Awareness is only the beginning—real leadership transformation happens when you take bold, intentional action. In this powerful podcast episode of Stepping Into The Arena, Karen Gombault lays out the exact steps you need to plug the four most common power leaks senior executives face.

If you've recently stepped into a bigger role, and you're juggling visibility, credibility, and pressure, this is your tactical guide to reclaiming control, sharpening your presence, and protecting your energy.

You don’t need to do more—you need to do different.

1. Audit your altitude. Upgrade your calendar and your mindset. Shift from doing manager work to operating at strategic, high-level leadership altitude.
2. Reframe your meetings. Stop the updates. Start making decisions. Ask the questions that move your team—and your influence—forward.
3. Use the 3P Filter. Before saying yes, ask: Does this serve my Priorities, my People, or my Positioning?
4. Don’t let discomfort fester. Use a 48-hour rule to address tough conversations fast and with clarity. Avoiding conflict erodes your credibility.
5. Stay in your lane. Focus only on what you can control. Redirect drama and noise into decisions and action that strengthen your presence.

“Every time you reclaim your energy from things that are draining it, your presence, your authority and your credibility become much cleaner and sharper.” — Karen Gombault

Every time you close a power leak, you’re not just being more efficient—you’re strengthening your leadership identity. You’re teaching people how to treat you. You’re building trust, credibility, and authority.

Choose one leak this week and stop it. You’ll feel the shift instantly.

💬 Ready for personalized support? Let’s connect to see if 1:1 executive coaching is the right fit for you.

Book your call here → https://zcal.co/karengombault/connect

💬 Let’s Work Together: Book a private executive coaching call to support your leadership growth: https://zcal.co/karengombault/connect

🎁 Free Resource: Build Your Visibility At Work → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

👤 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

When executives lose influence, it rarely happens in one dramatic crash—it fades away slowly, almost invisibly. In this episode of Stepping Into The Arena, Karen Gombault reveals the four most common ways senior leaders leak power in the first six months of a new role.

These aren’t obvious failures; they’re subtle habits that silently drain your credibility, clarity, and presence. Learn how to plug these leaks so you can lead with stronger influence, more confidence, and measurable impact from day one.

Whether you're navigating a promotion, expanded scope, or a brand-new role, this episode is your wake-up call to take back your power—before it slips away.

1. Old habits don’t serve new roles. Operating from your previous identity keeps you stuck in the weeds—and undermines your strategic presence.
2. Saying yes to everything weakens your authority. Over-accommodating others’ expectations may feel productive but signals a lack of boundaries.
3. Avoiding discomfort erodes leadership. Postponing hard conversations or difficult decisions chips away at your credibility and decisiveness.
4. Focusing on what you can’t control drains energy. Redirect attention to what’s in your lane to reclaim influence and protect your well-being.
5. Power leaks aren’t fixed with big moves. Small, conscious decisions restore authority—one shift at a time.

“Every time you close a leak, you reclaim a piece of your authority. You're going to walk into the room taller, your words are going to carry more weight, and you'll start to feel completely aligned with your job.” — Karen Gombault

Plugging power leaks isn’t about being perfect. Tt’s about becoming aware and choosing differently.

Start by identifying one area where your influence is slipping and commit to a single action this week. Over time, those micro-adjustments compound into massive leadership credibility.

📞 Book a strategy call for 1:1 executive coaching :

https://zcal.co/karengombault/connect

🎁 Free Resource: Build Your Visibility At Work →

https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

💼 Explore Private Executive Coaching:

https://www.karengombault.com/privatecoaching

🔗 Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

In this episode of Stepping Into The Arena, Karen reveals why senior leaders hesitate to delegate and how it costs you time, authority, and impact. You’ll learn a simple, practical framework to define when you should decide, when you should collaborate, and when your team should take the lead.

If you’ve been holding on too tightly—or becoming the bottleneck—this podcast episode gives you the tools to reclaim your calendar, empower your team, and scale your leadership influence.

1. Delegation isn’t just workload relief. It’s about building a team that thrives without your constant involvement.
2. The three delegation traps: lack of trust, guilt about overloading your team, and unclear boundaries.
3. Credibility is at stake. Holding too tightly signals a lack of trust and slows down execution.
4. The “I decide, we decide, you decide” model. This framework accelerates decisions, boosts team confidence, and frees up your time.
5. Delegation is a multiplier. It doesn’t reduce your control—it strengthens it by focusing your influence where it matters most.

