Why I Refused to Cry at Work | Leadership Lesson

"Should you cry at work? Linda Cureton shares the powerful story of when she held back tears in the boardroom—and how it transformed into the respect she needed as a leader."

In this clip from The Next Level Paycheck, Linda Cureton opens up about one of her most challenging career moments: facing scorn in an executive meeting during a high-stakes IT project transition.

Instead of showing vulnerability in the room, she held her emotions until later—and then turned her pain into action. By personally visiting field divisions, listening to their complaints, and creating solutions on the spot, she earned deep respect and built lasting trust.

Key takeaways include:

• Why self-regulation is crucial in emotional intelligence

• The balance between vulnerability and composure at work

• How taking accountability builds credibility

• Turning pain into action as a leader

For mid-level professionals striving to break the $70K–$80K ceiling, this story shows that resilience and emotional intelligence can transform even the most painful setbacks into leadership breakthroughs.

Hashtags:
#EmotionalIntelligence, #LeadershipSkills, #CareerGrowth, #LindaCureton, #TheNextLevelPaycheck, #WomenInLeadership, #ProfessionalResilience, #WorkplaceRespect, #LeadershipStories, #CareerDevelopment

Tags

career growth, emotional intelligence, self regulation, leadership skills, Linda Cureton, The Next Level Paycheck, crying at work, women leaders in career, professional resilience, workplace respect, leadership under pressure, managing emotions, accountability in leadership, career advancement strategies, faith and leadership, mid-level professionals, career plateau solutions, breaking the income ceiling, leadership mindset, professional growth tips