If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not a leader, I just have 47 people depending on me and zero time to pee” — this one’s for you.
In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what really gets in the way of women leading at work, at home, and in our own lives. Spoiler: it’s not your title, your org chart, or your calendar. It’s the invisible beliefs, the perfectionism, the “I’ll just do it myself,” and the “if I say no everything will fall apart” stories running in the background.
Executive coach, author, and Harvard Business Review podcast host Muriel Wilkins joins Nicole to unpack the seven hidden leadership blockers that quietly cap our potential — especially for women who’ve been praised their whole lives for doing it all, doing it perfectly, and never dropping a ball. Together, they dig into how to actually lead yourself first, rewrite old scripts like “I can’t make a mistake” and “I don’t belong here,” and create a version of leadership that doesn’t require burnout, over-functioning, or pretending to be someone you’re not.
Because leadership isn’t just about managing people. It’s about managing you — your beliefs, your boundaries, and your response when things go sideways.
We explore:
Why leadership isn’t a title, it’s how you show up in every area of your life
The 7 hidden leadership blockers that keep high-achieving women stuck and exhausted
How “I need to be involved” and “I can’t say no” destroy your capacity and your team’s growth
The quiet cost of perfectionism and the belief “I can’t make a mistake”
The difference between being a leader and actually leading (yes, there’s a big one)
Why real confidence isn’t knowing you’ll get it right — it’s trusting you can handle whatever happens
Because at the end of the day, leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about having the inner steadiness to face whatever comes next without abandoning yourself in the process.
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Connect with Muriel:
Website: https://murielwilkins.com/
Book: https://www.murielwilkins.com/books
Podcast: https://www.murielwilkins.com/podcast-coaching-real-leaders
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