I know a woman who had been recently promoted but felt like she was holding on by her fingertips.

She was juggling her new promotion and her kids at home, and it all felt like too much.

Every day felt like a slap in the face from her to-do list. Only a tiny portion of it got done.

She had always been so good at getting it all done. Now it felt like she was failing everyone, even though she stayed up until the wee hours just to stay afloat.

A big meeting she had to prepare for was coming up, and she didn’t know how she would find the time. No late-night hours left to fit it in.

It was the turning point. This stops here.

I challenged her to take her normal prep process and cut it drastically.

She told me that before the meeting, it felt like standing at the top of a diving board, about to jump.

But here’s what happened: It went amazing! So amazing that she was asked to LEAD the meeting with a high-profile external partner.

I’ve been in boardrooms, addressed leaders of US design firms, and spoken at colleges like Harvard, Penn, and UT Austin. Here’s the lesson I’ve learned again and again:

Having a fancy PowerPoint is less important than having a message that is so simple you can fully own it and be present in it.

Here’s how to channel “less is more” on your next big opportunity in advancing as a leader:

1. Give yourself a time limit to prepare slides or materials.

Usually spend 3 hours on prep? Set your timer for 20 minutes and jot down essential core points in bullet form—or even on the back of a napkin.

2. Skip the notes on your slides, or just give yourself a few bullet point prompts.

Resist the urge to write out all the points. It keeps you hacking at the presentation instead of internalizing the core points and owning them. Going off-script forces you to act on your knowledge instead of relying on slides.

3. Or skip slides entirely!

Bring a one-pager with 5–6 bullet points instead. Fewer “props” force you to be yourself. It creates a more dynamic conversation because people focus on the discussion, not zoning out at the screen.

It will feel uncomfortable, but it will actually make you appear more powerful because people who truly ARE powerful trust themselves.

This woman was *so engaging* because she was the *antithesis* of the stiff leadership “look” that is so often the norm!

It sounds paradoxical, but less actually produces more!

Many of us wait to be promoted and advance as a leader instead of making the case for the promotion we want! Download my Tool & Tracker to lead the conversation that gets you promoted!