Episode SummaryIn this episode, I sit down with confidence and communication expert Karen Laos to explore what confidence actually is and where it comes from. Together, we unpack the relationship between internal alignment and external expression, and why confidence isn't something you perform, it's something you embody.

We explore how self-awareness, personal inquiry, and intentional reflection can help you better understand who you are, what you stand for, and how you want to show up in the world. Through the lens of the Charting Your Course system, Karen experiences her Personal Seasons Calendar for the first time, leading to powerful insights about reputation, leadership, and the difference between being known and being hired for.

Most importantly, we come back to the idea that lasting confidence is built from the inside out. When your internal truth and external expression align, leadership becomes more authentic, communication becomes more powerful, and your impact expands naturally.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why confidence is rooted in internal alignment rather than external performance
• The difference between what you want to be known for and what you want to be hired for
• How reputation is revealed through awareness, not just created through branding
• Karen's personal story of losing her voice in a boardroom and reclaiming her self-trust
• The role of self-inquiry in uncovering deeper truths about yourself and your work
• How the Charting Your Course system uses seasonal questions to create meaningful reflection
• The difference between leadership and performing leadership
• Why intentionality, agency, and self-trust are essential for creating an extraordinary life

Key Takeaways

• Confidence becomes sustainable when it is supported by internal alignment.
• The questions you ask yourself influence the awareness you gain.
• Reputation is often uncovered through authentic expression rather than manufactured through strategy.
• Leadership emerges when your internal truth and external actions are working together.
• Self-trust grows when you stop waiting for permission and start listening to your own wisdom.

Call to Action

Where are you seeking permission when what you really need is self-trust?

Notice the moments when you're looking outside yourself for validation, certainty, or approval. What might change if you trusted your own wisdom first?

Links

Charting Your Course

Karen's Free Resource: Three Strategies to Speak Up in MeetingsLeadership Accelerator: The Power House Leadership Lab