By Micaela Passeri
You have worked hard to be where you are. You’ve overcome doubt, shattered ceilings, and balanced an impossible number of responsibilities. You know how to push through, perform under pressure, and lead with excellence. But here’s something few people talk about in the business world—especially among women in leadership. Even the strongest, most self-aware leaders can unknowingly be held back by something deeply ingrained and hard to detect. That something is pride. Not the healthy pride that celebrates your accomplishments, acknowledges your resilience, and reminds you how far you have come. This is the hidden kind. The one that subtly masks itself as confidence but, left unexamined, becomes a barrier to growth, connection, and authentic leadership. And for women in business—especially those who are under pressure to prove themselves—this kind of pride can be even more dangerous because it feels necessary for survival.
Pride Wears a Disguise
For many high-achieving women, pride doesn’t look like arrogance. It looks like hyper-independence, needing to always “have it together,” or not asking for help because you’ve been taught that needing support is weakness. It shows up in small but significant ways: dismissing feedback or becoming defensive because you feel misunderstood, avoiding mistakes in front of others for fear of eroding credibility, clinging to decisions because you believe your perspective is most informed, withholding vulnerability when others look to you for guidance, or judging others for not meeting your pace or standards. These behaviours might appear as strength, but in reality, they protect your image at the expense of connection, collaboration, and growth.
The High Cost of Hidden Pride
Unchecked pride does more than affect your inner world. It limits influence, weakens team cohesion, and reduces your capacity to lead effectively. Emotional walls prevent authentic connection, while hesitation from your team stifles creativity. Innovation slows because people are reluctant to risk failure or challenge ideas. Burnout grows as you carry the burden of always needing to “know best.” Over time, pride erodes trust, turning leadership into performance rather than evolution, creating a heavy gap between who you are and how you show up.
Why This Matters for Women Leaders
Women have often been conditioned to believe they must be twice as polished and prepared to receive half the recognition. We are taught to stay composed, limit emotional expression, and lead with certainty—especially in male-dominated environments. Yet the same pride that helped you succeed may now be preventing your next level of growth. Pride says, “Don’t show weakness.” Wisdom says, “Vulnerability fuels growth.” Pride says, “Prove yourself.” Wisdom says, “You’ve earned your place.” Pride says, “Hold everything together.” Wisdom says, “Collaboration amplifies impact.”
Transforming Pride into Presence
The solution is not abandoning strength but releasing the parts of pride that restrict emotional intelligence. Doing so opens the door to curiosity instead of defensiveness, empowers your team to step up, and builds psychological safety. Decisions become aligned, not fear-driven. Freedom replaces the pressure to be perfect or untouchable. True leadership emerges in presence, not in the illusion of perfection.
What Self-Aware Leaders Do
Seeing pride is the first step toward shifting it. Self-aware women welcome feedback, admit mistakes, and repair quickly. They invite collaboration rather than dominate decisions. They understand their triggers and commit to addressing their root causes. They lead with emotional agility, knowing that empathy and strength can coexist. Leadership is not about having all the answers, but about creating environments where the best answers emerge.
If these words resonate, take a moment to reflect. Is pride serving or limiting your leadership? Exploring this blind spot can unlock more clarity, connection, and influence.
If you’re curious to explore this further, I invite you to take the next step. I offer a complimentary 15-minute session designed specifically for high-performing women who are ready to lead with more clarity, connection, and emotional power.
Let’s identify where pride may be creating blind spots—and how you can step into a more expansive, fulfilling, and effective version of leadership. You’ve already proven your strength. Now, it’s time to lead from wholeness.
