Drama Free Teams | Trauma-Informed Leadership for High-Performing Teams
Annie Campanile, PhD
29 episodes
1 week ago
Many women leaders want to show up authentically at work—honest, open, and confident—but it doesn’t always feel safe to do that. You’ve been told to “be yourself,” but also to “be strong,” “be professional,” and “don’t be too emotional.” It’s confusing. How can you be both a compassionate leader and a strong leader without being misunderstood? In this episode, I unpack what happens when authenticity backfires, why strong communicators sometimes get labeled as intimidating, and how to tell the...
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Many women leaders want to show up authentically at work—honest, open, and confident—but it doesn’t always feel safe to do that. You’ve been told to “be yourself,” but also to “be strong,” “be professional,” and “don’t be too emotional.” It’s confusing. How can you be both a compassionate leader and a strong leader without being misunderstood? In this episode, I unpack what happens when authenticity backfires, why strong communicators sometimes get labeled as intimidating, and how to tell the...
Many women leaders want to show up authentically at work—honest, open, and confident—but it doesn’t always feel safe to do that. You’ve been told to “be yourself,” but also to “be strong,” “be professional,” and “don’t be too emotional.” It’s confusing. How can you be both a compassionate leader and a strong leader without being misunderstood? In this episode, I unpack what happens when authenticity backfires, why strong communicators sometimes get labeled as intimidating, and how to tell the...
“Hit the ground running” sounds like smart advice — until it makes you stumble. The drive to prove yourself can backfire, especially when you’re inheriting someone else’s team or stepping into unresolved tension. That urgency to show results can undermine your credibility before you even realize it. In this episode, I’ll show you three hidden traps new leaders fall into — like enforcing accountability before you’ve observed behavior yourself, skipping your own skill-building, and taking respo...
You’re ready to promote a strong performer into leadership—but how do you know if they’re really prepared to lead their peers? In this episode, I share an unusual interview technique that goes beyond resumes and past performance to reveal how each candidate will actually show up as a leader in front of their former coworkers. You’ll hear how one manager used this exact process to choose the right supervisor for a struggling team and why skipping this step can lead to resistance, resentment, a...
You get praised for your work. You show up for your team. You go the extra mile. So why does it still feel like… it’s never enough? That’s the question "Pamela," a high-performing senior leader, brought to our coaching session. Her team was thriving, her project had just earned company-wide praise… and yet she felt deflated. Doubtful. Disconnected from any real sense of accomplishment. If you’ve ever found yourself downplaying your success, brushing off compliments, or pushing harder when you...
Trying to support your team without burning out? You might be missing one key trauma-informed leadership skill. You care about your people. You want them to feel safe coming to you with their concerns. But every time someone shares their stress, anger, or worry with you, you walk away feeling drained — and take their stress home with you. It feels like you have to choose: Be a compassionate leader OR Protect your energy. That’s exactly the dilemma "Stephanie," a dedicated healthcare leader, f...
You may have noticed the podcast has a new name. But why? After three months of publishing weekly episodes, I received something unexpected—messages from leaders saying they loved the show, but didn’t feel comfortable sharing it because the word trauma in the title felt too intense for the workplace. Even though, as a trauma-informed leadership coach, I stand by the importance of trauma-informed tools in leadership, I also believe this podcast should feel like a safe space for anyone who want...
Are you constantly absorbing your team’s stress, replaying difficult conversations in your head, or holding back in meetings just to keep the peace? If this sounds like you, you might be carrying the invisible weight of drama at work, and this podcast is for you. Hi, I’m Dr. Annie Campanile, trauma-informed executive coach and former healthcare director. On Drama Free Teams, we go deeper than communication tips. We unpack the invisible dynamics that create drama at work and give you psycholog...
Do you ever try so hard to get it right - only to feel like it’s never enough? Do you look outside yourself for answers, believing that others know better than you - even though you’re smart and capable? In this deeply personal episode of Heal Your Trauma, Find Your Voice, trauma-informed executive coach Dr. Annie Campanile shares the story of an emotional breakdown that became a professional breakthrough. What started as a moment of overwhelm while folding laundry became a wake-up call...
You told yourself you’d stop checking email after dinner…But somehow, it’s 11pm again, and your laptop is still open. If you’re a high-achieving leader who wants to set healthy boundaries at work, but you keep getting pulled back in out of fear you’ll drop the ball, this episode is for you. We’re talking about what’s really behind the late-night work cycle, and why most leadership advice about work/life balance completely misses the mark. You’ll hear the story of an executive coaching client ...
You’re spending more time mediating team drama than leading your team—and it’s exhausting. One person is constantly checking up on their coworkers, calling out unfinished tasks, and stressing over work that’s not even theirs. Meanwhile, the rest of your team is walking on eggshells to avoid the next emotional outburst. If you’ve ever had a team member who means well but ends up creating tension, today’s episode is for you. I’m diving into what’s really behind this behavior (hint: it’s not jus...
