Why Stepping Into L&D Leadership Can Feel So Uncomfortable

Are you Asking the Questions That Position you for Leadership?

In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis explores why one of the biggest shifts in your L&D career isn’t having better answers - it’s learning to ask better questions. If you’ve ever jumped straight into solution mode when a stakeholder asks for training, this episode unpacks what strategic L&D professionals do differently and how better questions can position you for leadership. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. What you’ll learn in this episode: 00:52 Why many L&D professionals get stuck in delivery mode 02:56 What strategic L&D professionals do differently in stakeholder conversations 04:28 A real example of uncovering a process issue behind a training request 07:20 How better questions position you for leadership 07:45 Your practical move for this week 👉🏾 Your next step? Join me live. Free Monthly L&D Leadership Workshop 📅 19 May 2026 ⏰ 5:00 - 6:00 PM SAST 🎯 Topic: The Shifts That Move You from L&D Professional to L&D Leader Sign up here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share]   👉🏾 Want ongoing support on your journey into L&D leadership? Join the L&D Professional Collective waiting list here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share]   You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/] 🌐 Website (Lead with Sheree): www.leadwithsheree.com [http://www.leadwithsheree.com] 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear where you are in your L&D leadership journey.

Why Stepping Into L&D Leadership Can Feel So Uncomfortable

In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis explores why stepping into L&D leadership can feel so uncomfortable - even when you’re capable, respected, and doing strong work. If you’ve ever found yourself holding back in meetings, questioning your voice, or wondering why leadership feels harder than you expected, this episode unpacks what’s really happening beneath the discomfort, why identity often lags behind capability, and what leadership growth actually asks of you. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: 01:00 Why leadership growth often feels uncomfortable at first 02:10 What’s really happening when your thinking starts to shift 04:13 How this shows up in real L&D leadership moments 05:46 Your practical move for this week 👉🏾 Your next step? Join me live. Free Monthly L&D Leadership Workshop 📅 19 May 2026 ⏰ 5:00 - 6:00 PM SAST 🎯 Topic: The Shifts That Move You from L&D Professional to L&D Leader Sign up here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share]   👉🏾 Want ongoing support on your journey into L&D leadership? Join the L&D Professional Collective waiting list here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share]   You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/] 🌐 Website (Lead with Sheree): www.leadwithsheree.com [http://www.leadwithsheree.com] 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear where you are in your L&D leadership journey.

Why Your Message Isn’t Landing (Even When You’re Being Clear)

In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis explores why being clear in your own mind doesn’t always mean your message lands in the room. If you’ve ever left a meeting feeling like your point got lost, this episode breaks down what leaders are actually listening for, why over-explaining can weaken your impact, and how small shifts in structure can change how your thinking is received. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: 00:53 Why being clear doesn’t always mean your message lands 01:52 What is really going on when you experience this disconnect 03:00 How to structure leadership updates using 4 key questions  05:47 Your practical move for this week 👉🏾 Your next step? Join me live. Free Monthly L&D Leadership Workshop 📅 19 May 2026 ⏰ 5:00 - 6:00 PM SAST 🎯 Topic: The Shifts That Move You from L&D Professional to L&D Leader Sign up here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share]   👉🏾 Want ongoing support on your journey into L&D leadership? Join the L&D Professional Collective waiting list here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share]   You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/] 🌐 Website (Lead with Sheree): www.leadwithsheree.com [http://www.leadwithsheree.com] 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear where you are in your L&D leadership journey.

What Leaders Actually Notice

In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis explains why leaders don’t promote effort - they promote impact. If you’re working hard, delivering consistently, and still not being seen as leadership-ready, this episode breaks down what leaders are actually listening for, how they interpret updates, and how small shifts in language can change how your work lands. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: 00:45 What leaders focus on 01:24 What leaders listen for when you speak about your work 02:36 How to translate L&D activity into business outcomes 03:25 How I surface impact to my leaders in my career 05:15 Your practical move for today   👉🏾 Your next step? Join me live. Free Monthly L&D Leadership Workshop 📅 19 May 2026 ⏰ 5:00 - 6:00 PM SAST 🎯 Topic: The Shifts That Move You from L&D Professional to L&D Leader Sign up here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share]   👉🏾 Want ongoing support on your journey into L&D leadership? Join the L&D Professional Collective waiting list here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share]   You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/] 🌐 Website (Lead with Sheree): www.leadwithsheree.com [http://www.leadwithsheree.com] 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear where you are in your L&D leadership journey.

Why Being Busy Isn't Helping Your Career

In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis challenges the assumption that hard work automatically leads to promotion and explains why being busy is not the same as being seen. If you’re delivering, saying yes, and working hard — but not progressing — this episode explores the visibility gap that keeps many capable L&D professionals stuck, and how intentional visibility can become a calm, strategic leadership skill rather than self-promotion. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: 00:51 Why hard work alone doesn’t guarantee progression 01:48 What the visibility gap is, and why leaders miss good work 04:00 How to rethink visibility as a leadership skill 05:11 One simple action to make your impact visible this week 👉🏾 Your next step? Join me live. Free Monthly L&D Leadership Workshop 📅 19 May 2026 ⏰ 5:00 - 6:00 PM SAST 🎯 Topic: The Shifts That Move You from L&D Professional to L&D Leader Sign up here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/186710399820760594/share]   👉🏾 Want ongoing support on your journey into L&D leadership? Join the L&D Professional Collective waiting list here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/160114222489928873/share]   You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/] 🌐 Website (Lead with Sheree): www.leadwithsheree.com [http://www.leadwithsheree.com] 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear where you are in your L&D leadership journey.