EQ
Emotional Intelligence, EI
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Feeling Stuck in Mid-Level Leadership? Unlock Your Path to Senior Roles—Without Burnout
Are you a high-performing mid-level leader feeling stuck on the path to senior leadership? You’re not alone. Many leaders reach a point where working harder no longer works, and the path upward feels unclear or exhausting. If you’re wondering how to move from mid-level to senior leadership without burning out, the answer may not lie in working harder or longer, but in cultivating deeper self-awareness. Through executive coaching, leaders discover the internal patterns, blockers, and beliefs that quietly limit their influence and impact. By understanding these inner dynamics, you unlock leadership capacity that’s already within you, without sacrificing your health or relationships. Why Traditional Leadership Development Falls Short Most leadership programs focus on…
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Why Is It So Hard to Explain What an Executive Coach Really Does?
If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens in an executive coaching session, or what an executive coach really does, you’re not alone. While terms like leadership development and performance coaching sound compelling, they don’t tell the full story. In this article, I pull back the curtain on the lived experience of coaching—what it feels like, how it works, and why it transforms leaders from the inside out. As an executive coach, I’ve been told more times than I can count: “Use more keywords—productivity, performance, ROI. Talk about leadership impact, business growth, and measurable outcomes.” And sure, I wrote copies sprinkled with those phrases. I know how to speak the language…
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Unlocking Leadership Through Inner Alignment: Rebecca’s Executive Coaching Journey
What does it take to grow as a leader? Especially when the usual strategies like “delegate more” or “think strategically” fall flat in the face of daily overwhelm? For many senior leaders, the answer lies not in more tactics but in deeper inner alignment. This is the story of Rebecca, a senior leader in the manufacturing industry, who made a powerful shift not by working harder, but by tuning in to her internal operating system. Her coaching journey illustrates how unleashing leadership capacity starts from within. The Challenge: When Feedback Falls Flat Rebecca, a 45-year-old senior leader at a global manufacturing company, had just received performance feedback that many executives…
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Career satisfaction, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, EQ, Executive Presence, Leadership, Self-leadership, Success Strategy
Confidence Is Not the Absence of Doubt
Carol, a senior leader in healthcare, recently transitioned from HR to strategy. She felt out of her depth. In leadership meetings, she hesitated to share her opinions, lacking the confidence she once had after 30 years in HR. Similarly, Steve, a veteran financial executive, had just stepped into a new role. Playing it safe, he stayed agreeable and held back. But over time, his frustration grew as he struggled to gain support for his initiatives. It’s true that decades of experience can bolster confidence, but we don’t always have the luxury of time. The good news? Confidence isn’t solely built on tenure. It’s about finding the conviction to move forward…
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Communication, Emotional Intelligence, EQ, Executive Presence, Leadership, Neuroscience, Self-leadership
Demystifying Executive Presence
A senior engineering leader reached out to me for coaching. His credentials were impeccable—multiple graduate degrees from prestigious universities and an impressive professional track record. Yet, he was told to improve his Executive Presence (EP). His question? “What does that even mean?“ Through our conversation, we identified his challenge: he struggled to deliver his points with clarity and conciseness during senior leadership meetings. This reminded me of another client—let’s call him Joe, a senior product manager. Joe was in the middle of a presentation when his VP interrupted, asking for the bottom line. Frustrated, Joe thought, Why won’t he let me finish my presentation? Later, when he shared this with…
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My Holiday Knitting Project and The Threads of Life
Crochet and knitting have become my cherished hobbies, a comforting ritual during the holiday season. Growing up, I often watched my mom knit cozy sweaters for us and other family members. Her steady hands and creative spirit inspired me, and now I find joy in carrying on that tradition. This year, I picked on a special project: knitting a scarf for my college-going daughter, who is home for the Holidays. She excitedly chose a yarn from my collection—two beautifully contrasting shades that perfectly reflected her vibrant personality. I started the project knowing I would need to buy more to complete the scarf. So I went to the local craft store,…
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Emotional Intelligence, EQ, Happiness, Leadership, productivity, Stress Management, Success Strategy
Why High Achievers Overextend—and How to Break the Cycle
Julia was a director of engineering at a Fortune 500 company, a mother of two, and a caregiver for her aging mother. Her life was a whirlwind of work deadlines, doctor appointments, and organizing elaborate birthday parties and other social commitments. Despite her accomplishments, Julia felt perpetually behind and emotionally drained. Many of us could relate to Julia’s story. Why We Overextend Ourselves While growing up, we are taught to share our resources, care for others, attend to our responsibilities, and delay gratification. These values shaped us into productive, reliable individuals. But eventually, as successful adults, when we double down on putting external expectations ahead of personal well-being, we push…
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5 Misconceptions That Get In The Way Of Sustainable Success
Over the years, through my coaching work with tech leaders and executives, I’ve helped them uncover hidden misconceptions and limiting behaviors that often hold them back. Many of these leaders were already highly successful, yet by identifying and addressing these patterns, they found new ways to accelerate their growth more sustainably and more fulfilling. Recognizing these blind spots allowed them to approach challenges with greater clarity, adaptability, and confidence. Based on these experiences, I’ve summarized the five most common limiting patterns that, when overcome, can elevate leadership impact and personal fulfillment, i.e, success without burnout. Misconception 1: Starting with Others’ Expectations Many of us begin by focusing on what’s expected…
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Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Lessons from National to Personal Level
The U.S. presidential election, a defining moment that shapes the nation’s future, has tested the resilience of Americans in profound ways. Whether viewed through the lens of political upheaval, economic concerns, or polarization gripping communities, the experience underscores a larger truth: resilience is not just a collective necessity but a personal and professional one. As we navigate these shared challenges, the lessons we draw extend to our individual lives, influencing how we face adversity and adapt to change. The American Psychological Association’s (APA) latest Stress in America survey reveals a stark reality: 77% of adults cite the nation’s future as a significant source of stress, followed closely by concerns over…
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Facing Results vs. Relationships Tension? The Answer is to Integrate, Not Choose
Soren was recently promoted to a new leadership role, managing some of his former peers. One of them had also been a contender for the same position. Determined to excel, Soren committed to giving his best effort. He relied on his tried-and-true method of thorough preparation, getting straight to the point without wasting time, hoping to appear competent and in control. However, he quickly noticed that his team members were reluctant to engage, leaving him feeling disconnected and frustrated. This tension between achieving results and nurturing relationships is a common challenge for leaders. Many believe you can’t be kind if you hold people accountable for results. This false dichotomy often…
