Too Much, Too Quiet, Just Right: Reclaiming My Voice in Leadership
I used to wear my Cuban passion on my fluttering sleeves.
Every emotion had its place—center stage. I believed that passion meant something. That it gave me permission to overreact, to speak with heat, to let fire lead.
Sometimes that fire sparked clarity and movement.
Other times? It just sparked raised eyebrows. Or awkward silences. Or later, a “quiet conversation” about tone.
I swung between extremes:
Over-explaining or going radio silent. Speaking boldly and then regretting it.
Keeping quiet for fear that naming a truth would offend someone’s ego rather than invite real dialogue.
It was a fine line, and I didn’t always walk it gracefully.
I was told I was “too emotional,” “too intense,” “too loud.”
So I did what many of us are taught to do:
I toned it down.
Smoothed it out.
Filtered myself to fit in.
And yes, that worked.
Until it didn’t.
Because eventually, all that self-silencing starts to leak into your sense of self.
You begin to wonder not just what to say, but who you are allowed to be.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
Silence isn’t leadership.
Authenticity is.
The shift didn’t happen overnight.
It took practice—learning to let my voice be strong and soft.
Passionate and principled.
Not performative, but present.
Now, when I feel that tension rise before a big meeting or decision, I don’t interpret it as a warning sign.
I take it as a cue to get grounded.
To speak from clarity, not reaction.
To honor the passion—but lead with purpose.
If you’ve ever felt like you were too much or not enough… I see you.
The truth is, you are enough.
Exactly as you are.
And your voice—unfiltered, yet thoughtful—is a leadership tool worth trusting.
