In this episode of the Strategic Leader podcast, hosts Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig explore the topic of people pleasing, discussing its implications for leadership and personal well-being. They explore how the desire to be helpful and liked can often lead to prioritising others' needs at the expense of our own, ultimately hindering strategic leadership capabilities.

Fiona highlights the importance of recognising when people pleasing goes too far, affecting not only the individual but also stakeholders and overall business strategy. They discuss the significance of setting boundaries and balancing personal and professional needs through assertiveness rather than passivity or aggression.

Gemma shares personal experiences of overcoming the discomfort of saying no and emphasises the value of assertive communication.

They also discuss practical tools for maintaining boundaries, such as the "red line question" to identify non-negotiable limits and the importance of considering the hidden costs of saying yes.

Key Points Discussed:

- Definition and impact of people pleasing in leadership roles.

- Balancing assertiveness and strategic leadership.

- Personal experiences with people pleasing and setting boundaries.

- Practical tools for maintaining assertiveness.

- The importance of recognising and managing discomfort.

- The systemic impact of people pleasing on business strategy.

- The concept of "red line questions" to identify non-negotiable limits.

- The hidden costs of saying yes.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of The Strategic Leader podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please give us 5 stars! It will help others to find the show. And don't forget to check out previous episodes, and subscribe for more insightful discussions and practical advice on becoming a more naturally strategic leader.

If you have questions about anything we've been talking about, or need guidance on strategic leadership, we'd love to hear from you.

Feel free to contact us via www.gemmabullivant.co.uk (Gemma) or www.wearegoodthinking.co.uk (Fiona). Your queries could inspire future episodes to help you become a more strategic leader.

2.04 How to Stop Being a People Pleaser 29:02 Share

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2.04 How to Stop Being a People Pleaser