There once was a great oak tree that stood tall and mighty. It was strong and proud. It commanded attention as it shaded the landscape around it, while holding birds’ nests and squirrels in its branches. Anyone looking at it could see how majestic it was.

Recently, a friend told the story of an experience with a co-worker. Reflecting on a client meeting where both were present, my friend was told she needn’t attend any more client meetings, because she wasn’t speaking up and sharing ideas to get more sales from the client. The co-worker suggested my friend should go back to their former role, rather than provide the strategic input of their current job.