Have you ever had a team member suddenly go silent... stop replying to your messages... or even quit without warning? In high-performing teams, breakdowns in communication can happen fast—and when they do, it’s tempting to either ignore it or push for answers. But what if the silence isn’t defiance... but a sign of Cactus Trust—a trauma-informed response that shuts others out to feel safe? In this episode, I’m kicking off a powerful 3-part series on boundaries in professional relationships, s...
Ever wonder, "How much longer can I keep giving like this before I burn out?" If you're a high-achieving leader in healthcare or another high-pressure space, this episode is your breath of fresh air. This week on the show, trauma-informed executive coach Dr. Annie Campanile shares a surprising, fun story about a silent moment of human connection—and how it unlocked a healing practice she now teaches to leaders across the country. 🌞 You’ll discover: Why high performers often feel the most disc...
Feel like you're constantly bracing for conflict at work? This episode reveals a simple nervous system reset to help you stay grounded, speak clearly, and break free from the fight response—before it damages your relationships or your career. Have you ever walked into work already bracing for a fight? Maybe your jaw clenches before anyone even says a word. Maybe you anticipate conversations, imagining how you’ll defend yourself. Here’s what most people don’t realize: that “on edge” feeling m...
Is your work ethic secretly working against you? When you're the person everyone relies on, it can feel impossible to say No — especially when it feels like your career, reputation, or relationships are on the line. You take pride in being dependable and driven. But when that strength turns into an unspoken agreement to always do more, it can leave you overworked, under-appreciated, and resentful. If you're tired of feeling stretched too thin — and ready to stop being the "go-to" person for ...
Imposter syndrome doesn’t always show up as "I'm a fraud!" — sometimes it’s the quiet voice that wonders, “Do I actually know what I’m doing?” In this episode, we’re unpacking the hidden ways imposter syndrome lingers, even in people with years of experience and real results behind them. Whether you’re starting something new, stepping into leadership, or simply trying to trust yourself more deeply, this is the episode that will help you breathe easier, speak up, and move forward with co...
✨ Are your work thoughts still buzzing long after you've “clocked out”? You close your laptop, but your mind’s still spinning. You try to relax, but you're stuck rehashing that email, that meeting, or that moment you wish you’d handled differently. In this episode, I dive into a struggle so many of us face: being “off the clock” but mentally still at work. If your evenings are filled with racing thoughts, anxiety, or rehashing everything that happened (or might happen), this one’s for you. 💡 ...
You know that moment—when your body tenses up before a hard conversation, and suddenly the words don’t come out right... or don’t come out at all? In this episode, I’m sharing a simple, powerful technique to overcome that. It's called the 90-Second Reset—and you’ll hear from my client Ally, a nurse practitioner who used it to shift her relationships at work from conflict and tension to confident, clear connection. We're busting the biggest misconception about effective communication, and show...
Giving difficult feedback—whether at work or at home—can feel like emotional Jenga: one wrong move and the whole relationship could collapse. But I promise it doesn't have to be that dramatic! In this episode, I share my powerful, trauma-informed Empowered Feedback Method, which helps you give feedback in a way that honors your truth and also the relationship, whether it's with a colleague, a customer, a partner, or a close friend. By the end of this episode, you’ll learn: How to delive...
Ever find yourself making snap decisions under pressure, only to regret them later? What if the very speed you pride yourself on is actually sabotaging your success—damaging trust, creating costly mistakes, and leaving you burned out and anxious? In this episode, I share a simple yet life-changing practice to help you break the cycle of fear-based decision-making and start choosing with confidence, clarity, and ease. You'll Discover: ✅ The hidden ways trauma hijacks your decision-making (and ...
Have you ever felt unsafe or on edge in a relationship — even when you're with someone who truly loves you? For trauma survivors, trust doesn’t always come naturally. Your nervous system stays stuck in survival mode, bracing for rejection, criticism, or abandonment — even in safe relationships. In this episode, I sit down with my husband, Christopher Campanile, for a real, vulnerable conversation about why trauma makes it hard to trust… and how we slowly rewired our relationship for safety, c...
Drama Free Teams | Trauma-Informed Leadership for High-Performing Teams
Many women leaders want to show up authentically at work—honest, open, and confident—but it doesn’t always feel safe to do that. You’ve been told to “be yourself,” but also to “be strong,” “be professional,” and “don’t be too emotional.” It’s confusing. How can you be both a compassionate leader and a strong leader without being misunderstood? In this episode, I unpack what happens when authenticity backfires, why strong communicators sometimes get labeled as intimidating, and how to tell the...
