04/12/2025
There are moments that we remember, and there are moments that change our lives forever.
The moment I realized my workplace environment had grown dysfunctional, and the roles and patterns felt way too familiar from my childhood, everything changed for me.
As a former corporate and startup executive turned psychotherapist and executive coach, I now see this truth in nearly every boardroom, every founder I coach, every executive on the brink of burnout, every spouse ready to file for divorce from their CEO partner: Conditioning in their nervous system leads from fear and survival instead of decisiveness and innovation.�• old protection strategies disguised as “high standards” or “strong work ethic” �• avoidance patterns that erode trust, communication, and psychological safety at work�• childhood defenses that look like micromanagement, conflict avoidance, or control
From your household to your office, people don’t follow what you say. Employees and children alike, they follow the emotional energy you lead from, and what you model and reward.
- They perform for job security in a dysfunctional system instead of from safety, the birthplace for innovation and expansion.
- They read the room, align with the power dynamics, compete for resources or, perhaps worse, act from compliance… yielding complacency and quiet quitting while their equity vests.�
When a leader deepens their understanding of why they lead the way they do, and understands the impact to their organization:
>Trust deepens.�>Communication opens.�>Psychological safety rises.�>People stop walking on eggshells.�>Decisions come from clarity instead of fear.�>And performance grows—not because of a new strategy, but because the leader grew.
And that serves you more than in running your company! Your personal growth is often the solution to bringing joy back to your marriage and a stronger relationship with your kids.
