In this episode Sarah explores the subtle yet powerful ways imposter feelings show up for high-achieving women-often without them realising. From overthinking to perfectionism to holding back in meetings, Sarah breaks down eight common patterns she sees in her clients and shares a simple but effective mindset tool you can start using today. If imposter feelings have been draining your confidence, energy, or ambition, this episode will help you recognise the signs and take your first steps toward breaking free.

[00:00:00] – Welcome to Unstuck and Unstoppable

[00:01:00] – Why Imposter Feelings Matter

The hidden ways imposter feelings show up for successful women. Inspired by a recent LinkedIn poll, she highlights overthinking and self-doubt as the two most common manifestations.

[00:02:00] – Awareness Is Step One

Imposter feelings are sneaky, often long-established patterns. Sarah explains why becoming aware of how they show up is crucial before you can change them.

[00:02:30] – Webinar Announcement

Sarah invites listeners to her upcoming webinar: How to Break Free From Imposter Syndrome and Shine as a Leader (25th November).

[00:03:00] – Imposter Feelings in Practice

Sarah shares how imposter feelings affected her early leadership career-leading to over-preparation, comparison, anxiety, and eventually burnout.

[00:04:00] – What Imposter Feelings Really Are

She reframes “imposter syndrome” as “imposter feelings” and describes them as a psychological pattern-not a personal flaw. Patterns can be changed.

[00:05:30] – The 8 Hidden Ways Imposter Feelings Show Up

Sarah introduces eight subtle but common behaviours driven by imposter feelings.

The 8 Hidden Ways Imposter Feelings Show Up

1. [00:06:00] Over-Preparation / Perfectionism

Feeling you must deliver perfectly, leading to burnout, procrastination, and risk-aversion.

2. [00:07:00] Downplaying Achievements

Attributing success to luck or others, which diminishes your visibility and value in the eyes of others.

3. [00:07:30] Holding Back Opinions

Staying silent in meetings to avoid being wrong-reducing influence and visibility.

4. [00:08:00] Avoiding Visibility

Turning down opportunities that stretch you, limiting growth and career progression.

5. [00:09:00] Over-Apologising

Using apologetic language unnecessarily, which can reduce perceived confidence.

6. [00:09:30] Comparisonitis

Measuring your success against others rather than your own criteria, distracting from your own growth.

7. [00:10:00] Second-Guessing & Overthinking

Overthinking minor or major decisions, causing procrastination, missed opportunities, and decision fatigue.

8. [00:11:00] Taking On Too Much

Saying yes to everything or micromanaging to “prove yourself,” often resulting in burnout and appearing less strategic.

[00:12:30] – The Fear of Changing What “Works”

Sarah acknowledges the fear many women have: If I stop doing these behaviours, will I still be successful? She explains why the answer is yes and how letting go can unlock more effective leadership.

[00:13:00] – Mini Mindset Exercise: Naming Your Inner Critic

Sarah shares a practical technique for bringing the unconscious “imposter voice” into awareness:

1. Name your inner critic to separate it from your identity.
2. Identify its triggers.
3. Present evidence to counter its claims.
4. Use self-reassurance

If you’ve ever found yourself holding back from going for that promotion, doubting your readiness for the next level, or replaying “what if” fears in your mind, this episode is for you. Sarah shares practical strategies, neuroscience-based insights, and mindset tools to help you stop getting in your own way so you can move forward in your leadership career with confidence and purpose.

Whether you’re ready to make a bold career move or simply want to stop second-guessing yourself, this episode will help you understand what’s behind your fears and how to take empowering action.

[00:00:00] – Welcome to Unstuck and Unstoppable

[00:01:00] – Why Self-Sabotage Happens

Sarah opens up about her own experiences with self-sabotage and how fear often lies at the root of it.

[00:02:00] – Recognising Self-Sabotage in Your Career

What it looks like when you’re getting in your own way - procrastination, overthinking, and talking yourself out of opportunities.

[00:03:00] – The Four Core Fears Behind Self-Sabotage

Fear of change, failure, making the wrong decision, and fear of what others might think.