“Remember that delegation is not an abdication of your power. It is a multiplier of your impact.” – Karen Gombault

Leadership isn’t about doing it all yourself—it’s about knowing when to step in, when to collaborate, and when to step back so your team can lead with you.

Set up a call to discuss potentially working together: https://zcal.co/karengombault/connect

Free Resource: Build Your Visibility At Work → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

1:1 Executive Coaching – My high-level, science-backed coaching partnership → https://www.karengombault.com/privatecoaching

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

When your calendar is packed back-to-back, you may think you’re maximizing your value. In reality, you’re draining your influence. In this podcast episode of Stepping Into The Arena, Karen Gombault shares why white space—the intentional pauses in your day—is not a luxury but a leadership essential.

If you’ve just stepped into a bigger role and feel like you’re always behind, this conversation will help you reset your rhythm, reclaim your energy, and show up as the steady, strategic leader your team needs.

1. White space isn’t wasted time—it’s fuel for focus, composure, and strategic thinking.
2. Without pauses, you operate reactively and risk losing credibility by appearing rushed or scattered.
3. Over-responsibility, carryover from old roles, and fear of looking disengaged often crowd out white space.
4. Protecting your nervous system matters. When you’re constantly “on,” you deplete presence, authority, and team trust.
5. Practical strategies include defending calendar blocks, inserting micro-pauses, canceling nonessential meetings, and anchoring white space at the time of day when you’re most creative.

“White space isn’t about absence. It’s absolutely what gives you shape and power to everything else. Protecting it is not indulgent. It is a conscious act of authority and self-leadership.” – Karen Gombault

White space is the difference between leading reactively and leading with intention. Start treating it as non-negotiable, and you’ll amplify both your leadership impact and your well-being.

Set up a call to discuss working together: https://zcal.co/karengombault/connect

Free Resource: Build Your Visibility At Work → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

1:1 Executive Coaching – My high-level, science-backed coaching partnership → https://www.karengombault.com/privatecoaching

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

Influence doesn’t happen in the meeting—it happens before it.

In this week’s Stepping Into The Arena podcast episode, Karen reveals why the real work of influence happens long before you step into the boardroom. She breaks down the three arenas of influence—before, during, and after the meeting—and shows you why shaping decisions ahead of time is the key to expanding your authority, credibility, and impact.

1. Most of your leadership impact happens before. Pre-wiring, seeding ideas, and anticipating objections is where influence is won.
2. Authority in the room comes from presence, not polish. How you listen, challenge, and carry yourself matters more than slides and data.
3. After the meeting is where momentum sticks. Follow-up ensures decisions hold and builds long-term credibility.
4. Common missteps weaken influence. Over-preparing content, under-preparing relationships, and assuming your title guarantees buy-in.
5. Five steps to engineer influence. Map stakeholders, seed perspectives early, anticipate resistance, align with top priorities, and build momentum so decisions feel inevitable.

"By the time you walk into an important meeting, the decision has already been made. The only question is, were you part of shaping that decision?" – Karen Gombault

Meetings don’t make decisions—leaders do. And the leaders who shape decisions before the meeting are the ones who consistently expand their authority and impact.

RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the 3-Day Influence Lab (October 20–24) → https://www.karengombault.com/budgetlab

Early bird pricing until Sept. 20th, use coupon code BUDGET

💼 Book a 1:1 Executive Coaching Call → https://zcal.co/karengombault/connect

📘 Free Resource: Build Your Visibility At Work → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

🔗 Connect with Karen on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

You’ve got the seat—now what?

This premiere episode of Stepping Into the Arena is not just a rebrand—it’s a bold invitation to own your executive presence and expand your influence. Karen Gombault shares why this evolution matters and what it means for ambitious leaders facing high-stakes transitions.

Whether you’re stepping into a new executive role, inheriting a larger team, or navigating a merger, this episode is your strategic reset. Karen walks you through the four essential lessons she’s seen time and again in leaders who rise to the challenge with confidence, clarity, and credibility.

If you’re ready to stop playing small and start leading at the level your role demands, this is your moment.

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Your new title is just the beginning. What matters most is how you lead from day one—not the title itself.

2. Self-identity has to catch up with the responsibility. Success depends on intentionally stepping into who the role requires you to become.

3. Authority is earned by behavior, not by title. Your credibility is built daily through how you show up and how you carry yourself.

