In this episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, leadership coach Estelle Read dives into the "Overachiever" saboteur—the relentless drive to prove worth through endless achievements and output. Discover how this pattern creates burnout, toxic work cultures, and personal exhaustion by tying your value solely to performance. Drawing on over two decades of coaching, Estelle reveals the emotional roots of this trap and shares breakthrough neuroscience methods to reset your mindset. Learn how to reclaim balance, set healthy boundaries, and lead with calm confidence for sustainable success. 

What You Will Learn: 

💡 Why overachieving can be a harmful leadership saboteur that stunts growth and damages well-being 

💡 The deep emotional causes behind the need to constantly outperform and why rest feels like weakness 

💡 Three practical strategies—like scheduling rest as non-negotiable and setting daily shutdown boundaries—to break free from burnout and thrive 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:16) Meet Your Host 

(01:42) The Seven Leadership Saboteurs 

(02:52) The Overachiever Pattern 

(03:51) Free Saboteur Scorecard 

(04:32) Impact & Root Cause of the Overachiever 

(08:46) The Science of Behavior Change 

(13:53) Client Case Study 

(14:20) Next Steps & Coaching Options 

(15:59) Three Strategies to Overcome It 

(17:40) Final Saboteur Rankings 

📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT: 

⭐Estelle Read: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach 

🔧 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES & TOOLS: 

⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings? 

Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every single episode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

Plus, you'll get a free bonus 🎁: 
The Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine Workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. 

Click here to subscribe and download: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard: 

https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/  

⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool: 

https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal  

⭐Access Other Free Resources: 

⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠  

❤️ CAN YOU HELP? 

We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to: 

🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode. 

📨 Share the show with a friend. 

✍️ Leave a review to help others find us. 

Thanks for your support!  

🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL: 

⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 

🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES: 

⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/   

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/  

📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK: 

⁠Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Brilliance-Outer-Shine-Workaholism/dp/1789048036/  ⁠ 

🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺 

⭐Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://pod.link/1515648162   

⭐Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts 

⚠️ DICLAIMER  

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️. 

In this episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, leadership coach Estelle Read explores the “Chronic Harmonizer” leadership saboteur—a pattern where leaders avoid difficult conversations to keep the peace, often at great cost to their teams and businesses. Learn how this tendency to avoid conflict stems from deep emotional triggers and childhood survival mechanisms, and discover the neuroscience-backed technique that enables leaders to break free from this self-sabotage. With real-world examples and actionable strategies, Estelle guides you through reclaiming accountability, setting boundaries, and leading with clarity and confidence.

What You Will Learn: 
💡 Why avoiding difficult conversations stalls business growth and damages team accountability—and how to recognize this pattern in yourself 
💡 The neuroscience behind breaking deep-seated conflict avoidance habits and why traditional willpower isn’t enough 
💡 Three practical strategies—like the “24-hour feedback rule” and reframing conflict as clarity—to build your boundary muscles and foster a culture of accountability 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:37) Meet Your Host, Estelle Read

(02:02) Welcome to the Saboteurs Miniseries

(03:05) Let's Get Started

(03:12) Saboteur #6: The Chronic Harmonizer

(03:45) The George McFly Story Continues

(04:03) Take the Free Saboteur Scorecard

(04:30) Defining the Chronic Harmonizer Pattern

(05:54) The Impact on Leadership & Teams

(06:45) Real Client Example: The £1M Conversation

(07:16) Root Cause: Childhood Origins

(08:21) The Science of Behavior Change

(13:28) Client Breakthrough with Havening

(14:48) Coming Up: Practical Strategies

(16:27) Strategy #1: The 24-Hour Feedback Rule

(17:21) Next Episode: The Overachiever

📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT: 

⭐Estelle Read: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach

🔧 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES & TOOLS: 

⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings? 

Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every single episode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

Plus, you'll get a free bonus 🎁: 
The Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine Workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. 

Click here to subscribe and download: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard:

https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/ 

⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool: 

https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal

⭐Access Other Free Resources: 

⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠  

❤️ CAN YOU HELP? 

We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to: 

🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode. 

📨 Share the show with a friend. 

✍️ Leave a review to help others find us. 

Thanks for your support!  

🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL: 

⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 

🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES: 

⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/   

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/  

📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK: 

⁠Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Brilliance-Outer-Shine-Workaholism/dp/1789048036/  ⁠ 

🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺 

⭐Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://pod.link/1515648162   

⭐Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts

⚠️ DICLAIMER 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️.

