The Power of Peacefulness: Leading with Calm and Clarity

“Likable vs. Competent”—it’s a trap nearly every woman in leadership has faced.
Be warm and collaborative, and you’re seen as “nice but not tough enough.”
Be direct and decisive, and you’re labeled “aggressive” or “too much.”

This video breaks down the double bind women leaders experience at work and explains why competence and likability are judged differently for women. Backed by decades of research in social psychology, lea...

In this episode of the Power of Peacefulness podcast, Dr. Sharon McLaughlin's team dives into one of the most overlooked challenges women in leadership face: idea theft in the workplace. Whether it’s a colleague taking credit for your idea, a manager reframing your contribution as their own, or being overshadowed and unheard in meetings, these patterns are more common than most organizations realize.

Sharon's team breaks dow...

The Psychology of Interruptions: Why It Happens and How to Respond Effectively

Welcome to The Power of Peacefulness, where we help women in leadership lead with calm, clarity, and confidence.

Have you ever been interrupted in a meeting, talked over, or ignored when trying to make a point? You’re not alone. In this video, Dr. Sharon McLaughlin explores the psychology of interruptions — why they happen, how they affect confidence and c...

n this episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s both frustratingly common and crucially important for professional growth: The Double Standard of Assertiveness.

If you’ve ever spoken up at work and been called “too aggressive,” “bossy,” or “too emotional,” this conversation is for you.

We break down:

• The psychology behind the double standard: Why assertive women are judged differently than men showing the same behavior

• The backlas...

Have you been blindsided?. That sudden, stomach-dropping moment when an unexpected decision, surprise feedback, or resignation catches you completely off guard.

But here’s the truth, being blindsided isn’t just about bad luck or a lack of intuition. It’s almost always a signal of communication breakdowns, emotional blind spots, or power dynamics that discourage honesty and transparency.

You’ll learn:
Why being blindsided happens (...

In this episode of The Power of Peacefulness, we explore evidence-based work-life balance strategies for women leaders who are ready to thrive, not just survive. Discover how to lead with calm, clarity, and confidence while managing emotional labor, strengthening emotional intelligence, and creating sustainable success without burnout.

Work-Life Balance Strategies for Women Leaders Who Want to Thrive, Not Just Survive

Welcome to ...

Welcome to The Power of Peacefulness Podcast, a space created for professional women to explore what it means to cultivate inner peace, in their work, their relationships, and their lives.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s often misunderstood yet absolutely transformative: Leading with Calm in the Workplace.

Calm leadership isn’t about being naturally unflappable or soft-spoken — it’s a trainable capacity rooted in...

Welcome back to the Power of Peacefulness podcast — a space created for professional women to explore career, relationships, and self-improvement while reclaiming inner peace.

Today, we’re tackling one of the most intimidating moments in the workplace: what to do when you realize you need to disagree with your boss. It’s high-stakes — your reputation, your job security, and your relationship with leadership may all feel like they’re...

Building Trust in Teams: The Hidden Multiplier for Morale and Performance

Welcome back to the Power of Peacefulness Podcast, the space for professional women who want to cultivate inner peace while growing in their careers, relationships, and personal lives.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked foundations of high-performing teams: trust. Not the surface-level kind you build with icebreakers or awkward tru...

Welcome to the Power of Peacefulness Podcast — a space created for professional women to explore what it means to cultivate inner peace while thriving in career, relationships, and personal growth. Each week we share practical wisdom, evidence-based insights, and encouragement to help you create a more fulfilling life.

In today’s Deep Dive, we’re unpacking a leadership skill that’s often misunderstood but absolutely critical: delega...

Conquering Micromanagement: Building Trust and Empowering Teams

Welcome back to the Power of Peacefulness podcast, a space created for professional women to explore what it means to cultivate inner peace—in your career, your relationships, and your personal growth.

In this episode, we tackle a leadership trap that silently erodes trust, stifles creativity, and drives away top talent: micromanagement. While it often stems from good in...

Welcome to The Power of Peacefulness Podcast, where professional women explore how to cultivate inner peace while growing in career, relationships, and self-improvement.

In this episode, we’re challenging the stereotype of what leadership looks like. While many picture leaders as outspoken extroverts, research shows some of the most impactful strengths in leadership come from those who lead with quiet conviction.

Together, we’ll unco...

The Hidden Costs of Silence: Why Speaking Up Matters

Welcome to The Power of Peacefulness Podcast—a space created for professional women to explore what it means to cultivate inner peace through career, relationships, and self-improvement. We share practical wisdom and encouragement to help you live a more fulfilling life.

✨ If you haven’t already, grab your free workbook at powerofpeacefulness.com—a guide to reclaiming your inner pe...

The Power of Turning Inward: How Focusing on What You Can Control Brings Peace

In today’s episode, we dive into the transformative practice of shifting your energy away from the uncontrollable and toward what you can control. When life feels overwhelming, this simple but powerful mindset can bring clarity, resilience, and inner peace.

You’ll learn practical strategies rooted in psychology, mindfulness, and evidence-based therapies th...

The Power of Peacefulness Podcast

Episode Title: Why Am I So Defensive? Understanding the Roots and Choosing a Better Response

Episode Summary:
In this insightful episode of The Power of Peacefulness Podcast, we explore the hidden forces behind defensiveness—why it happens, how it shows up, and what you can do to shift from automatic reactions to conscious, connected responses.

Host Sharon McLaughlin, MD, unpacks the biological wir...

Bad Work Ethic

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the surprising and significant costs of a poor work ethic. We go beyond surface-level assumptions to explore the real impact on productivity, morale, and overall well-being in the workplace. We discuss the tangible losses, such as reduced output and efficiency, as well as the intangible costs, like the erosion of team spirit and job satisfaction. We also explore proactive stra...

Confronting Employee Undermining: A Practical Guide for Leaders

In this episode of the Power of Peacefulness podcast, we dive into the subtle and damaging world of employee undermining. We explore the often-hidden signs of this behavior, its psychological and organizational roots, and provide a clear playbook for addressing it head-on.

• (01:15) What exactly is employee undermining? We define the difference between construc...

The Power of Peacefulness podcast, where we take a whole stack of sources and give you a shortcut to being genuinely well-informed. In this episode, we tackle the difficult and heart-wrenching topic of supporting parents who have lost a child. Using the resource "Comforting Grieving Parents, a Compassionate Guide," we unpack evidence-based insights on what to say, what to avoid, and how to offer comfort without accidental...

Mastering the “What Are Your Strengths?” Interview Question: Tell Your Story with Confidence

Episode Summary:
Ever feel stumped when someone asks, "What are your strengths?" You’re not alone—and this question is more powerful than it seems. In today’s episode of The Power of Peacefulness, we’re going beyond the buzzwords and helping you turn this common interview question into a strategic moment of personal branding. Wh...