In this episode of the Power of Peacefulness podcast, Dr. Sharon McLaughlin's team dives into one of the most overlooked challenges women in leadership face: idea theft in the workplace. Whether it’s a colleague taking credit for your idea, a manager reframing your contribution as their own, or being overshadowed and unheard in meetings, these patterns are more common than most organizations realize.

Sharon's team breaks down the psychology of misattribution, including why people unintentionally claim others’ ideas, how power dynamics shape who gets recognized, and how bias influences whose contributions are remembered. She explores research on psychological safety, the Matilda Effect, and the systemic factors that contribute to credit loss for women and underrepresented professionals.

Listeners will learn practical, evidence-based strategies to protect their work, including:

• Preventive architecture that anchors your ideas to your name

• Scripts to calmly reclaim credit during meetings

• Tools to create “receipts” that make attribution automatic

• Techniques for emotional regulation so you can respond without reacting

• Leadership practices that help teams build a transparent, equitable credit culture

This episode is a must-listen for any woman in leadership who wants to communicate with clarity, prevent idea theft, and strengthen her leadership presence—without creating conflict or damaging professional relationships.

👉 Listen to the full episode to learn how to safeguard your contributions, elevate your visibility, and advocate for your ideas with calm, confidence, and strategy.

🎧 Tune in now on the Power of Peacefulness Podcast
📘 Download your free workbook: Five Steps to Communicate with More Calm, Clarity, and Confidence at powerofpeacefulness.com

#WomenInLeadership #IdeaTheft #CalmCommunication #LeadershipSkills #WorkplaceConfidence #PowerOfPeacefulness #SpeakUp #LeadershipTips #ProfessionalWomen #DrSharonMcLaughlin

The Psychology of Interruptions: Why It Happens and How to Respond Effectively

Welcome to The Power of Peacefulness, where we help women in leadership lead with calm, clarity, and confidence.

Have you ever been interrupted in a meeting, talked over, or ignored when trying to make a point? You’re not alone. In this video, Dr. Sharon McLaughlin explores the psychology of interruptions — why they happen, how they affect confidence and credibility, and the proven strategies that help you respond effectively and reclaim your voice.

You’ll learn:
✅ Why women are interrupted more often at work
✅ The neuroscience and psychology behind interruptions
✅ How to respond calmly when being interrupted
✅ Evidence-based scripts you can use in meetings
✅ How leaders can create meeting cultures where every voice is heard

If you’ve ever felt silenced or overlooked, this episode will help you speak up with calm authority and transform frustration into confident communication.

💬 Key topics:

• Being interrupted at work

• Communication and confidence for women leaders

• Psychological safety in meetings

• Inclusive leadership and active listening

• Assertive communication skills

🎯 Focus Keyword: Being Interrupted

📚 References:
Harvard Business Review, McKinsey & LeanIn “Women in the Workplace,” Amy Edmondson (Harvard), Zimmerman & West, and additional peer-reviewed research on gender and communication dynamics.

✨ Subscribe for more episodes on leadership, calm communication, and confidence for women:
https://www.youtube.com/@PowerofPeacefulness

📘 Download your free workbook: 5 Steps to Communicate with Calm, Clarity, and Confidence → https://powerofpeacefulness.com

🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated on new videos every week.

#Leadership #WomenInLeadership #BeingInterrupted #CalmCommunication #ConfidenceAtWork #PsychologicalSafety #PowerofPeacefulness #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalWomen #EffectiveCommunication #WorkplaceBias #MindfulLeadership #DrSharonMcLaughlin

n this episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s both frustratingly common and crucially important for professional growth: The Double Standard of Assertiveness.

If you’ve ever spoken up at work and been called “too aggressive,” “bossy,” or “too emotional,” this conversation is for you.

We break down:

• The psychology behind the double standard: Why assertive women are judged differently than men showing the same behavior

• The backlash effect: Decades of research proving the penalties women face for showing leadership traits

• The role of emotional intelligence and calm leadership: How emotional regulation can help you stay grounded and effective when speaking up

• Real-world communication tools: Evidence-based scripts to use in meetings, negotiations, and feedback conversations

• Systemic solutions: What organizations and allies can do to dismantle these biases and create fairer leadership pipelines

You’ll walk away with:
✅ A deeper understanding of the social psychology and bias behind the “assertiveness penalty”
✅ Practical, evidence-based tools you can use to assert yourself with confidence and calm
✅ A renewed sense of empowerment to speak up, set boundaries, and lead — without apology

This isn’t just about individual change. It’s about structural transformation — shifting workplace cultures so that confidence and competence are celebrated equally, regardless of gender.

Assertiveness isn’t aggression.
Confidence isn’t arrogance.
Calm leadership isn’t weakness — it’s mastery.

When we learn to channel our voices with clarity and emotional intelligence, we change not just how we lead, but how leadership itself is defined.

• Free workbook: “Reclaiming Your Inner Peace” — download it now at powerofpeacefulness.com

• Studies by Rudman & Glick on gender backlash and agentic behavior

• Role Congruity Theory research by Eagly & Karau

• Frameworks on Emotional Intelligence (Salovey & Mayer) and Emotion Regulation (Gross)

🎙️ Listen now on your favorite platform!
If today’s episode resonates with you, take a moment to:
✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode
✅ Leave a review to help more women find this show
✅ Share it with a colleague or friend who needs to hear that her voice matters

✨ Until next time, take a deep breath, embrace the present moment, and keep walking your path to peace.

#womeninleadership #doublestandardofassertiveness #womenempowerment #assertiveness #leadershipdevelopment #emotionalintelligence #calmleadership #communicationbias #careeradvancement #professionalwomen #womenleaders #speakup #confidence #innerpeace #leadershipmindset #selfgrowth #workplaceequality #mindfulleadership #careerstrategy #womenwholead #powerofpeacefulness #emotionalregulation #personaldevelopment #leadershipskills #podcastforwomen