Companies have created mission statements for years to explain why they exist and why they do what they do.

Google’s mission statement, for example, is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” For Zappos it’s “to provide the best customer service possible.”

These manifestos affirm an organization’s core beliefs and values and solidify the business’ long-term vision.

A personal mission statement is much like a corporate mission statement: it describes your convictions, what you stand for, and how you plan to create a life that embodies your values. …

The Sensitive Striver

You were so excited when HR reached out and asked if you’d like to be considered as a candidate for an internal role.

You eagerly prepared for the interviews and were confident you crushed them.

Then the call comes…

You won’t be advancing to further rounds of interviews.

Job rejection is always difficult, but even more so when it’s an internal role. You may find yourself wrestling with feelings of imposter syndrome and inadequacy. …

What stands in your way of being taken more seriously at work? If you’re like many of the coaching clients I work with, then your first answer may be “myself.”

Whether you’re trying to advance to get a raise or promotion or become more visible and build gravitas, you need to talk about yourself at work. And imposter syndrome is often the number one barrier that keeps top performers from putting themselves out there and reaching their full potential.

Imposter Syndrome and Self-Promotion in The Workplace

Imposter syndrome leads you to doubt yourself and downplay your capabilities. You believe you’re not smart enough (despite your many accomplishments)…

Emotional labeling, or the practice of naming emotions, seems simple on the surface but can be incredibly transformative.

Think about it: how often do you barrel through your workday completely unaware of what you’re feeling? If you’re like most people, then you’re probably so busy that you don’t pause to check in with yourself.

Or you might find yourself caught in an ongoing cycle of unwieldy, overwhelming emotions like stress, fear, or doubt that seems amorphous, insurmountable, and out of control. All of which is a recipe for imposter syndrome and burnout.

This is especially true for Sensitive Strivers —…

Does positive thinking work?

You’ve probably had that thought if you’re trying to change your inner self-talk. After all, thinking positively sounds promising on the surface. Who wouldn’t want to think good thoughts and have everything magically work out for them?

The truth is that positive thinking doesn’t always help — or even work.

There is nothing inherently wrong with being optimistic and upbeat. But healthy positivity becomes toxic when it denies, minimizes, or invalidates a person’s emotions. You begin to start feeling bad about feeling bad.

Toxic positivity can trigger a self-defeating spiral, particularly for those who are Sensitive…

Great leaders are great communicators.

Namely, they have perfected the art of active listening, a component of emotional intelligence that requires you to be completely present with another person.

When you’re listening actively, you’re not in your head formulating what you’ll say next. Rather, your focus is 100% on the other person and how they are feeling.

This is one reason Sensitive Strivers make amazing leaders — their empathy and thoughtfulness translate into building deep relationships and trust.

But many of my coaching clients get tongue-tied when it comes to one crucial part of active listening: asking questions.

They overthink…

When Tessa came to me as a coaching client, she had one question on her mind, “Should I take this promotion?”

You see, Tessa was a marketing manager at a major Fortune 500 company. Tessa loved her work, the company, and her team. A dedicated high-performer, she was on the fast-track for growth.

At the same time, her job was often draining. Optimizing marketing campaigns brought out her perfectionist side and Tessa sacrificed work-life balance to push launches out the door. …

The Sensitive Striver

At least once a week, I hear from leaders who ask, “How do I project more executive presence?”

And now, in light of the ongoing global pandemic, these same top performers wonder how to capture that ever-elusive executive presence in virtual meetings as well.

Appearing confident via video is essential regardless of whether you want to:

• Advance to senior management
• Be assigned to higher-profile assignments
• Earn a promotion or raise
• Build influence and visibility

But projecting authority online is easier said than done, especially for Sensitive Strivers.

Charismatic displays of showmanship aren’t a Sensitive Striver’s style. And it can be…