IDEAS
For forward-thinking leaders
CLIENT STORY: How Emotional Triggers Were Stalling Katie’s Career—And How She Broke Through
Katie, a senior leader who recently finished my Breakthrough Program, was doing all the “right” things to advance her career, but something still felt off. Turns out, it wasn’t about what she was doing. It was about the emotional triggers running in the background—subconscious reactions that shaped how others perceived her leadership presence. And once she uncovered them? Everything changed.
Have you ever walked out of a meeting replaying a moment where you got defensive, over-explained, or completely shut down? You know it wasn’t a huge deal, but something about it felt bigger than it should have.
Katie, a senior leader in customer operations, was no stranger to this. She was doing all the “right” things to advance—taking on big projects, speaking up in meetings, and advocating for herself. But despite her efforts, something still felt off. She wasn’t getting the traction she expected, and feedback like “You need more executive presence” wasn’t helping her understand why.
The Hidden Roadblock: Emotional Triggers
When Katie joined my Breakthrough Program, she rated her leadership confidence at a 2 out of 10. Not because she lacked skills—she was highly capable—but because her emotional reactions were shaping how others perceived her.
Emotional triggers are those knee-jerk responses that feel bigger than the moment calls for. They might show up as:
🔹 Getting defensive when challenged
🔹 Over-explaining to prove credibility
🔹 Shutting down in high-pressure situations
None of these reactions reflect actual ability, but they do impact how others see you. And when you’re in a leadership role, perception is everything.
The Shift That Changed Everything
Through our work together, Katie identified the patterns driving these reactions. She realized they weren’t about the situation in front of her—they were about old, deeply ingrained beliefs about how she should show up as a leader.
Once she uncovered those patterns, everything changed. She:
✔️ Stopped reacting and started leading with intention
✔️ Developed a calm, confident executive presence
✔️ Strengthened relationships with her team and peers
✔️ Landed a well-earned promotion
By the end of the program, Katie rated her confidence at a 7+—a huge shift in just a few months.
Why Career Strategies Alone Aren’t Enough
Many high-achievers believe career success comes from doing more—learning new skills, taking on bigger challenges, or perfecting their external presence. But as Katie’s story shows, real growth happens when you address what’s happening internally.
Promotions don’t happen just because of what you do—they happen because of who you are as a leader. And that starts with understanding and shifting the unconscious patterns that hold you back.
If you’ve been feeling stuck despite doing all the right things, it might not be about strategy at all. It might be about what’s running in the background.
Want to explore this for yourself? Let’s talk. Shoot me an email with the word Triggers, and I’ll send you a few questions to see if we’re a good fit to work together.
Listen and subscribe on your favorite platform here:
***Unlock your authentic leadership potential with the BREAKTHROUGH coaching program—designed to help ambitious women lead with confidence, clarity, and impact; visit saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough to get started.
Free Guide: 2-Second Confidence Shift for High-Stakes Meetings:
Visit saraobriencoaching.com to Download the Guide today.
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Keywords:
Keywords: Recognized at work, career growth, leadership confidence, professional success, burnout recovery, work-life balance, visibility at work, career advancement, leadership mindset
Timestamps:
1:52 – What are emotional triggers?
5:31 – Katie: The confidence myth that kept her stuck
9:22 – Katie: Trust in yourself is one of the biggest components of confidence
12:33 – How Katie got the promotion
17:54 – Myth: “Just tell me what to do”
21:39 – Next steps for getting recognized at work
Music Credit:Track Title: Over YouArtist: AtchSource: YouTubeLicense: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
Music Credit:
Track Title: Over You
Artist: Atch
Source: YouTube
License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
Energy-Driven Leadership: The 7 Levels That Define Your Influence
Energy-driven leadership is the missing link for high-achieving leaders who want to lead with confidence, resilience, and impact—without burnout. Leadership isn’t just about strategy; it's about how you show up, react under stress, and manage your energy.
Energy-driven leadership is the missing link for high-achieving leaders who want to lead with confidence, resilience, and impact—without burnout. Leadership isn’t just about strategy; it's about how you show up, react under stress, and manage your energy.
Subscribe to Lead Easy and listen to this episode as I break down the science-backed framework of energy-driven leadership and how it helps mid-to-senior leaders overcome stress patterns, lead authentically, and sustain long-term success. You'll learn:
The two types of leadership energy—catabolic and anabolic
How to spot and shift unhelpful leadership habits
Simple shifts to lead with more clarity, confidence, and ease
Don’t let hidden leadership habits hold you back. Subscribe now and listen to Energy-Driven Leadership: The 7 Levels That Define Your Influence. Then, email me at sara@sarakobrien.com to explore how this framework applies to your leadership journey.
Resources Mentioned:
FREE 15 Minute Leadership Strategy Call:
Book today tinyurl.com/FREE-15-Min-Strategy-Call
Listen and subscribe on your favorite platform here:
***Unlock your authentic leadership potential with the BREAKTHROUGH coaching program—designed to help ambitious women lead with confidence, clarity, and impact; visit saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough to get started.
Free Guide: 2-Second Confidence Shift for High-Stakes Meetings:
Visit saraobriencoaching.com to Download the Guide today.
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Keywords:
Energy-driven leadership, Leadership burnout, Executive coaching, Women in leadership, Career growth, Professional development, Authentic leadership, Confidence at work, Leadership transformation, Resilient leadership
Timestamps:
0:39 – What is energy-driven leadership?
1:06 – The science behind energy-driven leadership
2:28 – The difference between catabolic and anabolic energy
6:43 – Energy-driven leadership in everyday life
8:49 – Identifying your default leadership energy under stress
18:16 – Energy Leadership Assessment (ELI)
Music Credit:
Track Title: Over You
Artist: Atch
Source: YouTube
License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
Why Women Leaders Hit Career Walls & How to Overcome It – Breakthrough Coaching, Part 1
Many experienced women leaders in sales and marketing face hidden challenges that can stall career growth. This episode of Lead Easy kicks off a two-part series where I dive into the barriers that often arise for women with a decade or more in their fields.
Hit a career wall? Tired of putting in the work without seeing promotions or recognition? You’re not alone.
Many experienced women leaders in sales and marketing face hidden challenges that can stall career growth. This episode of Lead Easy kicks off a two-part series where I dive into the barriers that often arise for women with a decade or more in their fields.
We’ll explore:
1. what’s holding you back,
2. why once-effective strategies may no longer deliver results,
3. and how my Breakthrough Coaching Program empowers driven professionals to reclaim confidence, authority, and the joy they deserve.
If you’re ready to stop chasing the dangling carrot of promotion, this episode is your starting point to break through, align, and finally feel recognized.
Resources Mentioned:
FREE 15 Minute Leadership Strategy Call:
Book today tinyurl.com/FREE-15-Min-Strategy-Call
Listen and subscribe on your favorite platform here:
***Unlock your authentic leadership potential with the BREAKTHROUGH coaching program—designed to help ambitious women lead with confidence, clarity, and impact; visit saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough to get started.
Free Guide: 2-Second Confidence Shift for High-Stakes Meetings:
Visit saraobriencoaching.com to Download the Guide today.
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Timestamps:
0:00 – Overcoming Career Walls as a Woman in Leadership
1:30 – Reasons Behind Career Stagnation for Women Leaders
4:15 – Identifying Hidden Barriers Blocking Your Career Progress
6:23 – Success Stories from the Breakthrough Coaching Program
8:25 – How to Start Your Own Career Breakthrough Journey
Music Credit:
Track Title: Over You
Artist: Atch
Source: YouTube
License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)