Leading Through Midlife: Wisdom, Wobbles, and the Wonder of Hot Flushes
- Calmfidence Council
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
Written by Francis Eijsackers, Calmfidence Council Network Member
Midlife leadership for women—the phrase alone conjures images of boardroom brilliance, hard-earned wisdom, and the occasional emergency fan for those sudden “power surges” (read: hot flushes). But beyond the polished LinkedIn profiles and ceramic mugs emblazoned with “You’ve got this!”, the lived reality is far more layered—and, dare I say, occasionally hilarious.
Let’s be honest: leading in midlife isn’t for the faint-hearted. This is the season when your career’s soaring, your hormones are pirouetting, and your family calendar resembles a game of Tetris played by caffeine-fuelled toddlers. And yet—this very season is often when your leadership becomes its most impactful, authentic, and—if you let it—unexpectedly fun.
The Midlife Leadership Landscape: Between Brain Fog and Boardroom
Women in their 40s and 50s are frequently at the height of their professional influence—stepping into executive roles, spearheading strategy, and mentoring future talent. Yet, this so-called “prime time” tends to coincide with a cascade of personal and physiological changes. Think brain fog, interrupted sleep, and the odd moment of Googling, “Is it normal to forget your own job title?”
The corporate world is only just catching up to the idea that midlife isn’t just a number—it’s a full-contact sport. Hormonal shifts, eldercare, teenage chaos, and that ever-present hum of workplace bias mean many midlife women are juggling more than a circus octopus.
What’s Really Going On?
Health & Wellbeing: Perimenopause and menopause aren’t just headline topics—they’re lived experiences that can zap your energy, scramble your memory, and test your emotional resilience. Many women don’t even realise these changes are hormonally driven until mid-presentation, wondering why the projector now resembles a desert mirage.
The Balancing Act: Welcome to the “sandwich generation.” Teenagers on one side, ageing parents on the other, with your demanding role squashed in between. It’s less a balancing act, more a tightrope walk—without a net, but with plenty of unsolicited advice from relatives.
Confidence & Visibility: Even with decades of experience, many women in midlife still face the double bind of ageism and gender bias. Imposter syndrome doesn’t necessarily vanish with seniority—it just learns to accessorise more convincingly.
Workplace Support:Too many organisations still overlook the specific challenges of midlife. Menopause-friendly policies, flexible work options, and leadership development tailored to this stage remain the exception, not the rule.
The Humour (and Power) in Hot Flushes
Let’s be real: if you can hold a strategic meeting while sweating through a silk blouse and fielding a panicked text about a forgotten PE kit, you can survive just about anything.
The secret? Lean into the chaos—and find the comedy in it.
Here are a few tongue-in-cheek (but entirely serious) tips for thriving as a midlife female leader:
🔹 Embrace Brain Fog: Forget someone’s name in a meeting? Casually say, “I prefer to address everyone as ‘colleague’—it’s more inclusive.” Extra points if you pitch it as a progressive leadership trend.
🔹 Normalise the Nap: Need a reboot at 2 p.m.? Call it a “strategic visioning session.”
Close your eyes. If anyone asks, you’re visualising next quarter’s growth strategy.
🔹 Accessorise for Survival: Keep a fan, a snack, and your sense of humour within arm’s reach. You never know which one will save the day.
🔹 Delegate Like a Boss: Leadership isn’t about martyrdom. It’s about empowering others—especially when you need a “wellbeing break” (code for: five minutes of silence and a biscuit).
🔹 Share the Struggle: Speak up about the challenges. A little honesty can dissolve tension and build trust—especially among those quietly navigating the same storm.
Supporting Your Team: Same Storm, Different Boats
Midlife isn’t a solo voyage. Chances are, many of your team members are dealing with similar transitions. Your leadership can be the difference between survival mode and sustainable success.
🔸 Foster Flexibility: Hybrid work. Shifted hours. Compassionate leadership. Sometimes a “family emergency” translates to “my dog ate the homework, and now everyone’s in tears.” Flexibility isn’t a perk—it’s a lifeline.
🔸 Champion Wellbeing: Model it. Encourage it. Talk about it. Sometimes the most powerful thing a leader can say is, “It’s okay to not be okay today.”
🔸 Mentor with Humour: Share your slip-ups. Laugh at your Zoom wardrobe mishaps. Vulnerability builds loyalty in ways quarterly bonuses never will.
🔸 Spot the Burnout: Especially in high-achieving women who rarely wave the white flag. Sometimes, support starts with a sincere, “How are you, really?”
The Upside: Wisdom, Resilience, and a Killer Sense of Humour
Despite the wobbles, midlife is packed with possibility. Senior women bring calm under pressure, sharp perspective, and the uncanny ability to laugh in the face of chaos. These qualities don’t just steady the ship—they make the ship worth sailing.
So the next time you find yourself sweating through a pitch (literally), remember: you’re not just leading—you’re trailblazing. And if you can do it with a smile, a fan, and a fully stocked snack drawer, you’re already winning. Because at the end of the day, leadership in midlife isn’t about knowing all the answers. It’s about asking wiser questions—and having the foresight to pack an emergency chocolate bar when the brain fog rolls in.
P.S. To Our Male Colleagues: A dash of empathy goes a long way. Instead of raising eyebrows when we blank on names mid-sentence, a gentle nod or a “Need a moment?” can turn awkwardness into camaraderie. True teamwork isn’t about pointing out who’s sweating—it’s about having each other’s backs, fans and all.
About the Author
Francis Eijsackers, MBA, is an award-winning entrepreneur and mental health professional, with a passion for networking and connecting with people globally. With extensive experience managing over 700 people, Francis is an invaluable resource for tackling questions about leadership, integrity, and mental health for leaders. Her motto? Never stop learning—commit to lifelong development.
Get connected with Francis on LinkedIn
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