The Quiet Cry After the Zoom Call: A Story Leaders Don’t Talk About Enough

Let’s talk about a moment most leaders don’t really bring up.

You’ve just finished a Zoom meeting. You were prepared. You led with confidence. You made sure everyone was heard. You did the thing.

Then the call ends.
Camera off. Mic muted.
And suddenly… your chest feels heavy.

You sit in silence, staring at your screen, wondering why leading feels so lonely sometimes.

“You’re Just... a Bit Intense”
Imagine this: You’re leading a team meeting. You’ve done your prep. Your points are clear. You redirect the team when needed. You show up, speak up, and keep the group focused.

Later, someone pulls you aside.
“I just wanted to give a little feedback. You came across a bit intense. Maybe try to soften your tone next time.”

Wait—what? You weren’t rude. You weren’t mean.
You were simply leading. Now, you’re sitting at your desk, asking yourself:
Did I do something wrong? Or am I just not what they expected?

The Silent Doubt
This part doesn’t get talked about enough.

That moment when you start second guessing everything:

“Was I too direct?”
“Should I have smiled more?”
“Do they think I’m difficult?”

You replay the meeting in your mind like it’s a movie. You text a friend to ask if it came off wrong. You start to shrink, even though deep down—you know you did nothing wrong. That’s the part that hurts.

The Turnaround: Show Up Anyway
Here’s what’s real: You’re not too much.
You’re not wrong for being clear.
You’re not a problem for being confident.

Sometimes people are uncomfortable with leadership that doesn't come wrapped in the way they expect it. That’s not yours to fix. So the next day? You show up the same way. You don’t shrink. In fact, you do one powerful thing: You start keeping receipts.

You write down every win. Every time your leadership moved the needle. Every time your words helped someone grow. Every time you made a decision that worked. Because when those whispers of “too much” creep in, your receipts will remind you:
You’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing.

Real Talk

Leadership isn’t about making yourself smaller to fit into someone else’s idea of what “acceptable” looks like. It’s about knowing when to shine brighter—especially when your light makes folks squint. So if you've ever ended a meeting with a lump in your throat or questioned your own voice…

You’re not alone. And you are not the problem. You are more than enough. And your way of leading matters. Keep going.