4. Influence is your leadership multiplier. It’s less about what you do and more about how you guide decisions, conversations, and outcomes.

5. This podcast is for high-stakes transitions. It’s no longer just about your first promotion—it's about navigating leadership at the highest levels with confidence and strategic depth.

“Your value is measured by how you shape conversations, guide stakeholders and move decisions forward. It’s about influence.” —Karen Gombault

This is your next chapter.

Stepping Into the Arena is for experienced executives stepping into bigger scopes, more visibility, and more pressure. Each week, Karen shares the real strategies, mindset shifts, and lessons from decades of executive leadership and VIP coaching clients. Get ready for actionable insights grounded in real-world experience—and learn how to lead with power and purpose.

The arena is yours. Step in and make it count.

RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS:

Schedule a call to discuss potentially working together: 50 Minute Connection Meeting - zcal

Free Resource: Build Your Visibility At Work → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

Start with Catalyst – A focused 6-week coaching sprint to solve one real leadership challenge with strategy, momentum, and results. Learn more: https://www.karengombault.com/catalyst

Go deeper with 1:1 Executive Coaching – A high-level, science-backed coaching partnership to lead with unshakeable confidence and protect your energy while delivering at the top. https://www.karengombault.com/privatecoaching

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

You’ve just been promoted—and now you’re leading the people who were your peers last week. It’s one of the most awkward, emotionally charged leadership shifts out there.

In this episode of Promoted: Stop Doubting, Start Leading, Karen Gombault walks you through how to manage this transition without losing authority, overcompensating, or shrinking yourself. If you’ve ever wondered how to handle blurred lines, shifting dynamics, or that one colleague who wanted the job you now have—this episode is for you.

Walk away with real-world strategies to lead former peers with clarity, fairness, and the kind of authority that doesn’t require arrogance.

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Awkwardness is normal—and temporary. Acknowledge the discomfort openly. Avoid pretending nothing changed.

2. Set expectations and boundaries early. Be clear, calm, and specific to avoid confusion or favoritism.

3. Authority comes from action, not approval. You don't need to "prove" you’re the boss—you already are.

4. Recalibrate relationships. Keep it human, but professional. Avoid gossip, oversharing, or clinging to old dynamics.

5. Use your insider knowledge wisely. Leverage what you know to lead with empathy, not nostalgia.

“Navigating through the discomfort is one of the most powerful leadership skills that you can develop.” – Karen Gombault

Stepping into leadership from within your own team is uncomfortable—but it’s also one of the biggest growth opportunities in your leadership journey. Start leading like the boss you are.

RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS:

Free Resource: Build Your Visibility At Work → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

Start with Catalyst – A focused 6-week coaching sprint to solve one real leadership challenge with strategy, momentum, and results. Learn more: https://www.karengombault.com/catalyst

Go deeper with 1:1 Executive Coaching – My high-level, science-backed coaching partnership begins with The First 180™, a strategic deep dive into your first six months in role to help you lead with unshakeable confidence and protect your energy while delivering at the top. https://www.karengombault.com/privatecoaching

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

In this powerful episode of Promoted: Stop Doubting, Start Leading, Karen Gombault dives deep into one of the most frustrating realities for new leaders—having a difficult boss. Whether they're a micromanager, invisible, indecisive, or political, these leaders can block momentum, drain your energy, and make you question your authority.

The truth is that your boss doesn’t need to change for you to lead effectively.

Karen shares six clear, actionable strategies to help you navigate the dynamic with clarity, protect your energy, and shift from reacting to leading. If your leadership is being tested by the person above you, this episode will give you the tools to regain control, show up with authority, and build influence even in less-than-ideal conditions.

You don’t have to shrink—you can lead anyway.

1. You can’t control your boss—but you can control your boundaries. Shift from reaction to intention by owning your choices, energy, and influence.
2. Difficult bosses come in many forms. Recognize the patterns—micromanaging, absence, indecision, or political behavior—and adapt strategically.
3. Communicate with discipline. Stick to short, fact-based updates that limit meddling and position you as clear, steady, and outcomes-focused.
4. Build allies beyond your boss. When your manager isn’t a true sponsor, you need advocates across the organization to protect your progress and reputation.
5. Use the situation to grow your executive presence. It’s a training ground—practice patience, sharpen influence, and lead in a way that reflects who you truly are.

