Optimising Leader Brilliance: Enabling Calm, Confident, Strategic Leadership

Trauma and leadership meet in this conversation aboutturning painful experiences into resilience without letting them define you. Estelle Read and Renee Flagler explore:What You Will Learn:💡 How childhood trauma can shape triggers, protective habits, and imposter syndrome.💡 How leaders can recognise those patterns, seek support, and reconnect with their capabilities.💡 Practical ways to notice emotional triggers, examine where they may come from, and move forward with greater confidence and self-understanding.Timestamps:(00:00) — Opening: 75% of high achievers grew up with childhood trauma(01:14) — Estelle's intro & episode preview(01:58) — Three things you'll learn today(02:46) — Welcome, Renee Flagler(03:54) — Trauma does not define you(04:45) — Where we go wrong: half-healed trauma(05:37) — How trauma disguises itself as character traits(07:12) — The seven saboteurs & protection mechanisms(08:11) — Renee's saboteurs: imposter syndrome & procrastination(09:12) — The full healing process: acknowledging triggers(12:28) — The root analogy: pull it up, don't cut it down(13:42) — How to pull a trigger up by the root(16:02) — Physical & emotional signs of being triggered(17:08) — Estelle's imposter syndrome: feeling different(17:36) — Renee's imposter syndrome: needing to belong(19:33) — Overachiever mode to prove yourself(20:21) — Ad: CLEAR System & The Optimised Leader: Next Level(21:12) — Renee's pen name & writing career(23:05) — National CARES Mentoring Movement(28:18) — Poverty as a trauma-rich environment(29:23) — ACEs & long-term health outcomes(31:16) — Guest question: What if you no longer needed to prove yourself?(36:15) — Three actionable takeaways(39:41) — Pause, Reflect, Act coaching questions(42:34) — Outro & disclaimer📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT:⭐GUEST: Renee Flagler  https://www.caresmentoring.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-daniel-flagler-98b1701/https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cares-mentoring-movement-inc/home/⭐ HOST: Estelle Readhttps://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach 🧰 ACCESS FREE TOOLS:⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings?Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every single episode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard:https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/ ⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool:https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal⭐Access Other Free Resources:⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠ ❤️ CAN YOU HELP?We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to:🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode.📨 Share the show with a friend.✍️ Leave a review to help others find us. Thank you. 🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL:⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES:⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXTLEVEL⁠: https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/  🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠: https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/ 📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK:⁠Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism andStress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Brilliance-Outer-Shine-Workaholism/dp/1789048036/ ⁠ 🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺⭐Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://pod.link/1515648162  ⚠️ DICLAIMER This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldnot be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️.

When leadership feels stuck or team performance slips, thecause may be more than execution. Estelle Read and Arnaud Saint-Paul discuss coherence, fragmentation and strategic leadership, including the seven dimensions measured by the Heart Leadership Index. Hear how leaders can notice gaps between their vision and reality, examine the role they are embodying when making decisions, and use journaling, gratitude and small experiments to build awareness and alignment. The episode also explores how coherence work connected with a reported 10-point increase in one company’s coherence index and 600% growth in its client-acquisition KPI. What You Will Learn💡 How a gap between your vision and reality may signal fragmentation or misalignment—not simply an execution problem.💡 The seven dimensions of coherence and how they can help leaders identify where they feel stuck.💡 Practical ways to build awareness, reflect on daily patterns, and make more intentional leadership decisions. Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! Estelle Read  Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Host of Optimising Leader Brilliance Timestamps:(00:00) The Cost of Fragmentation(01:15) In This Episode(02:05) The Key Takeaway: Coherence vs. Fragmentation(06:05) What Is Coherence?(08:18) Warning Signs of Fragmentation(10:22) The Seven Dimensions of Coherence(11:41) Example: Fragmentation in Joy(13:39) How the Seven Dimensions Were Developed(15:53) Research Findings on Coherence(18:39) Free HLI Assessment(20:10) Case Study: 600% KPI Growth(21:40) Embodying Values Through Micro-Practices(27:26) Signs of Incoherence in Leaders(32:00) Defining Identity: The Black Box(34:00) Releasing Patterns and Blossoming(35:21) Three Actionable Takeaways(41:16) Pause, Reflect, Act(41:47) Coaching Questions📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT:⭐GUEST: Arnaud Saint-Paul, https://amzn.eu/d/0iRBwENR https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnaudsaintpaul/https://tapuat.com/defrag/⭐ HOST: Estelle Readhttps://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach 🧰 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES & TOOLS:⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings?Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every single episode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard:https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/ ⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool:https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal⭐Access Other Free Resources:⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠ ❤️ CAN YOU HELP?We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to:🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode.📨 Share the show with a friend.✍️ Leave a review to help others find us. 🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL:⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES:⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠: https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/  🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠: https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/ 📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK:⁠Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Brilliance-Outer-Shine-Workaholism/dp/1789048036/ ⁠ 🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺⭐Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://pod.link/1515648162  ⚠️ DICLAIMER This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldnot be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️.

