It’s Not Just About a Seat at the Table—It’s About the Energy You Bring to It
We’ve all heard the phrase “a seat at the table.”
It’s become a rallying cry in leadership, diversity, and empowerment spaces—a symbol of inclusion, recognition, and influence.
But here’s the truth most people don’t talk about:
👉🏽 Getting a seat at the table is only part of the story.
What truly shifts rooms, decisions, and dynamics is the energy you bring when you get there.
As the founder of Phoenix Empower, I’ve worked with individuals who’ve spent years fighting for that seat. They’ve earned the degree, climbed the ladder, and made an impact. But once they’re finally in the room—at the executive table, the board meeting, the strategy summit—they find themselves asking:
“Why do I still feel invisible?”
“Why does my voice still shake?”
“Why am I still trying to prove I belong?”
It’s because while they gained access to the table, they weren’t taught how to own their energy within it.
⚡ The Energy You Bring is Your Real Power
I will never forget my last evening in Venice, Italy. Myself and a few others from my MOD cohort were walking back to our hotel. On our way back, a woman stopped me and handed me a bouquet of flowers. When she handed them to me, she said, “You look like the perfect person to have these.” My body filled with so much joy and happiness. Out of a large crowd of people, this random person chose me to be the keeper of their flowers? I was grinning from ear to ear.
As soon as we got on the ferry, I looked at everyone around me who looked like normal commuters, sad, flat affect, in their own space. I looked down at the bouquet that had filled me with joy moments ago and decided to share that happiness. I handed out all the yellow roses to others on the ferry until I was all out of flowers.
The flowers that had brought me joy filled my cup even more as I got big smiles in return after I handed out the flowers. Here’s the thing— those people appeared just as happy to get their own flower as I did when I got the whole bouquet. Our energy is like a lighthouse beacon, shining light on those around us. Whether it is positive or negative, it spreads to everyone near us.
I made several random strangers happy in mere seconds, not because of the flower, but because of the energy behind the flower. Do you think those people would have been as happy to get a flower from someone frowning or huffing and puffing about this and that? Absolutely not, they probably wouldn’t have even taken the flower in the first place. They probably would have cringed and recoiled, shut down even.
Imagine the magnitude that your energy brings to your team or organization, positive or negative.
Your energy is the unseen force that enters the room before you speak a word. It’s how you show up—grounded or anxious, aligned or disconnected, empowered or performative. And it either elevates your presence or dims your power.
Think about it…
Have you ever been in a meeting where someone spoke in monotone, and everyone checked out 2 words in? And another person spoke with calm confidence, and suddenly everyone leaned in?
That’s the power of energy.
And that’s what Phoenix Empower is all about—helping people rise into that space fully, authentically, and unapologetically.
🔥 You Deserve More Than Just a Seat—You Deserve to Shift the Room
Let’s redefine what a seat at the table really means:
It’s not about fitting in—it’s about standing firm in who you are.
It’s not about proving yourself—it’s about expressing yourself with clarity and confidence.
It’s not about echoing others—it’s about bringing your truth, your insight, your fire.
Leadership today isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how your presence transforms the space.
And guess what? You don’t need to be the loudest voice to be the most impactful.
You just need to be aligned with your purpose and your power.
✨ Ask Yourself…
As you walk into your next meeting, Zoom call, or decision-making space, pause and reflect:
What energy am I bringing into this room?
Am I shrinking to fit—or expanding to lead?
If this table doesn’t reflect my values… am I ready to build my own?
👑 You Were Not Born to Play Small
You were born to rise.
To influence.
To create.
To shift.
To lead.
And whether you’re claiming your seat—or carving out a new table entirely—remember this:
🌱 Your energy is your power. Protect it. Cultivate it. Lead with it.
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Let’s rise,
Heather Ritson
Founder, Phoenix Empower, LLC
Empowerment & Career Strategist | Speaker | Coach
