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Optimising Leader Brilliance: Enabling Calm, Confident, Strategic Leadership

Optimising Leader Brilliance: Enabling Calm, Confident, Strategic Leadership

By: Estelle Read | Optimising Leadership Brilliance Coach | Bestselling Author | Speaker | Beee Founder
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 Lead strategically with calm confidence with Estelle Read, Bestselling Author, Coach, Speaker, and guests. Optimising Leader Brilliance is the self-improvement toolkit for leaders ready to break performance ceilings and achieve next level results. Get science-backed strategies and mindset shifts to tackle imposter syndrome, workaholism, anxiety, and self-sabotage. We provide stress relief and burnout solutions to help you reduce your workload and reclaim your time. We also share tools to clarify your strategic direction and deliver the brilliant results you're capable of. Visit: EstelleRead.comEstelle Read | Optimising Leadership Brilliance Coach | Bestselling Author | Speaker | Beee Founder Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • How to Overcome Perfectionism: The LAR Method for High Achievers

    How to Overcome Perfectionism: The LAR Method for High Achievers
    Mar 31 2026

    Are you stuck in analysis paralysis? In this episode, we explore how perfectionism fuels Imposter Syndrome and reveal my proprietary LAR Method to break the cycle once and for all. Learn why the pursuit of perfection is actually holding your career back and how to use the "10% Strategy" to reclaim your time, energy, and authenticity.


    As part of our miniseries on Transactional Analysis drivers,I’m diving into the childhood origins of the "Be Perfect" pattern. From the "Owl Story" to the pressure of high-stakes leadership, we discuss why the fear of being "exposed" as imperfect is your biggest barrier to growth—and how even Steve Bartlett uses imperfection as a superpower.

    What You Will Learn:

    Whether you're a leader avoiding a promotion or anentrepreneur hiding behind a mask of perfection, this episode will help you choose progress over perfectionism.


    Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth!

    Estelle Read

    Bestselling Author, Executive Coach & Speaker

    Timestamps:

    (00:00) Introduction: Quit Perfectionism By Doing This
    (02:08) What is Perfectionism and Why It Matters
    (03:37) The Perfectionism Trap: Red Crosses and Self-Doubt
    (05:05) The Core Fear: Being Exposed as Imperfect
    (06:31) Origins of Perfectionism: Critical Parents and Childhood Trauma
    (10:20) The Owl Story: How Shame Creates Perfectionism
    (12:49) When Perfection Crumbles: The Cost of Mistakes
    (14:28) The Perfectionism Mindset
    (17:38) The Mental Health Impact: Anxiety and Imposter Syndrome
    (18:18) How to use the LAR Method to stop Perfectionism

    (20:05) Error-Friendly Experiments: Practicing Imperfection
    (22:28) Productivity Tip: The 10% Time Reduction Strategy
    (24:15) Steve Bartlett's Imperfect Posts: Embracing Authenticity
    (25:53) Resources: Books, Journals, and Free Tools
    (27:13) Preview: Next Episode on the Be Strong Pattern

    ⭐Help Us Keep Growing & Going:

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe whereveryou listen or watch, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit. Thank you ❤️.

    ⭐Listen or Watch on YouTube:

    🎧Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://estelleread.com/podcast/

    📺Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts

    ⭐Follow Estelle Read:

    https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee

    ⭐Access Resources or Book a Free Discovery Call:

    ⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠

    ⭐Estelle Read’s Coaching Programmes:

    🌟⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠

    🌟⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠

    ⭐Buy Estelle Read’s Bestselling Book:

    ⁠Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress ⁠

    ⭐Subscribe to Estelle Read’s Blog:

    ⁠Receive my free workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress, when you sign up. ⁠

    ⭐Disclaimer:

    This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldnot be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.
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    28 mins
  • Assertiveness for Leaders: Breaking the People-Pleasing Pattern

