The 3 Biggest Mistakes Women Make in the Boardroom (and How to Fix Them)
- The Sassy Boss Lady
- Mar 17
- 3 min read
Alright, queens—let’s talk. I saw a version of this on LinkedIn and thought we would put The Sassy Boss Lady version out for your reading enjoyment. After all, you were probably saying the same thing in your head when you read the original. You can find it here for your reading enjoyment. You didn’t claw your way up the corporate ladder, dodging mansplainers and bad office coffee, just to be treated like a glorified note-taker. Hell no. The boardroom isn’t a charity, and it sure as hell isn’t a sorority—so why are so many of us still playing by outdated, polite-girl rules?
It’s not about competence (we’ve got that in spades). It’s about knowing how to work the system. And guess what? I’m about to hand you the damn blueprint. If you’re tired of watching Chad from Sales get promoted for simply existing, it’s time to shake the table and take what’s yours.
🚨 MISTAKE #1: Waiting for a Gold Star Instead of Taking the Mic
Let me say this loud enough for the people in the back: Hard work alone doesn’t get you promoted. If it did, every woman reading this would be running the damn company by now. Meanwhile, Todd (who still struggles with “Reply All”) is snagging all the big projects. Why? Because he acts like he belongs there—and people believe him.
🔥 The Fix: Be Your Own Hype Woman
Speak up, own the room, and make your presence impossible to ignore. Your work isn’t a secret, so stop acting like it is.
Ditch the ‘humble’ act. You didn’t “just help out” on that deal—you ran it. And if you don’t say it, trust me, Todd will.
Network like a CEO-in-the-making. That promotion isn’t coming from the HR fairy. Make sure the right people know your name, your work, and your next move.
🚨 MISTAKE #2: Apologizing for Existing (a.k.a. The "I'm Sorry" Epidemic)
How many times have you started a sentence with “I just wanted to say…” or “Sorry, but…”? STOP IT. You are not an intruder in the boardroom, you BELONG there. Every time you soften your voice, you shrink your power—and last time I checked, we’re here to run the place, not tiptoe around it.
🔥 The Fix: Talk Like You Own the Place (Because You Should)
No more “I think.” Replace it with “Here’s the plan.” See the difference?
Drop the disclaimers. You’re not “just adding” to the conversation. You’re leading it.
Call out idea theft. If Greg repeats what you just said and gets the credit, hit him with “Great recap of my point, Greg.” Then flash a winning smile.
🚨 MISTAKE #3: Playing Nice Instead of Playing to Win
Let’s talk money. If you’re still waiting for someone to offer you a raise, you’re playing yourself. Men walk into negotiations like they already own the building. Women, on the other hand, act like we should be grateful for whatever scraps we get. ENOUGH. It’s time to demand your damn worth!
🔥 The Fix: Get What’s Yours
Know your worth. If your work is driving results, your paycheck should reflect that.
Ask like a boss. Instead of “Would it be possible to discuss a raise?”, say “Based on my impact, let’s talk about my compensation.”
Be ready to walk. If they don’t see your value, someone else will. And they’ll pay for it, too.
🚀 Time to Take Over
Ladies, enough with the waiting, the apologizing, and the playing small. The boardroom isn’t a waiting room—it’s a damn throne room, and it’s time we started acting like it.
So tell me—have you ever fallen into these traps? More importantly, how are you flipping the script? Drop a comment and let’s turn this into a movement. Because when one of us wins, we all win. 👏🔥
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