Here’s what misaligned power looks like:

• You’re accountable, but not authorized

• You’re influential, but not protected

• You’re relied on, but not resourced

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That’s not a mindset issue. That’s a structural one.

When leaders are asked to perform without corresponding authority, boundaries erode. Decision-making slows. Energy drains. Resentment builds quietly.

Aligned Power Changes the Experience of Leadership

When power is aligned:

• decisions are clearer

• expectations are explicit

• leadership becomes sustainable

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Aligned leadership doesn’t mean doing less, it means doing the right work from the right position.

It allows ambition to feel expansive instead of depleting.

Stop Managing the Symptoms, Address the Structure

If you find yourself questioning your drive, your stamina, or your motivation, pause before internalizing the blame.

The real issue may not be ambition at all. It may be that your power hasn’t caught up with your responsibility.

Understanding where your power is strong, and where it’s underdeveloped, is the first step toward alignment.

The Power Profile™ was designed to help leaders name this gap clearly and move forward with intention.