The Breaking Point Edition

Coaching Room Insight: The Moment It Hits

Last week, I spoke with a leader (let’s call her Viv) on the verge of walking away from everything she’d built.

“I don’t think I can do this anymore,” Viv admitted.

Not because she wasn’t capable. Not because she didn’t love her work. But because the pressure was relentless.

We peeled it back and found the real problem:

It wasn’t the work itself, it was the way she was holding it. This deep down belief that she had to be everything to everyone.

That if she let go of even a fraction of it, she’d be seen as less capable, less committed.
Viv isn’t alone in this. Many women in leadership feel this way.

But here’s what changed for her:

She gave herself permission to do it differently.

To set boundaries without guilt…because it means she can perform better when she’s doing less.

To say no without over-explaining…because she doesn’t owe it to anyone.

To trust that the right people would rise when she stopped carrying everything alone.

One shift in perspective. A completely different experience of leadership.

Golden Tip: Ask Yourself This

Next time you feel the weight of everything, pause and ask:

Is this pressure real?

Or am I holding it because I think I have to?

So much of what exhausts us isn’t the work.  It’s the unspoken expectations we put on ourselves.

Put one thing down today and see how it feels.

Latest Research: Your Brain on Burnout

Women in leadership are 40% more likely than men to experience burnout.

Why? Because we don’t just do the work, we carry the emotional load, the unseen responsibilities, the pressure to prove ourselves again and again.

But the research is clear: Leaders who set clear boundaries and delegate effectively report higher confidence, stronger performance, and better career longevity.

Let’s stop proving ourselves through exhaustion.

It’s time to lead smarter, not harder.

Win of the Week: Doing It Her Way

One of my Mastermind clients had been holding back from stepping up to a really senior role. She has a young family and was terrified the next level would break her. She feared the sacrifices she’d have to make.

She just sent me a video message, laughing:

“I cannot believe that’s how I used to think. I’m so happy because I’m doing it my way, AND I’m getting so much respect for it. The CEO just emailed the whole exco team saying what an amazing job I’m doing.”

She didn’t change who she was.  She changed how she thought which changed her actions.

She stopped believing she had to break herself to succeed.

Your Leadership Reset Starts Here