The Strategic Yes – How Conscious Choices Shape Empowered Leadership
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 21
- 5 min read
Heidi Richards Mooney is a dynamic professional speaker, celebrated author, seasoned entrepreneur, and Senior Executive Contributor dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses to succeed. As a past president of the Florida Speakers Association, she has inspired countless audiences with her expertise in PR, internet marketing, and brand elevation.
We’re taught to say yes to please, perform, and prove our worth, but not every yes serves us. The Strategic Yes invites leaders to replace people-pleasing with purpose, making conscious choices that align with their energy, values, and vision. Learn how intentional yeses and empowered nos create clarity, boundaries, and authentic leadership.
The myth of the “good girl yes”
We’re taught early on that saying yes is polite, productive, and even virtuous. Yes to helping. Yes to opportunity. Yes to being available, agreeable, and accommodating. But somewhere along the way, that reflexive yes becomes a trap, one that drains our energy, muddies our mission, and leaves us wondering why we feel so off-track.
As a content strategist and human design-centered mentor, I’ve worked with countless women who are brilliant, heart-led, and wildly capable but stuck in a cycle of overgiving. They’re saying yes to everything except what truly lights them up. That’s where the Strategic Yes comes in.
The Strategic Yes isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters. It’s a conscious, embodied choice that aligns with your values, your energy, and your vision for impact. It’s the yes that builds legacy, not just a to-do list.
From burnout to boundaries: A personal pivot
Years ago, I was the queen of the enthusiastic yes. I said yes to every collaboration, every “quick favor,” every shiny opportunity that came my way. I was building a business, but losing myself in the process. My calendar was full, but my soul felt scattered.
One day, after agreeing to yet another project that didn’t feel aligned, I paused and asked myself, "What am I actually building here?" That question cracked something open. I realized I wasn’t just overbooked, I was overextended and exhausted.
That was the beginning of my Strategic Yes era. And everything changed.
The human design lens: Your inner compass
Human design offers a powerful framework for understanding how you’re wired to make decisions. Whether you’re a generator who thrives on gut responses, a projector who needs time and invitation, or a manifestor who’s here to initiate, your design reveals your natural rhythm for saying yes and when to wait, pause, or pivot.
One projector client of mine used to say yes to every request, fearing she’d miss out or disappoint someone. Once she learned to honor her need for rest and discernment, she began saying yes only to aligned invitations. Her energy returned, her offers became magnetic, and her business finally felt like hers.
Strategic Yes vs. Reactive Yes
Let’s break it down:
Types of yes: Reactive Yes
Feels like: Pressure, guilt, FOMO
Leads to: Burnout, resentment
Tips to practice the Strategic Yes
Here are five ways to start saying yes with intention and power:
1. Create a ripple filter
Before committing, ask:
Does this yes support my ripple effect?
Will this move me closer to the impact I want to make?
Is this aligned with my energy and values?
If the answer is no, or even “meh”, it’s a no or a “not now.”
2. Use the pause ritual
Give yourself 24 hours before responding to requests. This tiny buffer creates massive clarity. One client started replying with, “Let me sit with this and get back to you tomorrow.” She was shocked at how often her initial yes turned into a thoughtful no.
3. Track your yeses
Keep a simple journal or note on your phone. Log what you said yes to, how it felt, and what the outcome was. Over time, you’ll spot patterns, what energizes you, what drains you, and what deserves your sacred yes.
4. Anchor with an affirmation
Try this: “I honor my energy by choosing what aligns. My yes is sacred, and my no is strategic.”
Say it before you open your inbox. Say it before you hop on a call. Let it become your leadership mantra.
5. Flip the fear
If you’re afraid to say no, ask:
What am I afraid will happen if I don’t say yes?
What might open up if I do say no?
What belief would serve me better right now?
Fear often masks a deeper desire for approval or safety. Naming it helps you reclaim your power.
Ripple stories to inspire
The “yes to less” coach
A wellness coach I worked with was overwhelmed by her offer suite, six programs, three price points, and a dozen freebies. She felt like she was drowning in her own brilliance. We stripped it down to two core offers and a single lead magnet. She said yes to simplicity, and her revenue tripled in three months.
The “no” that opened a door
Another client was offered a high-paying gig that looked great on paper but felt off in her gut. She said no, even though it scared her. Two weeks later, she was invited to speak at a global summit that aligned perfectly with her mission. That "no" made space for a bigger yes.
The “pause and pivot” leader
A community builder I admire paused her entire launch after realizing it didn’t feel aligned anymore. Instead of pushing through, she took a week to recalibrate. She relaunched with a new message, and her audience responded with record engagement. The pause wasn’t a setback, it was a power move.
Your “yes” is a declaration
Saying yes isn’t just a decision, it’s a declaration. It tells the world what you value, what you’re building, and who you’re becoming. Every Strategic Yes is a vote for your future self. Every no is a boundary that protects your brilliance.
So the next time you’re faced with a choice, pause and ask, "Is this a Strategic Yes?"
Because when your yes is aligned, your leadership becomes unstoppable and your ripple becomes undeniable.
Read more from Heidi Richards Mooney
Heidi Richards Mooney, Author, Coach & Entrepreneur
Heidi Richards Mooney is a dynamic professional speaker, celebrated author, seasoned entrepreneur, and Senior Executive Contributor dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses to succeed. As a past president of the Florida Speakers Association, she has inspired countless audiences with her expertise in PR, internet marketing, and brand elevation. A small business owner and PR strategist, Heidi specializes in helping clients amplify their online presence, craft compelling narratives, and achieve measurable results. She empowers her clients to get their websites and online profiles noticed by leveraging innovative Public Relations campaigns, capitalizing on achievements to secure media attention, and building a consistent and influential brand voice.