    Assertiveness for Leaders: Breaking the People-Pleasing Pattern
    Mar 24 2026
    Did you know your brain processes a 'social rejection'exactly like physical pain? That's why saying 'no' to your boss feels like a survival threat. Today, I'm showing you how to re-wire that response.In this miniseries episode, I explore the Please Me Patternand why people-pleasing behaviour keeps you trapped in cycles of overcommitment, resentment, and burnout. I share the neuroscience behind why rejection feels like physical pain, reveal a powerful client breakthrough with a narcissistic boss, and give you practical tools to set boundaries without guilt. Whether you struggle to say no at work or find yourself constantly organising everything for everyone, this episode will show you how to break free from people-pleasing for good. What You Will Learn:💡 Why your brain treats rejection like touching a hot stove - and how this survival mechanism keeps you saying yes when you should say no 💡 The exact moment a people-pleasing lawyer stood up to her manipulative boss and what happened next (spoiler: no consequences, just respect) 💡 A simple four-letter framework for giving difficult feedback that protects your boundaries while maintaining relationships Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! Estelle Read Bestselling Author, Executive Coach & Speaker Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: This Stops People Pleasing(02:47) The Please Me Pattern: Why saying no feelsterrifying(03:27) The lawyer who couldn't stop pleasing people(03:51) The drowning man analogy(04:41) Core fear: Rejection and abandonment(05:10) Why we can't survive without parental love(06:13) Rejection activates the same brain area as physicalpain(07:18) Childhood origins of people-pleasing behaviour(09:16) How people-pleasing shows up at work(10:11) The imbalance in relationships and resentment(12:28) Developing your inner captain vs inner critic(15:01) Client story: The people-pleaser at flight risk(16:15) Using havening to find the root cause(17:48) The breakthrough: Standing up to the narcissisticboss(18:48) How boundaries transformed her friendships too(19:39) The mindset shift: Self-validation and journaling(20:41) Assertiveness training: Ken and Kate Back(21:16) Getting rid of people-pleasing triggers withhavening(22:00) The SBI+R model for difficult feedback(23:20) Setting clear boundaries and raising awareness(24:32) Micro action: Assertive phrases for your back pocket(25:12) Resources: Run a Tight Ship chapter(25:58) Next episode: The Be Perfect Pattern(26:10) Subscribe and connect with me⭐Help Us Keep Growing & Going:If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe whereveryou listen or watch, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit. Thank you ❤️. ⭐Listen or Watch on YouTube:🎧Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://estelleread.com/podcast/📺Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts ⭐Follow Estelle Read: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee ⭐Access Resources or Book a Free Discovery Call:⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠ ⭐Estelle Read’s Coaching Programmes:🌟⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠🌟⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠ ⭐Buy Estelle Read’s Bestselling Book:⁠Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress ⁠ ⭐Subscribe to Estelle Read’s Blog: ⁠Receive my free workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress,when you sign up. ⁠ ⭐Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldnot be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.
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    28 mins
  • How to Break the "Hurry Up" Habit and Reduce Stress

    How to Break the "Hurry Up" Habit and Reduce Stress
    Mar 24 2026
    Do you catch yourself rushing through tasks or finishingother people's sentences? In this episode, we explore why your brain equates speed with safety and how the "Hurry Up" habit is quietly sabotaging your productivity, relationships, and mental health.As part of our miniseries on Adrienne Lee’s “DrowningPerson” model (Transactional Analysis), I’m sharing my personal journey from a high-speed HR leader to reclaiming my peace. Discover the childhood origins of your need for urgency, recognise the warning signs of "Rush Mode,"and learn practical strategies to slow down to speed up yourresults without sacrificing success.What You Will Learn:💡 The Biology of Speed: Why your brain treats slowness as a "danger signal"and keeps you trapped in a constant fight-or-flight state.💡 Childhood Programming: How early messages equating speed with competence create adult patterns of anxiety and hurried decisions.💡 Practical Tools for Calm: From the "School Run Walk of Shame" to the 7-11 Breathing Technique and the 4-3-2 Sensory Exercise.Whether you're balancing a career, family, or personalgrowth, this episode reveals why doing things quickly often backfires - and how to finally break the cycle. Tune in for next week's episode on how to overcome the ‘Pleasing’ patten. Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth! Estelle Read Bestselling Author, Coach & Speaker Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction (01:55) The Hurry Up Pattern Explained(03:12) Core Fear: Missing Something Crucial(03:41) Personal Example: Balancing Retirement & Business(04:33) Origins: Urgency as a Safety Signal(05:01) Childhood Patterns from Parents(05:21) My Confession: Creating This Pattern in My Daughter(06:02) Parenting Stress: The School Run "Walk of Shame"(07:13) How This Pattern Affects Children(08:19) Problems in Adulthood: Rushed Decisions & Mistakes(09:30) DISC Profile Connection(11:15) Mental Health Impact: Baseline Stress(12:37) Warning Signs(13:02) Example: HR Leadership: Breaking the "Rush Mode" Cycle(14:23) How Coaching Transformed My Hurry Up Pattern(14:47) Six Weeks in a Mindfulness Shed(15:35) Learning to Eat Mindfully(16:48) Philly the Pheasant: Slowing Down at Lunch(17:59) Speaking Career: From Horse Commentator to Impactful Presenter(18:44) The Transformation: Disconnecting "Slow = Bad"(19:33) The Opposite Truth About Speed & Intelligence(20:20) Strategies for Overcoming in Adulthood(21:13) Tools: Micro Pauses (22:07) 7-11 Breathing Technique forInstant Calm(22:28) Mindfulness: The 4-3-2 Sensory Exercise(25:20) Scheduling Buffer Times(25:46) Resources: Mindfulness Apps & Havening(26:11) Next Episode Preview: The Please Me Pattern(26:28) Outro & Call to Action ⭐Help Us Keep Growing & Going:If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe whereveryou listen or watch, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit. Thank you ❤️. ⭐Listen or Watch on YouTube:🎧Listen on your favourite podcast platform here: https://estelleread.com/podcast/📺Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts ⭐Follow Estelle Read: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee ⭐Access Resources or Book a Free Discovery Call: ⁠https://estelleread.com/resources/⁠ ⭐Estelle Read’s Coaching Programmes:🌟⁠The Resilient Leader Programme: SHINE⁠🌟⁠The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL⁠ ⭐Buy Estelle Read’s Bestselling Book:⁠Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress ⁠ ⭐Subscribe to Estelle Read’s Blog: ⁠Receive my free workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress, when you sign up. ⁠ ⭐Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldnot be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
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