05/25/2026
Women are often rewarded socially for being the “go-to” person at work.
The one who organizes the office party and remembers everyone’s birthday.
Volunteers for committees that advance inclusion and community engagement.
Does all those little things that contribute to team cohesion and deepen a sense of belonging and well-being.
But just because work is valuable does not mean it is visible or considered promotable. Just because it helps the organization does not mean it automatically helps your career.
Relational leadership skills matter deeply. Strong teams, healthy cultures, collaboration, trust, retention, and performance all depend on them.
The problem is that women are often expected to provide this labour naturally, quietly, and without recognition.
Professional women need to get more strategic about where they put discretionary effort and develop confidence talking about these capabilities as strategic business strengths.
These are not “nice to have” soft skills.
They are leadership capabilities that create measurable organizational value.