In this episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, leadership coach Estelle Read unveils the hidden leadership saboteur known as the "Strategic Procrastinator." Discover why many leaders get trapped in chaotic busywork as a way to delay critical, high-stakes decisions. Learn how underlying fears and old survival patterns block bold action and stunt your business growth. Drawing on over two decades of coaching experience and breakthrough neuroscience techniques like Havening, Estelle shares powerful insights and practical strategies to break free from procrastination, unlock your true potential, and lead with renewed confidence and focus. 

What You Will Learn: 
💡 How the Strategic Procrastinator hides behind busywork to avoid costly but necessary decisions—and how this limits your leadership growth 
💡 The neuroscience behind self-sabotage and why traditional willpower often fails to overcome entrenched procrastination habits 
💡 Three actionable strategies—including “eat the frog first” and microstepping—to build momentum and create lasting behavior change 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:59) Welcome to the Saboteurs Series 

(03:08) The Strategic Procrastinator 

(03:55) Saboteur Scorecard 

(05:57) The Impact 

(06:50) The Root Cause 

(08:24) The Science of Habit Change 

(13:32) Case Study: Sales Procrastination 

(14:03) Next Steps & Options 

(15:15) Three Strategies to Overcome It 

(16:34) Outro 

 📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT: 

⭐Estelle Read: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach 

🔧 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES & TOOLS: 

⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings? 

Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every single episode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

Plus, you'll get a free bonus 🎁: 
The Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine Workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. 

Click here to subscribe and download: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard: 

https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/  

⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool: 

https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal  

⭐Access Other Free Resources: 

⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠  

❤️ CAN YOU HELP? 

We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to: 

🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode. 

📨 Share the show with a friend. 

✍️ Leave a review to help others find us. 

Thanks for your support!  

🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL: 

⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 

🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES: 

⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/   

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/  

📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK: 

⁠Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Brilliance-Outer-Shine-Workaholism/dp/1789048036/  ⁠ 

🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺 

⭐Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://pod.link/1515648162   

⭐Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts  

⚠️ DICLAIMER  

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️. 

Do you live in a permanent state of frantic panic — forever putting out fires, running on adrenaline, and never quite reaching the strategic work that would actually move your leadership forward? If busyness has become your badge of honour, you may be trapped in the "Constant Firefighter" saboteur.In this episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, leadership coach and bestselling author Estelle Read unpacks the second most common leadership saboteur — a reactive pattern that affects 18% of leaders and quietly places a false ceiling over your true potential. You'll discover how a chaotic childhood often wires this hypervigilant, crisis-addicted behaviour, why willpower alone rarely breaks the loop, and how a neuroscience-based approach (Havening) can reset the autopilot itself — so calm, confident, strategic leadership becomes automatic rather than aspirational. 

What You Will Learn 

💡 Why you keep treating everyday tasks as emergencies — and the hidden root cause that keeps you stuck in "frantic panic" mode 

💡 How the Constant Firefighter quietly damages your team, blocks your business from scaling, and drives you toward burnout 

💡 Three practical tools to break the cycle fast — the Eisenhower Matrix, a daily 60-minute "strategic firewall," and the power of de-escalating your language — plus how Havening clears the pattern at a neurological level 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Introduction  

(02:41) The Constant Firefighter Explained  

(09:17) The Science of Behaviour Change  

(14:25) Case Study: Breaking the Firefighting Cycle  

(15:32) Next Steps & Free Resources  

📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT: 

⭐Estelle Read: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach 

🔧 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES & TOOLS: 

⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings? 

Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every single episode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

Plus, you'll get a free bonus 🎁: 
The Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine Workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. 

Click here to subscribe and download: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard: 

https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/  

⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool: 

https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal  

⭐Access Other Free Resources: 

⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠  

❤️ CAN YOU HELP?

We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to:

🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode.

📨 Share the show with a friend.

✍️ Leave a review to help others find us.

Thanks for your support!  

🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL: 

⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 

🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES: 

⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/   

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/  

📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK: 

⁠Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Brilliance-Outer-Shine-Workaholism/dp/1789048036/  ⁠ 

🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺 

⭐Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://pod.link/1515648162   

⭐Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts  

⚠️ DICLAIMER  

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️. 

Do you hold yourself back from big opportunities even when the evidence says you're more than capable? If you've ever felt like a fraud waiting to be found out, you're not alone — 34% of leaders report this "doubting imposter" as their number one barrier, and it's quietly keeping careers, businesses, and incomes stuck below their true potential. 

