Resistance is not a strategy.Here are 4 ways to turn discomfort into a lever for growth.

What do the best leaders know? Sustainable performance doesn't rely on force. It relies on clarity, alignment... and a human-centered strategy.

70% of professionals say their work no longer aligns with what truly matters to them. And waiting has a cost: after 12 months of inaction, energy drops by 40%, and confidence by 25%. (Sources: BetterUp, Gallup 2023)

For individuals: You don't always need to change jobs to rediscover meaning. Sometimes it just takes clarifying your priorities, taking ownership again, and surrounding yourself with the right environment to evolve.

For companies: Disengagement isn’t a skills issue — it’s a matter of coherence between vision, culture, and expectations. Working on alignment strengthens performance, engagement, and employer brand.

At the Diversity in Tech event: Morning Change x LinkedIn France, several women leaders from diverse backgrounds shared what helped them break glass ceilings in spaces they weren’t expected to be in.

🔹 Héléna SANNIER, VP Sales (iSON Xperiences)
🔹 Joëlle DAGO-SERRY, Coach & Journalist (RMC BFM)
🔹 Stéphanie Tamhoua, Head of Gender Equity & VP Cercle Inter L (Dassault Systèmes)
🔹 Hayatte Maazouza, Program Director (Fondation L'Oréal)
🔹 Cléphie MBAMBI, ex-DocuSign, Microsoft, LinkedIn Leader, Entrepreneur (Morning Change)

Their common thread? Clarity on their values, exceptional adaptability, and a refusal to advance at any cost.

Here’s what we took away, with practical tools for those looking to grow sustainably:

1. Learn the codes without losing yourself

The concept: Every professional space comes with unspoken rules. Whether you come from a different sector, background, or just have a unique style, the temptation to conform can be strong. But adapting shouldn't mean erasing yourself. The challenge is to understand the codes—without losing your voice.

Tool: Identify your "alignment compass": 3 words you refuse to sacrifice in the way you work, interact, or express yourself. Keep them in mind as safeguards during moments of pressure or conformity.

Example: Claire, an engineer in an industrial company, hesitated to speak up about her commitment to climate issues. When she proposed a project aligned with her values, she was not only heard—she was promoted to internal CSR lead.

Data: 71% of women say they change how they speak to better fit in professionally (LeanIn.org, 2023). Companies that value diverse communication styles increase engagement by 28% (McKinsey, 2022).

2. Turn adaptability into strategic strength

The concept: Having moved across contexts, roles, or industries builds a strong capacity to read between the lines, anticipate, and adjust quickly. This isn’t just a "soft skill" — it's strategic capital. But you have to recognize it and use it intentionally.

Tool: Try the weekly ritual "Stop / Continue / Start":

• STOP: What drains you but feels automatic?

• CONTINUE: What helps you progress?

• START: One new action to test next week

Example: Nadia, a former nurse who pivoted to tech, leveraged her crisis management reflexes to lead projects with calm and precision. By naming what she already knew how to do, she quickly became seen as an operational leader.

Data: People who’ve worked across different environments are 42% faster at ramping up in new roles (LinkedIn Future of Work Report, 2023). Those who adjust their pace to their energy are 35% more effective (Harvard Business Review, 2022).

3. Surrounding yourself is a professional strategy

The concept: Seeking out a mentor, a peer, or a strategic contact isn’t asking for permission. It’s activating a lever. Mentorship works when it's intentional, structured, and tied to a clear goal.

Tool: Before reaching out, ask yourself:

• What is my precise goal in the next 3 to 6 months?

• What experience, mindset, or energy am I seeking?

• What am I bringing to this exchange (attention, gratitude, reciprocity)?

Example: Rania, an engineering student, wanted to apply for a VIE in the energy sector. She contacted an alumna with a clear, targeted message. She got an interview and strategic tips that made a real difference.

Data: People with mentors are 5x more likely to achieve their goals in a year (Forbes, 2023). And 97% of mentors say it helps them grow their own leadership (Think Learning, 2022).

4. Align to last

The concept: What wears us down isn’t the workload. It’s the disconnect. When what you do no longer aligns with what matters to you, you start compensating instead of contributing. Alignment is what makes performance sustainable—without self-erasure.

Tool: Once a month, take 15 minutes to ask yourself: → “What did I do this month that brought me closer to who I want to become?” Then adjust your calendar accordingly.

Example: Sophie, a project manager in an agency, turned down a promotion that would pull her away from her creative work. Instead, she proposed an alternative role and co-designed it with her manager.

Data: 90% of employees would accept lower pay for more meaning in their work (Glassdoor, 2022). Personal alignment is the #1 predictor of mental resilience under pressure (American Psychological Association, 2023).

🌱 Morning Change exists to support exactly this kind of shift.

We’re not looking for perfection, but clarity, drive, and the desire to grow better.

That’s why our cohort programs are by application: we select committed, evolving, and often atypical profiles who are ready for conscious transformation.

Our formats: — Cohort-based programs: Alignment & Growth
— Workshops for individuals and teams: strategy, inclusion, emotional regulation
— Podcast & newsletter: to think while moving, without losing yourself along the way

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