February 09, 2026

Perceptions, Triggers and Accountability: Navigating Other People's Reactions Without Losing Yourself

21 minutes

Have you ever found yourself spiralling after someone else has a perception of you that doesn't feel quite right?

Maybe it was a comment made directly to you. Maybe it was something you heard second-hand. Or maybe it was just a subtle shift in how someone was acting that left you questioning yourself.

In this episode of Unwind Your Mind, we explore how other people's perceptions can influence your confidence and choices, especially in professional environments where feedback, visibility, and progression feel closely linked.

This conversation isn't about "not caring what other people think", and it's not about blind confidence either. It's about learning how to relate to other people's perceptions without letting them define your worth, your capability, or your future direction.

We also look at this from the leadership lens. How do you respond when someone brings frustration, judgement, or projection to you about someone else? And how do you create space for insight and accountability without reinforcing unhelpful stories?

If you've ever replayed a conversation over and over, felt the urge to explain or defend yourself, or struggled to separate impact from meaning, this episode will give you a grounded framework to work with those moments more skilfully.

HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1️⃣ Other people's perceptions can have a real impact on a situation without being an accurate reflection of who you are.

2️⃣ Triggers are information, either about something unresolved within us or about what someone else is navigating.

3️⃣ As leaders, validating emotion without buying into the story allows conversations to move from blame and venting towards clarity, insight, and accountability.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

📝 Download the coaching conversation framework here.

Perceptions, Triggers and Accountability: Navigating Other People's Reactions Without Losing Yourself

21 minutes

Have you ever found yourself spiralling after someone else has a perception of you that doesn't feel quite right?

Maybe it was a comment made directly to you. Maybe it was something you heard second-hand. Or maybe it was just a subtle shift in how someone was acting that left you questioning yourself.

HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1️⃣ Other people's perceptions can have a real impact on a situation without being an accurate reflection of who you are.

2️⃣ Triggers are information, either about something unresolved within us or about what someone else is navigating.

3️⃣ As leaders, validating emotion without buying into the story allows conversations to move from blame and venting towards clarity, insight, and accountability.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

📝 Download the coaching conversation framework here.

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Perceptions, Triggers and Accountability: Navigating Other People's Reactions Without Losing Yourself

Perceptions, Triggers and Accountability: Navigating Other People's Reactions Without Losing Yourself