Ridding the World of Lazy Leadership: Julie Holunga on Direct Communication, Trust, and Taking Control of Your Career
Leadership isn’t about being nice. It’s not about making everyone happy. And it’s definitely not about dodging conflict or softening your words to avoid discomfort.
Julie Holunga knows this better than anyone.
As a leadership trainer, executive coach, and speaker, Julie helps professionals sharpen their communication, build trust, and step into leadership with confidence and clarity. She’s on a mission to rid the world of lazy leadership—the kind that sugarcoats, avoids tough conversations, and weakens teams instead of strengthening them.
Lazy leadership is easy. But great leadership? That takes direct, strategic communication, trust, and a willingness to embrace conflict.
In this episode of Badass Women in Business, we dive deep into how professionals, especially women, can own their voices, step into leadership roles, and communicate with the authority they deserve.
Why So Many Professionals Struggle to Lead
Leadership, business development, and communication skills aren’t taught in school.
A lawyer can be brilliant in the courtroom. A CPA can be a master of numbers. But when it comes to managing teams, leading projects, or handling difficult conversations? That’s where many professionals fall short.
Julie saw this gap early in her career while working at Harvard Business School’s Alumni Career Services, where she helped female alumni advance into leadership roles. Since then, she’s coached thousands of attorneys, CPAs, and business leaders to ditch the weak language, sharpen their leadership skills, and elevate their careers.
Her frameworks for trust-building, direct communication, and strategic leadership give professionals the confidence and tools they need to lead effectively—without the fluff, without the hesitation, and without the nonsense.
The Trusted Voice Paradigm: Building Leadership on Trust
One of the biggest reasons professionals struggle in leadership isn’t a lack of skills—it’s a lack of trust.
Julie developed the Trusted Voice Paradigm, a framework designed to help leaders build trust at every level:
Trust in yourself – Confidence, self-awareness, and owning your expertise
Trust in your team – Clear expectations, accountability, and collaboration
Trust in your organization – Strong culture, alignment, and open communication
Trust isn’t automatic—it’s earned through clear, decisive leadership and communication. Without it, teams crumble, misalignment happens, and organizations become fractured, ineffective, and stagnant.
Julie works with teams to break down silos, improve collaboration, and create a culture where trust fuels innovation, engagement, and success.
Don’t Let Your Words Sabotage Your Career
Julie’s 2020 TEDx Talk, Don’t Let Your Words Sabotage Your Career, explores how weak language undermines authority.
We’ve all heard it—and probably done it:
“I just wanted to check in...”
“I think maybe we should consider…”
“Does that make sense?”
These small phrases might seem harmless, but they plant seeds of doubt in the minds of colleagues, clients, and decision-makers. They make you sound hesitant, unsure, and apologetic—when you should be speaking with confidence and clarity.
Julie teaches professionals to be intentional with their words, replacing passive, uncertain language with powerful, direct communication that commands respect.
Why Conflict is Necessary for Strong Leadership
If you’re avoiding conflict, you’re not leading.
Conflict isn’t bad—it’s necessary. The strongest leaders don’t shy away from hard conversations; they lean into them.
Julie teaches leaders how to navigate conflict productively, using these three game-changing strategies:
Focus on the problem, not the person. Blame erodes trust. Keep the conversation centered on the goal, challenge, or outcome—not personal attacks.
Pause before reacting. When tensions rise, the worst thing you can do is fire off an emotional response. Take a breath. Think about the long-term impact of your words before you speak.
Own your voice. If you hesitate, soften, or dilute your message, people won’t take you seriously. Speak clearly, confidently, and without apology.
The Biggest Mistakes Leaders Make
After 14 years coaching executives and leadership teams, Julie has seen it all. And she knows exactly where leaders go wrong.
Thinking “hard work” is enough – Leadership isn’t just about being good at your job. It’s about communication, strategy, and presence.
Ignoring the power of relationships – Promotions, opportunities, and influence don’t come from sitting at your desk. They come from building trust and visibility.
Dodging conflict – Avoiding difficult conversations doesn’t make problems disappear. It makes them worse. Strong leaders address issues head-on.
Using weak language – If you’re constantly softening your words, over-explaining, or hedging your statements, you’re undermining your authority.
Failing to set boundaries – If you answer emails at midnight, take every last-minute request, and never push back, you’re training people to disrespect your time.
What’s Next for Julie?
Julie is doubling down on impact.
Instead of just working one-on-one with leaders, she’s expanding her reach—working with full teams, speaking to larger audiences, and helping entire organizations develop a culture of strong leadership, trust, and strategic communication.
Her biggest piece of advice for leaders? Pause.
Most professionals move too fast, respond too quickly, and react instead of leading. Taking a breath before making a decision, sending an email, or responding to conflict can change everything.
Connect with Julie Holunga
Want to sharpen your leadership skills, build trust, and communicate with more confidence? Connect with Julie:
Website: julieholunga.com
LinkedIn: Julie Holunga
TEDx Talk: Don’t Let Your Words Sabotage Your Career
Request a Consultation: Work with Julie
Ditch the weak language. Embrace conflict. Take control of your career.
Stay badass.