[00:04:00] – How Fear Keeps You Stuck

The exhausting mental cycle of wanting change but feeling paralysed by fear.

[00:05:00] – Early Beliefs and Conditioning

How messages from childhood, school, and early career shape your beliefs about what’s possible.

[00:06:00] – The Power of Other People’s Opinions

How the need to please, meet expectations, or avoid judgment can hold you back from taking bold steps.

[00:06:45] – The Role of Circumstances and Security

Why financial or family responsibilities can heighten your fears about making a change.

[00:07:00] – Step 1: Understand Your Fears

How unpacking where your fears come from helps you manage and move through them.

[00:07:20] – Step 2: Visualise a Positive Future

Learn how to “direct a new movie” in your mind and why your brain responds powerfully to positive visualisation.

[00:09:00] – Step 3: Turn Your Vision Into a Plan

How to translate your positive vision into small, concrete actions that build confidence and reduce fear.

[00:10:00] – Step 4: Take Action and Build Momentum

Why taking even small steps forward helps you feel more in control and less afraid.

[00:10:30] – Step 5: Surround Yourself with Positivity

The importance of connecting with people who have a growth mindset and believe in what’s possible.

[00:11:00] – Final Reflections and Invitation

Sarah wraps up with encouragement to take action and invites listeners to reach out for support if they’re ready to stop self-sabotaging and step into leadership with confidence.

Useful Links

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Join The Love What You Do Facebook Group

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple...

In this episode, Sarah dives into one of the biggest challenges leaders face: leadership confidence. Whether you’re leading a team, presenting to the board, or navigating new territory in your role, confidence wobbles are completely normal.

Sarah shares practical tools and mindset shifts to help you strengthen your inner confidence “core,” reframe limiting beliefs, and build an authentic leadership identity that inspires trust and impact.

[00:00:00] Welcome and Introduction

[00:02:00] The Pressure of Leadership

Leaders face constant expectations from all directions - team, boss, board, and clients. This pressure, coupled with people-pleasing tendencies or imposter feelings, can shake your confidence.

[00:04:30] Normalising the “Confidence Wobble”

Everyone, even the most confident leader, experiences self-doubt. Understand why these wobbles happen and why they’re a natural part of leadership growth.

[00:05:30] The Importance of Inner Work

Lasting leadership confidence starts within. Understand how it's comparable to building your physical core strength - once your inner foundation is strong, everything else becomes easier.

[00:06:30] What Is “Inner Work”?

Confidence grows when you understand your beliefs and stories about who you are as a leader. A client example of a Head of HR who discovered that being “too professional” was limiting her authenticity and connection at work.

[00:08:30] Understanding Limiting Beliefs

Many of our beliefs were shaped early in life or career. Understand how to spot them, why they persist, and how to reframe them to create new, empowering beliefs.

[00:09:30] Spotting Your Triggers

If something or someone keeps triggering you, it’s a clue to an underlying belief. Hear the story of a Head of Marketing who uncovered a belief about not being “sharp enough” and how awareness led to growth.

[00:11:00] Rewriting Your Leadership Narrative

Notice the stories you tell yourself - both positive and negative. Bringing these narratives into awareness allows you to rewrite them in a more confident, compassionate way.

[00:12:30] Sarah’s Own Experience

Sarah shares her personal journey of self-doubt as an HR Director and how doing her own inner work helped her lead with resilience and authenticity.

[00:13:00] The Leadership Brand Exercise

Through her Ambition Plan programme, Sarah helps clients explore their leadership brand - what they’re known for and what makes them unique. One client’s lightbulb moment revealed how her “challenging” style was actually her greatest strength.

[00:14:30] Owning Your Leadership Identity

Authenticity, self-awareness, and amplifying your unique strengths build trust and make you a more effective, confident leader.

[00:15:00] Practical Takeaways

• Notice when and why your confidence feels wobbly.
• Identify what’s triggering you and what belief might be behind it.
• Pay attention to your inner narrative — and consciously reshape it.
• Reflect on your leadership brand: what makes you unique?
• Recognise that a confidence dip might mean you’re growing as a leader.

