EP143: Knowing When Something's Off - Listening to Your Inner Leadership Signals
WE HAVE A BUILT IN ALARM SYSTEM
Do you pay attention to yours?
Enjoy!
Listen Here:
(The notes below are only a brief bullet point summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email request to: angie@angie-robinson.com. We’d be happy to provide that!)
We’ve all had that feeling—something seems off - and it shows up as stress, overwhelm, confusion, etc. Maybe it’s a subtle tension, an inexplicable unease, or just a sense that something isn’t right. Whether in leadership or in your personal life, these moments are our inner signals trying to tell us something important. But the real question is: are we listening?
The Small Signals that Speak Volumes
Our body sends us signals, both big and small. Maybe you feel more drained than usual after meetings, or a nagging thought keeps popping up about a decision you’re about to make. It could even be something physical, like tension in your shoulders or a knot in your stomach. These cues often go unnoticed or ignored as we push through daily demands, but paying attention to them early can help you act before things spiral out of control.
In leadership, these signs might show up as gut feelings during a meeting or unease when working on a project. Ignoring these can lead to decisions that don’t align with your values or cause unnecessary stress down the line. The key is to recognize these inner warning signals before they turn into bigger problems.
Recently, I had an experience that brought this point home in a very tangible way. It wasn’t at work or in a leadership role, but with my car. I got two different warning lights - - one was that the battery in my key fob was low. The other was that my coolant was low. I appreciate getting the heads up - but I also found myself thinking “I’ll get to it later - it’s probably not a big deal. I have other things to worry about.” But - I realized that if left unattended, either of these things could escalate into a serious and costly repair—or worse, a safety issue.
This experience is a perfect metaphor for leadership and life. We all get our own ‘warning lights’ that show up that are often easy to dismiss. But when we pay attention, we can take action before things go off track.
Common Internal and External Signals
Everyone’s signals are going to be different. Even our personality styles can contribute to how we know when something is off. Here are some common signals that might resonate with you:
Physical Tension: Our body holds the biggest signals - we have a physical sensation. Example are tight shoulders or chest, headaches, or stomach issues.
Restlessness or Fatigue: Feeling tired but unable to relax, or constantly feeling like you’re not doing enough.
Procrastination or Avoidance: Delaying things like certain tasks, important decisions or avoiding difficult conversations.
Mental Fog: Difficulty focusing, making decisions, or feeling overwhelmed by information or tasks.
Self-Doubt: Feeling like you're second-guessing yourself or questioning your abilities more than usual.
Increased Irritability or Short Temper: Becoming more easily frustrated with people or situations.
Changes in Communication Style: Speaking too quickly or too slowly, avoiding eye contact, or withdrawing from interactions.
Decreased Productivity: Slower progress on tasks or missing deadlines, despite putting in the same or more effort.
Body Language: Crossing arms, fidgeting, or a closed-off posture during meetings.
Overcompensating: Over-communicating, overworking, micromanaging, or trying to control every detail as a way to manage uncertainty or nerves.
Questions to Ask to Help Understand Your Signals
You are the best person to articulate your own warning signals. Although we have all kinds of feelings or experiences that come up, think about your most common. Is it stress? Is it overwhelm? Is it self-doubt? Then, ask yourself these questions:
Using what you know about yourself, including your preferences, ask yourself:
Which 5 things are draining you/causing you stress/overwhelm/(insert your emotion) most often?
What do you feel physically (in your body)?
What do others see?
How does this show up in your behaviors?
Leadership Starts from Within
In leadership, trusting your inner signals is just as important as driving external results. Your own mental and physical health matters so much.
The next time something feels “off,” don’t brush it aside. Listen to your body, your intuition, and those subtle cues. Just like with my car, paying attention early can save you from larger issues later, whether it’s in your personal life or your leadership journey.
What Do You Think?
Are you in tune to your own warning signals? How can you be both proactive and reactive in order to minimize ‘damage’?
Head over to my Instagram account and send me a DM - - let me know what you come up with!
Links
Please leave a review in Apple Podcasts + share with a friend
It will help others find the podcast - the more leaders we can impact - the better our workplaces and lives will be!
Schedule a FREE Discovery Call
Click here to schedule some time - let’s talk about how we can work together through one-on-one coaching, Insights Discovery workshops or other leadership development work!