“Your success doesn't depend on fixing your boss. Your boss is not going to change most likely. What is in your control is how you choose to respond.” – Karen Gombault

Having a tough boss doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It means you’re being invited to step more fully into your leadership. These strategies don’t require permission—they require intention. Make one shift this week in how you manage up, and notice how the dynamic begins to change.

Free Resource: Build Your Visibility at Work → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

Start with Catalyst – A focused 6-week coaching sprint to solve one real leadership challenge with strategy, momentum, and results. Learn more: https://www.karengombault.com/catalyst

Go deeper with 1:1 Executive Coaching The First 180™ – My high-level, science-backed coaching partnership to lead with unshakeable confidence while protecting your energy. https://www.karengombault.com/privatecoaching

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

First impressions in a new leadership role are powerful—they can define your influence, trust, and freedom to lead. In this podcast episode of Promoted: Stop Doubting, Start Leading, Karen Gombault walks you through the seven pillars of early leadership impact so you can focus your energy where it matters most.

"You don't have to be perfect on anything, but you do need to create some awareness around what your strengths are and where there are areas for improvement that will give you the most return." – Karen Gombault

Whether you’ve just stepped into a bigger role, inherited a new team, or expanded your scope, this episode helps you cut through the overwhelm and take deliberate action that shapes your reputation from day one.

7 DIMENSIONS:

1. Confidence and Decisiveness Under Pressure – Make timely decisions with confidence, even when the data isn’t perfect, to show you can lead under pressure.

2. Clarity of Direction – Over-communicate priorities and direction so your team feels secure and aligned.

3. Strategic Influence – Shape outcomes beyond your direct control and navigate organizational politics effectively.

4. Visibility – Be seen in the right rooms at the right moments to control the narrative of your value.

5. Stakeholder Trust – Build trust through consistency, follow-through, and delivering early value.

6. Adaptability in Transition – Adjust quickly to new environments, teams, and expectations—update your “operating system” as needed.

7. Energy and Focus Management – Protect time for strategic thinking and well-being, keeping your focus on what drives long-term results.

If you want to create early impact in your new role, these seven dimensions are your roadmap. You’re not aiming for perfection—you’re aiming for awareness, focus, and intentional leadership that amplifies results.

RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS:

Free Resource: 20 Ways to Build Your Visibility Without Feeling Self-Promotional → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

Start with Catalyst – A focused 6-week coaching sprint to solve one real leadership challenge with strategy, momentum, and results. Learn more: https://www.karengombault.com/catalyst

Go deeper with 1:1 Executive Coaching – My high-level, science-backed coaching partnership to lead with unshakeable confidence and protect your energy while delivering at the top. https://www.karengombault.com/privatecoaching

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

In this podcast episode of Promoted: Stop Doubting, Start Leading, Karen Gombault dives into the leadership essential no one talks about enough—protecting your energy through clear, actionable boundaries.

Whether you're stepping into a new role or leading at a higher level, your ability to stay grounded, focused, and well-rested isn't optional—it's strategic. Karen shares powerful personal stories and practical examples from her executive career to help you avoid burnout, stay intentional, and create a culture of respect around you.

This episode kicks off a new mini-series on workplace wellness—starting with one of the most powerful tools in your leadership toolbox: boundaries.

1. Boundaries aren’t barriers—they’re leadership tools. Knowing what you’ll accept and not accept at work protects your energy and keeps you in the game long-term.
2. Start with self-respect. If someone cuts you off in a meeting or yells, use your voice calmly and clearly: “Excuse me, I haven’t finished.”
3. Consistency builds culture. Start meetings on time, stick to your rules, and expect the same from others—it sets the tone for how people show up.
4. You teach people how to treat your time. Even in leadership, you can—and should—say, “I have five minutes,” to protect your focus and flow.
5. Fuzzy boundaries are still boundaries. Give yourself grace with the 80/20 rule—be firm most of the time, flexible when it truly matters.

This episode invites you to take radical ownership of your energy and leadership presence. Whether it’s saying no to after-hours client calls or insisting on respectful meeting behavior, the first boundary you set might just be the most powerful step you take this week.

Free Resource: Build Your Visibility At Work → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

Start with Catalyst – A focused 6-week coaching sprint to solve one real leadership challenge with strategy, momentum, and results. Learn more: https://www.karengombault.com/catalyst

Go deeper with 1:1 Executive Coaching – My high-level, science-backed coaching partnership to lead with unshakeable confidence and protect your energy while delivering at the top. https://www.karengombault.com/privatecoaching

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/