[00:16:30] Closing Reflections

Confidence work takes courage, but you don’t have to do it alone. Sarah invites listeners to reach out for coaching support and explore her free resources.

“Remember, you’re capable of more than you know. Shine brightly. Lead boldly. And unlock the extraordinary potential within you. Be unstoppable.”

Useful Links

Do you ever feel like your own thoughts are holding you back?

In this episode Sarah explores how to turn your inner critic - the voice that fuels self-doubt and fear into your inner coach, the supportive inner voice that helps you thrive as a leader.

Sarah unpacks why this critical voice exists (spoiler: your brain’s trying to keep you safe!) and shares practical steps to quieten the self-criticism and strengthen your confidence.

You’ll learn how to recognise your inner critic, respond with compassion, and build a more empowering internal dialogue that helps you lead with clarity, courage, and calm.

[00:00:00] Welcome & Introduction

[00:01:00] Series Focus on Confidence

This episode kicks off a mini-series on confidence, exploring one of its biggest obstacles: the inner critic.

[00:02:00] The Power of the Inner Critic

How self-critical thoughts like “you’re not good enough” or “you’ll fail” affect confidence, performance, and relationships at work.

[00:03:00] Normalising the Inner Critic

Everyone has an inner critic, even confident leaders. The key difference is how we manage it.

[00:04:00] Why We Have an Inner Critic

A neuroscience perspective: the limbic brain is wired to keep us safe by scanning for risk—especially emotional risk and uses self-criticism to stop us taking action.

[00:06:00] Case Study: Toni’s Story

Sarah shares Toni’s experience, a senior leader driven by perfectionism and self-doubt, and how learning to coach herself helped prevent burnout.

[00:07:30] Step 1: Notice the Voice

Start by observing your inner critic. What does it say? When does it appear? Writing these thoughts down helps create awareness and perspective.

[00:09:00] Step 2: Recognise You Have a Choice

You can choose how you speak to yourself. Developing self-compassion is a superpower - talk to yourself as you would a close friend.

[00:10:00] Understanding the Brain’s Intention

Your critic’s goal is protection, not punishment. Acknowledge it's fear instead of fighting it.

[00:11:00] Step 3: Change the Dialogue

Learn to reframe negative thoughts into constructive self-talk. Example: turning “I can’t do that” into “How can I do that?”

[00:12:00] Real-Life Example: Reframing Burnout Fear

A client learns to thank her inner critic for trying to protect her, while reassuring it that she’s now equipped with better boundaries and resilience.

[00:13:00] Step 4: Strengthen Your Inner Coach

Amplify your supportive inner voice by gathering evidence of your strengths, achievements, and positive feedback.

[00:15:00] Tools to Boost Your Inner Coach

• Keep an achievement journal
• Practice positive self-talk and affirmations
• Surround yourself with uplifting content - books, podcasts, music, and meditation

[00:16:00] Balancing Compassion & Confidence

You don’t need to silence your inner critic, just let it relax while your inner coach takes the lead.

[00:17:00] Recap & Reflection

Sarah summarises the four steps:

1. Notice your inner critic
2. Choose compassion
3. Reframe your self-talk
4. Strengthen your inner coach

[00:18:00] Closing Message

If you’d like personalised support in developing your inner coach, reach out via careertreecoaching.co.uk.

Remember:...

In this milestone 50th episode, Sarah shares a vital episode for ambitious female leaders - how to strengthen your leadership identity. Sarah explores the invisible yet powerful biases that still affect women in leadership and reveals three practical ways to build visibility, voice, and value so you can lead with confidence, authenticity, and impact.

Plus, she announces a special competition to win a 1:1 coaching session in celebration of reaching 50 episodes!

[00:00:00] Welcome & Introduction

[00:02:15] Competition Announcement 🎉

To celebrate, Sarah invites listeners to leave a 5-star review and message her for a chance to win a free 1:1 coaching session.

[00:03:00] Why Leadership Identity Matters

Why this topic is so important for women in leadership roles.

