Do We Really Have To Talk About Feelings At Work? With Kate Woodsome

What if the very habits that made you successful are now making it harder to lead? For high achievers, overworking, perfectionism, and micromanaging can feel like the keys to success, but they can also be deeply ingrained responses to stress and uncertainty. In this episode, I sit down with Kate Woodsome, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and certified Resilience Toolkit facilitator, to talk about how stress and trauma influence the way you work, lead, and respond under pressure. Kate shares how years of reporting under intense pressure eventually pushed her beyond her capacity, why your nervous systems are constantly scanning for safety and danger, and how to recognize the patterns that may be undermining your well-being. Tune in to better understand your stress responses, recognize what your nervous system may be trying to protect you from, and healthier ways of working and leading. Check out our sponsors: Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend. Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why conversations about mental health at work don't feel safe to everyone. 03:45 How your nervous system influences your leadership, decisions, and reactions to stress. 07:30 What’s the difference between everyday stress and trauma? 10:00 What happens when prolonged stress overwhelms your capacity to recover. 15:45 Kate's experience covering January 6 and the breaking point that followed. 18:00 How to recognize the signs of burnout before you reach a breaking point. 21:00 Recognizing the ways stress and trauma show up in everyday behavior. 25:45 What happens when achievement no longer makes you feel safe? 29:30 How shame prevents leaders from recognizing harmful patterns. 32:30 Ways to recognize and regulate stress before reacting. 35:15 How to identify your personal workplace stress triggers. 37:15 Why people need to be ready before they can make meaningful changes. 42:00 What leaders need to understand about stress in today's workplace. 46:00 How awareness, agency, and action help leaders build healthier workplaces. 49:45 How clarity, choice, and understanding work styles can help teams feel safer. 52:45 What does it take to lead with compassion and curiosity in a stressful world? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Kate on LinkedIn: @katewoodsome