In this episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, bestselling author and leadership coach Estelle Read unpacks the third of the Seven Leadership Saboteurs: the doubting imposter. You'll discover where this relentless self-doubt really comes from, why willpower alone never seems to fix it, and the neuroscience-based technique that clears the pattern at the root — so calm, confident, strategic leadership finally stops feeling like something you have to force. 

What You Will Learn 

💡 Why the doubting imposter keeps you passing up promotions, big clients, and projects you've already earned — and the hidden childhood patterns that created it. 

💡 The neuroscience-based "Havening" technique that resets your nervous system and clears self-doubt at the neurological level, delivering faster, lasting change than traditional methods alone. 

💡 Three practical strategies you can start today — a fact-based win log, accepting praise with a simple "thank you," and separating the stories in your head from the facts — to retrain your brain and break through your performance ceiling. 

Timestamps: 

00:00) Introduction 

(02:45) The Doubting Imposter 

(04:53) How This Pattern Shows Up in Others 

(06:03) The Impact: Building a False Ceiling 

(06:54) The Root Cause 

(08:19) The Science of Behavior Change 

(09:57) The Autopilot Challenge 

(11:11) Havening: Modifying Your Autopilot 

(13:27) Client Case Study 

(14:31) Next Steps & Working With Estelle 

📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT: 

⭐Estelle Read: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach 

🔧 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES & TOOLS: 

⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings? 

Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every single episode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

Plus, you'll get a free bonus 🎁: 
The Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine Workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. 

Click here to subscribe and download: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard: 

https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/  

⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool: 

https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal  

⭐Access Other Free Resources: 

⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠  

❤️ CAN YOU HELP? 

We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to: 

🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode. 

📨 Share the show with a friend. 

✍️ Leave a review to help others find us. 

Thanks for your support! 

🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL: 

⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 

🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES:

⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/   

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/  

📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK: 

⁠Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Brilliance-Outer-Shine-Workaholism/dp/1789048036/  ⁠ 

🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺 

⭐Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://pod.link/1515648162   

⭐Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts  

⚠️ DICLAIMER  

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️. 

In this episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, coach and bestselling author Estelle Read unpacks the Relentless Perfectionist — the leadership saboteur that currently affects 4% of leaders and quietly sits in fifth place on the saboteur charts. If you recognise that endless urge to tweak, refine, and chase flawless work, this one's for you. Estelle reveals why impossibly high standards actually create a false ceiling over your true potential, how perfectionism slows execution and stunts team growth, and why the root cause often traces back to childhood environments where praise was conditional on being flawless. She then introduces a neuroscience-based technique called Havening that resets the nervous system and de-links the emotional triggers behind the behaviour — plus three practical, no-willpower strategies you can apply today.

What You Will Learn: 

💡 Why the Relentless Perfectionist sabotages exactly the thing it promises — high performance — and how it builds a false ceiling over your leadership potential. 

💡 How this saboteur quietly causes overwork, team friction, and a risk-averse culture where innovation dies and growth stalls. 

💡 Three practical antidotes — the "good enough" benchmark, the 15-minute time-box, and celebrating lessons from errors — plus how the neuroscience-based Havening technique clears the root cause without relying on willpower. 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Introduction 

(02:46) The Relentless Perfectionist Explained 

(04:05) The Impact of Perfectionism 

(06:59) Root Cause: Where This Pattern Comes From 

(08:39) The Science of Behavior Change 

(13:47) A Client's Transformation 

(15:55) Next Steps & Free Resources 

📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT: 

⭐Estelle Read: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach 

🔧 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES & TOOLS: 

⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings? 

Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every single episode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

Plus, you'll get a free bonus 🎁: 
The Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine Workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. 

Click here to subscribe and download: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r 

⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard: 

https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/  

⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool: 

https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal  

⭐Access Other Free Resources: 

⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠  

❤️ CAN YOU HELP? 

We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to: 

🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode. 

📨 Share the show with a friend. 

✍️ Leave a review to help others find us. 

Thanks for your support!  

🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL: 

⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 

🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES: 

⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/   

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠:  

https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/  

📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK: 

⁠Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Brilliance-Outer-Shine-Workaholism/dp/1789048036/  ⁠ 

🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺 

⭐Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://pod.link/1515648162   

⭐Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts  

⚠️ DICLAIMER  

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️. 

In this episode, Estelle reveals how this unconscious pattern creates a false ceiling on your leadership potential — leading to burnout, disengaged teams, and stalled projects. She shares the neuroscience behind why willpower alone rarely fixes micromanagement, introduces the transformative Havening technique for resetting your nervous system, and gives you three practical, actionable strategies to break the cycle: the "What, Not How" Rule, low-stakes delegation experiments, and the 24-Hour Buffer Rule. If you're ready to stop being the bottleneck and start leading with calm confidence, this episode is for you. 