What if rejection were information—not a verdict on yourability? Michael Hutchison joins Estelle Read to explore how influence differs from persuasion, and how leaders can build trust by understanding people and aligning interests. He shares lessons from early sales presentations, a supplier’s withdrawal just before launch, and adapting his business during the pandemic. The conversation also offers practical ways to handle objections, use feedback constructively, protect your peace, and focus on building people for the long term.What You Will Learn💡 How to create influence through trust, understanding, and aligned interests—not pressure.💡How to treat rejection and sales objections as information rather than as a judgment of your identity.💡How to respond when plans change, protect your peace, and lead by helping people grow.Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! Estelle Read  Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Host of Optimising Leader Brilliance Timestamps:(00:00) Cold Open: Michael's First Sales Presentation(00:57) Welcome to Optimising Leader Brilliance(01:41) Episode Preview: Reframing Sales & Rejection(02:49) Meet Michael Hutchison(02:59) Influence vs. Persuasion: The Core Philosophy(05:43) Roots in Tony Robbins(06:14) Origin Story: Military Family & Situational Introversion(09:29) Cold Calling for Tony Robbins(11:11) Overcoming the Fear of Presenting(14:03) The Belgrade Convention: 9,000+ Attendees(15:26) Building Trust Through Entertainment & Education(17:26) Post-Convention Follow-Up Strategy(18:48) Biggest Mistake Leaders Make in Sales(19:49) Rejection Is Just Information, Not Identity(24:00) Building Emotional Strength(25:55) Protecting Your Peace: Daily Practices(26:40) The Billion-Dollar Supplier Pullout(29:30) Pivoting: From Rejection to Direct Cruise Line Deals(30:53) Surviving the 2020 Pandemic(32:23) Giving Back: Mercy Ships Sponsorship(33:17) Three Actionable Tips for Leaders(34:13) Lead With Love & the View From Salzburg(37:45) Guest Question: What's Most Important About Leading You?(39:52) Question for the Next Guest(41:27) Pause, Reflect, Act: Coaching Questions(43:19) Outro & Disclaimer📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT:⭐GUEST: Michael Hutchison https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhutch/https://www.incruises.com/https://in.group/⭐ HOST: Estelle Readhttps://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach 🧰 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES ⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings?Subscribe to The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every singleepisode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard:https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/ ⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool:https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal⭐Access Other Free Resources:⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠ ❤️ CAN YOU HELP?We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to:🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode.📨 Share the show with a friend.✍️ Leave a review to help others find us. 🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL:⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES:⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠: https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/ 🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠: https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/ 🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺⭐Here: https://pod.link/1515648162  ⚠️ DICLAIMER This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldnot be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone.