[00:04:00] The Invisible Web of Biases

Four common biases that impact women leaders:

• Affinity bias – promoting people like ourselves
• Performance vs. potential bias – men promoted on potential, women on proof
• Double bind – being both competent and likable
• Prove-it-again bias – women must continually re-prove their competence

[00:08:30] The Impact of These Biases

How these biases drain energy, cause over-preparation, self-doubt, and can make leadership feel like an uphill battle.

[00:09:00] 3 Layers of Leadership Credibility: Visibility, Voice, and Value

A framework for strengthening your leadership identity:

• Visibility – Be strategic about who sees your work and ensure decision-makers know your impact.

Action: Ask yourself, “Do key decision-makers know about my recent wins?”

• Voice – Use your voice intentionally to share ideas, influence, and inspire others.

Action: Reflect on whether you’re contributing meaningfully in meetings and what you want to be known for.

• Value – Demonstrate your strategic thinking and broader business impact.

Action: Take “radical responsibility” for contributing to wider organizational issues.

[00:13:00] 3 Practical Actions to Strengthen Your Leadership Identity

1. Audit your personal leadership brand – Ask three colleagues what strength they associate with you.
2. Seek strategic sponsors – Identify advocates who can champion you when you’re not in the room.
3. Own your leadership narrative – Believe in your story and communicate it with confidence.

“Remember, you’re capable of more than you know. Shine brightly, lead boldly, and unlock the extraordinary potential within you. Be unstoppable.”

Useful Links

Free: Break Free From Imposter Syndrome Webinar

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Join The Love What You Do Facebook Group

In this episode, Sarah talks about a topic that every leader faces but few like to discuss -failure. She explores why it feels so uncomfortable, what’s really going on in your brain when you fail, and four practical ways you can reframe, recover, and grow stronger from failure -so it becomes fuel for your success, not a roadblock.

[00:00:00] – Welcome to Unstuck and Unstoppable

[00:02:30] – Why We Struggle with Failure

• The higher you rise, the greater the perceived risk.
• Failure feels more personal and visible for women in leadership.
• Internal fears (imposter syndrome, self-doubt, confidence dips).
• External factors (organizational culture, risk aversion).
• The impact of gender conditioning — women are socialized to “get it right.”
• The double bind: be strong but not too strong; warm but not weak.
• The representation pressure women feel when there are fewer female leaders at the top.

[00:07:30] – Sarah’s Personal Failures and Lessons Learned

From HR initiatives that didn’t land, to failed business launches and missed job opportunities -Sarah shares how she’s learned to view failure as part of growth rather than something to avoid.

[00:08:30] – The Benefits of Failing

Failure can:

• Build resilience and risk tolerance
• Offer powerful learning and clarity
• Strengthen leadership authenticity
• Model a growth mindset for your team and organization

[00:10:00] – Four Ways to Get More Comfortable with Failure

1. Rewrite Your Failure Narrative
2. Understand the Neuroscience of Failure
3. Use Positive Psychology to Reframe Failure
4. Build Self-Compassion

[00:16:30] – Start Small & Build Your Risk Resilience

Experiment with low-stakes risks to grow your confidence over time. Failure tolerance is a muscle - the more you stretch it, the stronger it gets.

[00:17:00] – Quote to Inspire You

[00:17:30] – Final Thoughts & Coaching Invitation

Sarah encourages listeners to see failure as an essential part of leadership growth.If you’d like to explore your own relationship with failure and unlock your next level of confidence and success, book a Career Breakthrough Call with Sarah.

Useful Links

Free Break Free From Imposter Syndrome Webinar

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Join The Love What You Do Facebook Group

Connect with Sarah on...

In this episode, Sarah dives into how to confidently sell yourself in your next leadership interview, without feeling fake, boastful, or uncomfortable.

Drawing on her extensive experience coaching senior leaders, Sarah shares practical mindset shifts, communication strategies, and evidence-based techniques to help you move from self-doubt to self-assurance. Whether you’re interviewing for a director or CEO role, this episode will help you show your true value with confidence and impact.

[00:00:00] Welcome & Introduction

[00:01:00] Why This Topic Matters

Inspired by a client’s recent success in securing a director-level role, Sarah explains why interview confidence is a crucial skill for senior leaders and why “selling yourself” doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable.