🎙️ Full episode ➡️ search for the Optimising Leader Brilliance Podcast. 

What You Will Learn 

💡 Why micromanagement isn't a personality flaw — it's an unconscious saboteur pattern often rooted in childhood experiences, and recognising it is the first step to breaking free 

💡 The three practical strategies to stop micromanaging today: the "What, Not How" delegation rule, low-stakes trust experiments, and the 24-hour intervention buffer that rewires your leadership instincts 

💡 How neuroscience-based techniques like Havening can reset your nervous system and delink the emotional past that created your control patterns — so change becomes automatic, not another exhausting item on your to-do list 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:30) Meet Your Host & Series Overview 

(02:59) The Microcontroller Saboteur 

(04:05) The Data & Statistics 

(07:35) The Root Cause 

(09:06) The Science of Behavior Change 

(14:14) Client Transformation Story 

(16:00) Next Steps & Coaching Options 

(19:02) Episode Wrap-Up 

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The Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine Workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. 

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⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard: 

https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/  

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https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/   

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠:  

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⚠️ DICLAIMER  

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️. 

In this episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, Estelle Read sits down with author and mental health advocate Bryan Sachetta to unpack high-functioning anxiety — the hidden struggle that drives so many ambitious leaders to appear confident and in control while internally battling stress, perfectionism, and relentless overthinking. Bryan, author of the Get Out of Your Head book series, reveals why the most common advice around anxiety is wrong, and what actually works to build a healthier relationship with fear without sacrificing your edge. If you're a high achiever who's tired of using busyness as a shield and ready to lead with calm confidence, this conversation is your starting point. 

What You Will Learn 

💡 Why high-functioning anxiety is especially common in leaders and high achievers — and why trying to "solve" it makes it worse 

💡 How to spot the coping strategies that once served you but are now quietly driving overworking and perfectionism — and what to do instead 

💡 Three practical, immediate habits for managing anxiety in the workplace — from moving your body to doing a quarterly stress inventory to giving yourself permission to do nothing 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:22) Welcome & What Is High-Functioning Anxiety? 

(02:13) Interview Begins 

(10:43) Unpacking the Patterns – Behavioural Coping Strategies 

(15:20) A New Season of Anxiety – When It Gets Broader & More Nebulous 

(21:35) Keeping Up With Everything – Where Does It Come From? 

(28:21) Using Anxiety as a Gateway to Intimacy & Connection 

(37:36) Tools & Techniques – What Actually Helps 

(40:16) Early Influences – Writing, Music & Movement 

(42:15) Brian's Books 

(44:19) Question from the Previous Guest – Coping With Change & Uncertainty 

(46:25) Question for the Next Guest 

(47:17) Closing Tips & Words of Compassion 

(52:48) Pause, Reflect & Act – Mini Coaching Practice 

⭐Download My Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool: 

https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal  

⭐Follow or Contact Brian Sachetta 

Instagram: @getoutofyourhead 

Facebook: @getoutofyourheadbooks 

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brian-sachetta 

⭐Follow Estelle Read:  

https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee  

⭐Access Resources or Book a Free Discovery Call: 

⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠  

⭐Estelle Read’s Coaching Programmes: 

⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠ 

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠ 

⭐Buy Estelle Read’s Bestselling Book: 

⁠Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress ⁠ 

⭐Subscribe to Estelle Read’s Blog:  

⁠Receive my free workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress, when you sign up. ⁠  

⭐Help Us Keep Growing & Going: 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe wherever you listen or watch, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit. Thank you ❤️. 

⭐Listen or Watch on YouTube: 

🎧Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://estelleread.com/podcast/  

📺Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts  

⭐Disclaimer:  

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. 

In this powerful episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, Estelle Read sits down with mental health speaker and former HR professional Laura Iles to explore what it really takes to move from surviving to thriving. Laura shares her personal journey through fibromyalgia, complex PTSD, and ADHD — and introduces her Triple A framework (Acceptance, Accountability, Authenticity) as a practical roadmap for leaders navigating chronic illness, trauma, and burnout. Packed with honest insight on workplace mental health, trauma-informed leadership, and nervous system regulation, this conversation challenges the myth that personal and professional lives stay neatly separate — and offers a compassionate, actionable path toward healing out loud, leading with empathy, and reclaiming your identity when it's been stripped away.What You Will Learn 

💡 The Triple A System unpacked — how Acceptance, Accountability, and Authenticity form a step-by-step framework for shifting from survival mode into genuine thriving, and why skipping any stage keeps you stuck 

