Welcome to my Insider Notes where I'm sharing weekly career and leadership insights and the most up to date information on the Your Next Move Podcast and Brown Leadership™.
Are you coaching yourself or betraying yourself?
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Hey Reader, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.” ~ Alice Walker Every day, we make a crucial choice that shapes our entire existence. It's not a choice about career, relationships, or location. It's far more fundamental: Do we betray ourselves, or do we coach ourselves? Each time we betray ourselves, we reinforce Alice Walker's observation. We convince ourselves that we're powerless, that external forces control our destiny, that we're victims of circumstance rather than the architects of our own lives. The most insidious part? Self-betrayal disguises itself as virtue. We call it "being flexible," "keeping the peace," or "being realistic." But underneath, we're teaching ourselves that our needs don't matter. So what's the alternative? SELF-COACHING (the radical act of reclaiming your power). It's the practice of turning reflection into action by creating simple, practical steps that help you break old cycles and build momentum. Self-coaching demands something different. It requires asking yourself the hard questions:
Recently, I stood before a room full of leaders and spoke about this concept. These weren't people unfamiliar with pressure, decision-making, or responsibility. Yet when we dove into the topic of self-betrayal versus self-coaching, the room shifted. Because here's what I've learned: The higher you climb in leadership, the easier it becomes to betray yourself in the name of serving others. If you're interested in learning more about the C-Method Framework I shared with my client to help you start self-coaching – tune into episode 97 of the Your Next Move Podcast. Until next time, — Kimberly PS: I've silently released a new, 1:1 coaching offer that I'm really excited about called The Career Audit. It's designed to help mid to senior-level professionals get clear on where they stand — and what to do next. You’ll complete a comprehensive assessment, receive feedback from trusted peers, and get a personalized roadmap with targeted recommendations to increase your visibility, raise your earning potential, and close leadership gaps. |
Kimberly Brown, @kimberlybonline
Welcome to my Insider Notes where I'm sharing weekly career and leadership insights and the most up to date information on the Your Next Move Podcast and Brown Leadership™.
Reader, I recorded a podcast episode this week with handwritten notes and a nervous stomach. [Click here for the links to listen to episode 139] And right before I hit record, I turned the camera on, looked at myself, and thought, "Ooh girl, you ain't put no makeup on. Go put some concealer on." Some people would have just recorded. See me in the raw, take it or leave it. That's not me. I got up, put a little something on, made sure my skin looked how I wanted it to look, and then sat back...
Reader, Let me guess: you've sat through at least one virtual presentation where the speaker was framed like they were in witness protection. Camera pointing up their nose. Terrible lighting. Background that looked like a crime scene. You could barely see their face, let alone connect with what they were saying. And here's what kills me: that speaker probably had brilliant content. They might have spent hours preparing. But because they treated the technical setup as an afterthought, their...
Reader, I need to tell you something that might surprise you. When I first started developing my public speaking skills over a decade ago, I thought the benefit would be simple: I'd be less nervous when presenting. Maybe I'd sound more confident in meetings. That's it. That was the extent of my expectations. But what actually happened? The ripple effects went so far beyond what I imagined. I'm talking about: Getting pulled aside by a provost who said "you sound like a leader" when I wasn't...