From People Pleasing to Power Moves at Work

Session 3: From People Pleasing to Power Moves at Work

Part of the Choose to Grow x Own My Life Partnership Series: Women at Work & Leadership 2026

The Story Behind the Series

For generations, women have been taught, subtly or directly, that being liked is as important as being effective. Many of us have learned to overextend, overdeliver, and over-apologise just to feel safe, valued, or accepted at work. But here’s the truth: people pleasing isn’t kindness, it’s survival. It’s a learned behaviour that develops from systems of control, inequality, and fear of repercussions. And while it might feel like a strategy for belonging, it often keeps women stuck, exhausted, and unseen.

Research shows that:

• 92% of women say they struggle to say no at work, even when overwhelmed (HBR, 2023)

• 68% of women leaders report taking on additional “invisible labour” to support others, work that’s rarely recognised (McKinsey Women in the Workplace, 2024)

• Women with a history of coercive or controlling relationships are three times more likely to display people-pleasing tendencies in professional settings (Women’s Aid, 2023)

  
  

This is why Choose to Grow and Own My Life created this partnership series, to help women move from survival strategies to empowered leadership.

It’s time to step away from pleasing and step into power, grounded in authenticity, not perfection. These 30-minute lunchtime sessions are designed to give women a safe, empowering space to reflect, learn, and grow, one step (and one lunch break) at a time. You can join individual sessions or complete the full seven-part series during the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Girls 2026.

Our goal:

To help women at every stage of their career build self-efficacy, not just confidence, and step into their power with authenticity and courage. These 30-minute lunchtime sessions are safe, supportive, and practical. Whether you’re tuning in during your break, or privately from a quiet space, each session gives you the insight and tools to thrive. You can join any session individually or experience the whole seven-part journey, we’ll walk it with you, one empowering step at a time.

Session Format

1. Welcome & Framing the Conversation

2. Awareness: The Hidden Cost of Pleasing

3. Theory: Understanding Power & Permission

4. Practice: Turning Pleasing into Power

5. Close & Call to Action

Why This Series Exists

The Choose to Grow x Own My Life Partnership Series exists to help women recognise and unlearn patterns that limit their growth, and replace them with tools that foster confidence, autonomy, and sisterhood. This is not about changing who you are, it’s about reclaiming who you’ve always been.

Each 30-minute session offers actionable insights and practical tools to help women lead boldly, communicate clearly, and create workplaces where women thrive, not just survive. Because when women stop pleasing and start leading, entire cultures change.