Being “busy” is not a neutral statement for women leaders. It shapes how judgement, capability, and authority are perceived.
In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern take on one of the most normalised habits in working life: responding to everything with “I’m busy.” They examine how busyness language positions women as overloaded operators rather than leaders with control over priorities, decisions, and outcomes.
This conversation sits squarely in the reality of women’s work. Women are expected to carry more, fix more, and absorb more. Busyness becomes proof of value, even as it erodes credibility and limits progression.
Mel and Michelle talk through how “busy” functions as a signal in organisations, why it traps women in effort over impact, and how leaders can shift their language and behaviour to be recognised for judgement rather than activity.
In this episode, they cover:
How busyness language affects how women leaders are assessed
Why being constantly busy keeps women in execution roles
The link between busyness, boundary erosion, and over-functioning
What to say instead that signals clarity, control, and leadership
How to reposition your work around outcomes that matter
This episode is for women leaders who deliver consistently and want their contribution understood as leadership.
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