Leadership coach Estelle Read talks with Doug Crandall aboutthe four leadership instincts in his book Building or Diminishing: builder, driver, cheerleader, and belittler. They explore how everyday interactions affect the people you lead, and how to pair high expectations with positivity. What You Will Learn:💡 Use “Am I building or diminishing?” to reflect on everyday leadership interactions.💡 Recognize the builder, driver, cheerleader, and belittler instincts in your leadership.💡 Communicate belief, set high expectations, and give feedback without diminishing people.Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! Estelle Read  Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach & Host of Optimising Leader Brilliance Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome & Podcast Introduction (00:48) Host Welcome(01:14) Meet Doug Crandall(02:24) The Four Leadership Instincts(14:58) Subscribe(15:19) The Belittler & The Builder(29:12) Three Strategies & Resources(30:07) Strategy 1: Building or Diminishing?(42:21) Pause, Reflect, Act(42:52) Coaching Questions(44:12) Outro & Disclaimer 📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT:⭐GUEST: Doug Crandall, https://buildingordiminishing.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-crandall-585a4⭐ HOST: Estelle Readhttps://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach 🧰 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES & TOOLS:⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings?Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, TheBrilliant Leader’s Notebook, to get the key takeaways from every singleepisode: https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8chmrywh3r⭐Find Out Which of the 7 LeadershipSaboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard:https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/ ⭐Download Estelle’s Free Journal & Self-Coaching Tool:https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal⭐Access Other Free Resources:⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠ ❤️ CAN YOU HELP?We bring this show to you for free. You can help us keep growing and going by taking 30 seconds to:🔔 Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode.📨 Share the show with a friend.✍️ Leave a review to help others find us. Thanks for your support!  🗓️ BOOK A 15 FREE DISCOVERY CALL:⭐https://calendly.com/estelleatbeee/15-minute-discovery-call 🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES:⬆️⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠: https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/  🎇⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠: https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/ 📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK:⁠Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Brilliance-Outer-Shine-Workaholism/dp/1789048036/ ⁠ 🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺⭐Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://pod.link/1515648162  ⭐Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts ⚠️ DICLAIMER This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldnot be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️.

Welcome to Optimising Leader Brilliance—the podcastand self-improvement toolkit designed to unlock key leadership talent and enable calm, confident, strategic leadership. Are your current leadership strategies failing to delivernext-level results? If you or the leaders in your organisation are facing sudden self-doubt, hidden overwhelm, or hitting an invisible performance ceiling, you are not alone—and it is not your fault.On this podcast, host Estelle Read explores how to eliminateleadership bottlenecks, stop self-sabotage, and transform high-potential talent so your business can thrive.💥 THE INVISIBLE CEILING BLOCKING PERFORMANCEEvery organisation relies on ambitious leaders who want to deliver high-performance results. However, there comes a point where old strategies stop working. Despite hard work, leaders hit a performance ceiling that triggers self-doubt, anxiety under scrutiny, and potential burnout. Whenresults need to change quickly, traditional professional development takes too long. Both the leader and the organisation need swift, measurable change.🧠 THE ROOT CAUSE & THE NEUROSCIENCE SOLUTIONThese bottlenecks happen because leaders fight against subconscious childhood conditioning. Having coached executives for over two decades, Estelle has foundthese barriers fall into 7 leadership saboteur categories. We don't spend 66 days trying to force a new habit. Instead, we identify the root causes and apply a neuroscience technique to eliminate triggers, modifying the autopilot for automatic, lasting behavioural change.💼 REAL COACHING TRANSFORMATIONS WE EXPLORE:The Micro-Controller: From Rigid Operations to a £20M Turnover BoostThe Doubting Imposter: From Self-Doubt to a 300% Revenue IncreaseThe Chronic Harmoniser: From Avoidance to Action—Resolving a £1M Elephant in the RoomThe Constant Firefighter: From Burnout to Streamlined Productivity 📈 THE ROI: HIGH-PERFORMANCE RESULTSKinks are ironed out in as little as 4 weeks. Turnaroundsdon't take 12 months, protecting key leadership talent and saving organisations thousands in recruitment, retraining, and painful performance management.🚀 READY TO TAKE YOUR TEAM TO THE NEXT LEVEL?Hit Follow to get actionable insights in every episode!🌐 Visit: https://estelleread.com/ where you can: 📒 Subscribe to The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook, to getthe key learnings and takeaways from every single episode 📊 Take the Free Leadership Saboteurs Scorecard📅 Book a Free 15-Minute Call