The Power You're Accidentally Giving Away (And How to Stop)

POWER UP Newsletter:

Issue #12 | For STEM Professionals Ready to Step Into Their Power

Dear Power-Builders,

I've been noticing something troubling in professional circles lately.

Post after post about toxic workplaces, difficult colleagues, impossible bosses. The comments sections fill with sympathy and shared grievances.

I get it. I've been there too.

There's something oddly comforting about finding others who validate our frustrations. It feels lighter to vent, to play the victim, to earn that sympathy.

But here's the uncomfortable truth I learned through years of self-exploration: We're actually giving our power away.

And the cruel irony? We're not even giving away our power to those who supposedly wronged us. We're powering our own misery and misalignment.

The Hidden Cost of the Blame Game

When we focus on external circumstances - that micromanaging boss, the colleague who takes credit, the "toxic culture" - we lose three critical things:

• Our energy (spent on resentment instead of solutions)

• Our voice (silenced by victimhood)

• Our influence (diminished by powerlessness)

This is particularly devastating for STEM professionals, where our credibility and authority are already hard-won.

The Power-Back Framework

Instead of focusing on what's happening TO us, what if we shifted to what's happening WITHIN us?

Here are three ways to reclaim your power:

1. Alignment with Values

Every time you say yes when you mean no, stay silent when you should speak, or copy someone else's approach - ask yourself:

Which of my core values am I violating?

Your discomfort isn't about them. It's about you acting against your own integrity.

Power Question: "What would I do if I honored my values completely in this situation?"

2. Clarity as Currency

Clarity about who you are, what you want, and what you won't tolerate is pure power. It prevents others from writing your story for you.

Most workplace "toxicity" thrives in the absence of clear boundaries and expectations.

Power Practice: Complete these sentences:

• I am...

• I want...

• I will not tolerate...

3. Focus as Your Guardrail

Focus is the guardrail that keeps your energy from scattering. When you choose what deserves your attention, you regain control.

Every minute spent analyzing someone else's motives is a minute not spent building your own capabilities.

Power Shift: "What would I focus on if I trusted my ability to handle whatever comes?"

The Science Behind Inner Power

Research in cognitive psychology shows that internal locus of control - believing you influence your outcomes - correlates with higher job satisfaction, better performance, and increased resilience.

External focus keeps us reactive. Internal focus makes us generative.

Your Weekly Challenge

This week, catch yourself in one moment of external blame. Instead of asking "Why are they doing this?" ask "What does this situation reveal about what I need to develop in myself?"

Not to excuse poor behavior from others, but to reclaim your agency in shaping your experience.

A Personal Note

As Navratri begins, I'm reminded of 'Shakti' - that divine feminine power that exists within each of us. This is about recognizing the creative, transformative energy we all possess.

When you align with your values, gain clarity about your path, and focus your energy intentionally, you communicate with unprecedented clarity and confidence.

That's when your expertise becomes influence. That's when your knowledge becomes impact.

The world needs what you know. But it needs you to own your power first.

Ready to power up your communication and confidence?

Next week: "The Authority Paradox - Why Technical Experts Struggle to Claim Their Expertise"

Connect with me:

• Reply to this newsletter with your power-back stories

• Follow my journey on LinkedIn: Lakshmi Ramachandran, PhD, PCC 

• Subscribe to my newsletter here: https://www.drlakshmispeaks.com/subscribe

  
  

Remember: You don't need permission to be the expert you already are.

With power and possibility, Dr. Lakshmi

P.S. If this newsletter sparked something in you, forward it to a colleague who might need this reminder. Power shared is power multiplied.