💡 Practical energy-management strategies Laura uses to work with her body instead of against it 

💡 How to lead through mental health conversations without getting it wrong — Laura's three tips for leaders: listen to understand (not to respond), validate feelings without fixing, and offer reassurance without shame — so your team feels safe, seen, and supported 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:14) Welcome & What to Expect 

(02:29) Episode Overview & Content Warning 

(02:29) Interview – Meet Laura Iles 

(16:32) Laura's Story – Living with Chronic Illness, Trauma & Burnout 

(1:18:20) Pause, Reflect & Act – Mini Coaching Practice 

(1:18:51) Coaching Questions with Laura Iles 

⚠️ Content Warning 

This episode contains open and honest discussions about childhood sexual abuse, suicide ideation, complex trauma, and chronic illness. These topics are discussed with care and intention, but please look after yourself as you listen. 

If anything in this episode brings up difficult feelings for you, support is available: 

Samaritans — Call 116 123 (free, 24/7, UK & Ireland) 

NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood) — 0808 801 0331 

MIND — 0300 123 3393 | mind.org.uk 

Crisis Text Line — Text SHOUT to 85258 

⭐Download My Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool: 

https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal  

⭐Follow or Contact Laura Iles: 

IG: @Surviving2Thriving_Laurailes 

FB: '@Surviving2Thriving 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iles-4767981a/ 

⭐Follow Estelle Read:  

https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee  

⭐Access Resources or Book a Free Discovery Call: 

⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠  

⭐Estelle Read’s Coaching Programmes: 

⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠ 

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠ 

⭐Buy Estelle Read’s Bestselling Book: 

⁠Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress ⁠ 

⭐Subscribe to Estelle Read’s Blog:  

⁠Receive my free workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress, when you sign up. ⁠  

⭐Help Us Keep Growing & Going: 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe wherever you listen or watch, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit. Thank you ❤️. 

⭐Listen or Watch on YouTube: 

🎧Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://estelleread.com/podcast/  

📺Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts  

⭐Disclaimer:  

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. 

What if the biggest threat to your strategy isn't a lack of data or intelligence — but your own brain? In this episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, I sit down with Marja Fox — ex-McKinsey consultant, PhD chemist, and founder of Marja Fox Consulting — to uncover the evolutionary wiring that quietly sabotages executive decision-making. Known as the "executive team whisperer," Marja brings behavioural economics out of the textbook and into the boardroom, revealing why leaders default to loss aversion, groupthink, and short-term thinking — and how to break free. If you've ever felt stuck in circular strategic conversations or paralysed by the fear of being wrong, this conversation will transform how you lead with clarity, confidence, and decisive action. A must-listen for senior leaders ready to upgrade their strategic thinking and leadership mindset. 

What You Will Learn: 

💡 Why your brain's evolutionary shortcuts — like loss aversion and fear of ostracisation — are the hidden derailers of smart strategic decisions, and how to recognise them in real time 

💡 The practical facilitation techniques Marja Fox uses to move executive teams from ego wars and endless debate to decisions that actually stick 

💡 How to apply a simple stakeholder analysis to uncover the human dynamics behind any "stuck" business problem — and why doing nothing is often the most dangerous decision of all 

Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! 

Estelle Read   

Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker 

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Introduction 

(00:47) Welcome to Optimising Leader Brilliance 

(01:13) Episode Overview – Three Light Bulb Moments 

(02:24) Meet Marja Fox – The Story Behind Her Name 

(06:54) Marja's Average Day & Non-Negotiable Routine 

(16:25) How Marja Got Here – From Chemistry to Consulting 

(24:32) The Problems Marja Helps Clients Solve 

(41:25) Designing Conversations That Combat Decision-Making Biases 

(56:30) Pause, Reflect & Act – Mini Coaching Practice 
 

⭐Download My Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool: 

https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal  

⭐Follow or Contact Marja Fox: 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjafox/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marjafox 

⭐Follow Estelle Read:  

https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee  

⭐Access Resources or Book a Free Discovery Call: 

⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠  

⭐Estelle Read’s Coaching Programmes: 

⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠ 

🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠ 

⭐Buy Estelle Read’s Bestselling Book: 

⁠Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress ⁠ 

⭐Subscribe to Estelle Read’s Blog:  

⁠Receive my free workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress, when you sign up. ⁠  

⭐Help Us Keep Growing & Going: 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe wherever you listen or watch, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit. Thank you ❤️. 

⭐Listen or Watch on YouTube: 

🎧Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://estelleread.com/podcast/  

📺Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts  

⭐Disclaimer:  

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.