Many high-achieving leaders find themselves constantly pushing toward the next goal, perpetually feeling like they’re “not enough yet” and delaying enjoyment or fulfillment until they reach some future milestone. This creates a never-ending hamster wheel of striving without satisfaction.
Gayle Lantz speaks with Dr. Laura Gallaher, a professional speaker, organizational psychologist, and best-selling author who helps driven self-starters transform their relationship with themselves. Laura inspires leaders to accomplish more while making everything easier through the practice of radical self-acceptance.
Laura shares her personal journey from being constantly busy and achievement-focused to discovering that “if you’re not good enough now, you never will be.” Her insights help leaders recognize when they’re postponing their happiness and satisfaction for an imaginary future point of “arrival.”
This episode challenges the common mindset that self-criticism drives achievement and offers a more compassionate and ultimately more effective approach to leadership and personal growth.
This episode covers:
- What radical self-acceptance truly means and why it matters
- How to recognize when you have a self-acceptance gap (hint: look for stress)
- Understanding that stress comes from self-judgment, not external circumstances
- The difference between self-improvement and self-acceptance
- How leaders can create psychological safety through modeling self-acceptance
- The connection between self-acceptance and innovation, creativity, and effective decision-making
- Practical ways to break patterns of self-criticism and embrace self-acceptance
This episode provides a fresh perspective on leadership by focusing on the inner work that allows leaders to be both high-achieving and self-compassionate at the same time.
LINKS:
Previous CEO on the Go Episodes:
How Adaptable Are You? Master Adaptability Intelligence with Ross Thornley (#255)
3 Critical Shifts for Leading in Uncertain Times (#254)
When Passion Fuels Impact: Leadership Lessons From CEO Kelly Todd (#253)