Great Leaders Have Anxiety– And They Know How To Manage It

The Anxious Achiever

Oct 02, 2025•56 min•Ep. 258

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Episode description

Anxiety isn’t a flaw you have to hide or a weakness you need to fix, it’s information you can use. In this special cross-post from The Next Big Idea podcast, I sit down with host Rufus Griscom to talk about what 17 years of research, leadership interviews, and lived experience have taught me about navigating anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence. I share how reframing anxiety as data can help you show up with courage, why over-functioning often comes from childhood systems, and the surprising science linking mental health challenges with leadership excellence. Plus, I also share tools to work with self-criticism, break free from procrastination, and even “bank joy” so you have reserves to call on when life feels heavy. Get ready to turn your anxious brain into an ally instead of an enemy.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why anxiety is a data not an excuse.

05:30 How common anxiety and depression really are in leaders.

09:15 Family systems theory and the roots of over-functioning.

16:45 What is the Yerkes-Dodson curve?

20:45 Ways to manage anxiety.

22:30 How to stop cruel self-talk with tools like self-compassion.

27:45 How do you sustain focus when a project is no longer exciting?

34:00 What can companies do to better support neurodiverse employees?

36:15 Grounding techniques to reset anxiety at work.

41:00 Visualization practices to comfort your inner child.

46:00 The ‘banana trick’ from ACT therapy to stop catastrophic thoughts.

Resources + Links

Listen to The Next Big Idea Podcast HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever