Ever faced a situation at work that left you stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next?

In this episode, I tackle four real career and leadership questions pulled from Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn, and more. These are practical, messy, honest scenarios professionals are living through every day. I give my take on how I’d handle them, including a few personal stories along the way.

Whether you’re trying to move up, lead better, or earn what you’re worth, there’s something here for you.

Timestamps:

0:58 – I’m a sales rep and want to move up. What do I need to do? Advice on breaking through to the next level, who to talk to, what to focus on, and how to demonstrate leadership without the title.

5:54 – Is climbing the corporate ladder even worth it? The truth about promotions, leadership, and what makes it meaningful. Spoiler: it's not about the money.

8:47 – My team asks me everything. How do I get them to be more independent? How to build trust, reinforce confidence, and empower your team to make decisions without always coming to you.

12:35 – How do I know if I’m underpaid and what should I do about it? Step-by-step advice on figuring out your market value and what to do if you’re earning less than you should.

Career/Leadership Coaching

Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: TheIntrovertLeader
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how to turn around a low morale team. I’ve led teams where people were quitting, the vibe was heavy, and performance was tanking—and I’ve helped those same teams become top performers. Whether you’re leading a struggling team or just want to be ready for the challenge, this episode gives you the mindset, strategies, and real-world examples to turn things around fast.

Timestamps:
0:56 - What Does Low Morale Look Like: How to spot the early signs of low morale, from disengagement to survival mode.

3:10 - Identify the Root Causes: Three ways to dig deeper and uncover what’s really driving your team’s morale issues.

8:01 - Set The Vision/Create the Culture: What to do once you’ve diagnosed the problem—and how to rally your team around a new direction.

14:10 - Rebuild Their Confidence: Actionable ways to help your team believe in themselves again and re-engage with the work.

17:44 - Get Team Wins: Why small wins matter—and how to start building momentum when your team feels stuck.

21:53 - Story Time: A story about leading a struggling team and watching them transform into rock stars.

25:22 - Challenge For Listeners: One thing you can do this week to build confidence and boost your team’s morale.

Career Coaching

Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: TheIntrovertLeader
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I dive into imposter syndrome, those moments when self-doubt creeps in and you feel like you're not good enough. With no script, outline, or agenda, I share how I push through those thoughts and keep moving forward. If you've ever questioned your abilities, this episode will give you real insights on overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence.

Tune in for a raw conversation on dealing with self-doubt and taking action, even when you don’t feel ready.

Career Coaching

Want to take your career to the next level?
Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IntrovertLeaderCo
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 observations from 10 years of marriage. These aren’t vague ideas—they’re real lessons that have shaped how I show up in life, in my career, and in my relationships. If you’re in a relationship or thinking about long-term commitment, I hope these stories and insights help you build something strong, lasting, and honest. Whether you're married, dating, or figuring it all out—there’s something in here for you.

Timestamps:
00:38 - Austin Update

02:15 - Why Discuss Marriage: Marriage has impacted my career and life more than anything else. Here’s why this topic matters.

3:04 - 10 Observations from 10 Years in Marriage: From shared hobbies to personal identity, respect, and faith—these are the lessons I’ve learned and lived.

16:33 - Challenge For Listeners: Call out something small your partner did this week and tell them you appreciate it.

Career Coaching

Want to take your career to the next level?
Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IntrovertLeaderCo
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I’m talking about how to learn and apply new skills and why it’s one of the fastest ways to grow your career. Whether you’re stuck in your role or want to become more valuable at work, acquiring the right skills can make a huge difference. I’ll break down how to choose the right skill, where to learn it, and how to push through the messy parts of the process.

Timestamps

:40 – Austin Update

1:28 – Why Acquiring New Skills Is Important: Why skill-building is one of the most underrated ways to stand out in your career.

2:52 – What Learning New Skills Can Do For Your Career: The impact of adding new tools to your toolbox and how it compounds over time.

5:37 – Identifying The Right Skills to Learn: How to figure out which skills are worth your time and aligned with your goals.

10:38 – The Best Vehicles To Learn New Skills: My favorite ways to learn quickly, from books to hands-on practice.

14:20 – Overcoming Challenges in The Learning Process: What makes skill-building hard and how to push through it.

20:49 – Actionable First Steps / Applying The New Skill: What to do once you’ve picked a skill and how to apply it right away.

23:22 – Story Time: A behind-the-scenes story about how I taught myself to edit audio and video for this podcast and my YouTube channel.

26:28 – Challenge For Listeners: Pick a skill, take 15 minutes to start learning it today, and commit to action.

Career Coaching

Want to level up at work?
Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

https://calendly.com/stscareercoaching/30min

Engage

Don’t miss our new episodes—released every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions, and I’ll answer them on air.

• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: Austin Hopkins
• YouTube: TheIntrovertLeader
• Website: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I’m breaking down the awkward shift from being a peer to becoming a leader. You’ll learn what to watch out for, key mindset shifts, and how to lead with confidence from day one.
Whether you’re new to leadership or want to be ready when the time comes, this one's for you.

Timestamps
1:00 - Austin Update

2:32 - Why Discuss Peer To Leader Transitions: Why this moment is one of the hardest, most overlooked challenges in your career.

3:18 - What To Watch Out For: Four common mistakes to avoid when moving from peer to leader, based on lessons I learned the hard way.

8:15 - Mindset Shifts: The internal shifts you must make to succeed in leadership.

13:03 - Lead Effectively From Day One: How to earn trust, avoid early missteps, and set the tone with clarity and confidence in your first weeks as a leader.

19:35 - Story Time: A real story about a former peer who crossed the line—and the tough decision I had to make as a new leader.

24:39 - Challenge For Listeners: If you were promoted today, what would need to change? And why wait to start?

Career Coaching

Want to level up at work?
Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: TheIntrovertLeader
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I’m breaking down executive presence—what it is, why it matters, and how to build it.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked or struggled to command respect, this episode is for you. I’ll tackle common myths, real-world examples, and simple strategies to help you develop a strong executive presence.

Timestamps
01:00 - Austin Update

01:47 - What Is Executive Presence: Defining what having executive presence means.

02:39 - Why You Should Care About Your Executive Presence: How executive presence influences your career growth, leadership, and how others perceive you.

04:12 - Benefits of Executive Presence: The key advantages of developing executive presence and how it can accelerate your success.

6:40 - Common Myths: Debunking the biggest misconceptions about executive presence.

9:43 - Common Challenges: Why executive presence can be difficult to develop and what prevents people from mastering it.

15:04 - Examples of Executive Presence/Real World Scenarios: Real-world examples of executive presence in action.

19:12 - How To Start Getting Better at Executive Presence: Actionable steps you can take today to develop a stronger executive presence.

26:00 - Story Time: A story about a time I had to act with executive presence.

29:49 - Challenge For Listeners: Take the 6-Question Executive Presence Audit to assess where you stand and what to improve.

Career Coaching

Ready to take your career to the next level?
Get personalized coaching to earn more, get promoted faster, and lead with confidence.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: TheIntrovertLeader
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I'm discussing people-pleasing—something I've struggled with since I was a kid. I'll explain why we people-please, how it holds us back, and how it can damage our relationships. Stay tuned for actionable strategies to overcome it.

Even if you don't struggle with people pleasing yourself, you'll learn how to help the people pleaser in your life.

Timestamps
1:07 - Austin Update

3:46 - Why Discuss People Pleasing: Why this topic matters and how it impacts your career and relationships.

4:24 - What Is People Pleasing: A breakdown of what people pleasing is and why so many struggle with it.

4:50 - What Does People Pleasing Look Like: Common examples of people pleasing in work and personal life.

7:44 - Why I People Please: A personal look at my own struggles with people pleasing and where it comes from.

9:56 - Negatives of People Pleasing: How people pleasing can hold you back, damage relationships, and create stress.

14:40 - Overcoming People Pleasing: Actionable strategies to stop people pleasing and start setting boundaries.

18:30 - Story Time: A story about the Superbowl a few weeks back.

20:40 - Challenge For Listeners: A practical challenge to help you recognize and reduce people pleasing this week.

Career Coaching

Want to get promoted faster and earn more?

📈Promotion Fast Track: A step-by-step plan to land your next promotion. Book a free call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: TheIntrovertLeader
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com