CLIENT STORY: How Emotional Triggers Were Stalling Katie’s Career—And How She Broke Through

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.

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***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)