[00:02:30] The Challenges of Leadership Interviews

How senior-level interviews differ from earlier career ones - more stages, more scrutiny, and higher expectations - and how preparation and mindset make all the difference.

[00:04:00] What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How to shift your mindset from “Am I good enough?” to “How can I show the value I bring?”
• What interviewers really want to know about you
• How to convey your strengths without downplaying them
• How to communicate with impact and authenticity

[00:05:00] Reframing ‘Selling Yourself’

Instead of thinking of interviews as sales pitches, Sarah reframes them as opportunities to present evidence-based data about your value and achievements.

[00:06:00] Managing Your Inner Critic

Practical ways to silence self-doubt and build a positive mindset before interviews - from affirmations to perspective shifts. Includes real client examples of how mindset work leads to interview success.

[00:08:00] Defining Your Unique Value

How to identify your unique selling points and demonstrate how you make a measurable difference to an organisation - whether through growth, people, innovation, or efficiency.

[00:10:00] Understanding the Interview Panel

How to tailor your responses based on who’s on the panel - your future boss, HR, peers, or board members - and what each is looking for in a candidate.

[00:12:00] Communicating Your Strengths with Ease

Why humility can hold leaders back - and how to practice talking about your achievements naturally so it feels authentic, not boastful.

[00:13:00] Balancing Strategy and Delivery

A reminder that senior roles require both operational experience and strategic thinking and how to showcase both effectively.

[00:14:00] Creating Personal Impact

How to let your enthusiasm and authenticity shine through, show your human side, and build rapport with the panel. How small moments of honesty can create connection.

[00:16:00] Be Intentional About Your Impact

Tips for being deliberate about how you want to come across - whether as a visionary leader, safe pair of hands, or collaborative people person.

[00:17:00] Recap & Key Takeaways

Summary of the five key areas to focus on for your next leadership interview:

1. Reframe selling as sharing evidence.
2. Manage your inner critic and mindset.
3. Know your unique value and what the panel needs to hear.
4. Communicate your strengths with ease and authenticity.
5. Create personal impact through presence and enthusiasm.

[00:18:00] Closing & Resources

Sarah encourages listeners to connect for 1:1 interview coaching

Useful Links

Do you ever feel like your hard work is going unnoticed? Or that your peers are getting promoted while you’re left behind? In this episode, Sarah shares practical strategies to help you raise your visibility, get the recognition you deserve, and move your career forward without feeling like you’re bragging or selling out.

I’ll walk you through:

• Why visibility matters for your career growth.
• The mindset shifts you need to stop playing small.
• Authentic ways to showcase your impact.
• How to create a strategic visibility plan.

If you’re ready to step into the spotlight, amplify your influence, and get noticed for all the right reasons, this episode is for you.

• Why “just doing your job well” isn’t enough anymore.
• How to reframe visibility so it feels authentic, not arrogant.
• The three mindset and strategy shifts to help you shine.
• A simple audit to check how you’re showing up in meetings.
• How to create a plan for long-term visibility and recognition.

[00:00:00] Welcome to Unstuck and Unstoppable & Sarah’s mission

[00:01:00] The challenge of balancing leadership with career aspirations

[00:02:00] Listener shoutout + free resource announcement

[00:03:00] Why visibility matters: career advancement, growth & recognition

[00:05:00] Common challenges: fears, beliefs & mindset blocks

[00:07:00] The perception gap: why saying “it’s fine” holds you back

[00:08:00] Why your voice matters for your organization’s success

[00:09:00] Top Tip #1 – Shift your mindset about visibility

[00:10:00] Top Tip #2 – Be authentic in your own style

[00:12:00] Case study: Creating a visibility strategy in financial services

[00:13:30] Top Tip #3 – Be strategic & intentional with your plan

[00:14:30] How to do a visibility audit (meetings & contributions)

[00:15:30] Free resource: Five Steps to Powerful Presence as a Female Leader

[00:16:30] How coaching can support your visibility journey

[00:17:00] Closing message: Shine brightly, lead boldly, be unstoppable

Useful Links

Free resource: Five Steps to Powerful Presence as a Female Leader

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Join The Love What You Do Facebook Group

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: