E146: From “Kill It” to Cultivate It: A New Leadership Lens

05/13/25 • 12 min

Uncharted & Unfiltered: The Journey Back to You

Have you ever felt the immense pressure to "nail it" when stepping into something new? That sensation of needing to be perfect from day one might be familiar—and as I discovered, it's exactly what was happening with my coaching client as she prepared to lead a team of seasoned professionals.
The timing couldn't have been more serendipitous. While helping my client transform her leadership anxiety, I unwittingly created a framework that would calm my own nerves before an important assessment just hours later. This beautiful moment of reciprocity reveals how the wisdom we offer others often becomes exactly what we need ourselves.
At the heart of this episode is a powerful reframe that changed everything: "What if this wasn't something to kill but something to grow?" From this simple question bloomed the PLANT framework—a leadership approach rooted in Presence rather than pressure. We explore each element: Pausing to get present, Listening generously, Asking questions, Naming what matters, and Tending with intention. For my gardener client, this metaphor resonated deeply, helping her see her team as diverse plants with unique needs rather than challenges to conquer.
The framework proved its worth the very next morning as I faced my own assessment anxiety. By applying these same principles—pausing to breathe, listening to my body's signals, asking what I needed, naming what truly mattered, and tending to myself with care—I transformed nervous energy into focused presence. This episode is for anyone standing at the threshold of something new and important, wondering if they have what it takes. The answer is yes—not because you'll be perfect, but because you'll be present.
Ready to transform pressure into presence in your own life? Subscribe to Unchartered and Unfiltered and join our community of seekers who are leaving the "should" path behind to embrace what truly matters—you.

Please rate and review with your honest opinion. Subscribe and share with your colleagues especially if you have worked with me and found value in the work we’ve done together.

Connect with me in my favourite places, LinkedIn and Instagram and my website is: https://www.cynthiajamiesoncoach.ca/

Make it a great week!
Cynthia Jamieson 🧡🌱

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Please rate and review with your honest opinion. Subscribe and share with your colleagues especially if you have worked with me and found value in the work we’ve done together.

Connect with me in my favourite places, LinkedIn and Instagram and my website is: https://www.cynthiajamiesoncoach.ca/

Make it a great week!
Cynthia Jamieson 🧡🌱

Previous Episode

E145: Emotional Intelligence and Intuition: The Hidden Leadership Superpowers

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Have you ever wondered why some professionals skyrocket to leadership positions while others—just as smart and capable—seem to hit an invisible ceiling? The answer isn't found in technical expertise or hours logged, but in something far more fundamental: emotional intelligence and intuition.
Drawing from decades of experience both as an HR professional making critical hiring and promotion decisions and now as a leadership coach, I reveal why these two undervalued skills are actually the definitive factors in career advancement. This isn't about being "nice"—it's about developing the emotional agility to navigate high-stakes situations with clarity and purpose when everything is spinning.
I break down emotional intelligence into its essential components—self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and relationship management—and explain how each directly impacts your leadership effectiveness. You'll discover why intuition isn't "woo" but embodied wisdom that helps you recognize patterns your conscious mind hasn't fully processed yet. Through real-world examples, I illustrate how ignoring these internal signals leads to costly missteps that could have been avoided.
Whether you're a high achiever hitting unexpected roadblocks, a new leader finding your footing, or someone ready to elevate your impact, this episode offers practical strategies to develop these career-defining capabilities. The world desperately needs leaders who can show up with both clarity and compassion—who don't just get things done but bring people along with them. Ready to become that leader? This conversation is your starting point.
Subscribe and join the journey back to authentic leadership at cynthiajamesoncoach.ca, where you can also claim your copy of "Your Inner Compass: A Guide to Charting Your Course to Authenticity."

Please rate and review with your honest opinion. Subscribe and share with your colleagues especially if you have worked with me and found value in the work we’ve done together.

Connect with me in my favourite places, LinkedIn and Instagram and my website is: https://www.cynthiajamiesoncoach.ca/

Make it a great week!
Cynthia Jamieson 🧡🌱

Next Episode

E147: Breaking Free: The Saturn Return Journey

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Have you been dragging an invisible suitcase behind you—packed with other people's expectations, outdated rules, and the constant pressure to hold it together? Today's episode invites you to set that heavy burden down.
Amidst my second Saturn return—that cosmic checkpoint around age 58 asking "Is this still working for you?"—I'm sharing the profound shift from leading through grit and logic to embracing intuition and self-compassion. This isn't just my journey; it's a collective awakening happening right now among leaders everywhere.
We explore the metaphorical "inner boardroom" where saboteurs (those internalized voices of fear and protection) sit at the table, thinking they're keeping you safe when they're actually keeping you small. Through frameworks like Positive Intelligence, Dr. Kristen Neff's work on fierce self-compassion, and the blueprint revelations of Human Design, you'll discover practical tools to distinguish between what's truly yours and what you've inherited.
The striving, people-pleasing, and perfectionism? Those were hand-me-downs. The emotional armor? You don't need it anymore. What if there's a more aligned way to lead—from your authentic center rather than external validation?
Whether you're navigating your own Saturn return or simply feeling that pull toward greater authenticity, this episode offers a compass for the journey. It's time to stop performing and start being—to lead not from fear but from love. You aren't lost; you're coming home.
Ready to unpack your own suitcase? Subscribe to this podcast and visit cynthiajamesoncoach.ca to claim your copy of the Inner Compass guide and join our community of leaders choosing authenticity over armor.

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Please rate and review with your honest opinion. Subscribe and share with your colleagues especially if you have worked with me and found value in the work we’ve done together.

Connect with me in my favourite places, LinkedIn and Instagram and my website is: https://www.cynthiajamiesoncoach.ca/

Make it a great week!
Cynthia Jamieson 🧡🌱

Uncharted & Unfiltered: The Journey Back to You - E146: From “Kill It” to Cultivate It: A New Leadership Lens

Transcript

Cynthia00:00:05.967

Welcome to Unchartered and Unfiltered the journey back to you . I am Cynthia Jameson , your host , and this is where we break free from the noise and dive deep into what truly matters you . If you're tired of the shoulds , the expectations and the pressures to fit into a mold that doesn't serve you , you're in the right place .

Cynthia00:00:30.719

This isn'