Think people-pleasing is just “being nice”? Think again. In this episode of Upleveling Work, Michelle Kay Anderson breaks down five myths that keep managers (especially women and marginalized leaders) locked in overwork, burnout, and approval-chasing. Learn how to spot the patterns, set micro-boundaries, and lead with integrity instead of fear.
uplevelingwork.com/21
When you feel stuck, it’s rarely about indecision—it’s about clarity.
Michelle Kay Anderson reframes hesitation, walks you through a 5‑step decision framework, and shares a personal buying-a-house story that uncovers how we lose joy in fear. Plus, Enneagram lessons for leaders. Listen in and turn uncertainty into aligned action.
Show notes at uplevelingwork.com/20
Ever feel stuck in overthinking, people-pleasing, or burnout? You might be living from just one part of yourself. In this episode, Michelle Kay Anderson explores the Enneagram’s three centers of intelligence—Body, Heart, and Head—and how rebalancing them unlocks clarity, confidence, and real executive presence. Learn how to move from reactivity to resonance, and lead from your whole self.
🎁 Grab the free “Three Center Check-In” download in the show notes at uplevelingwork.com/19
Feeling stretched thin? In this episode of Upleveling Work, Michelle explores how to grow your emotional, mental, and physical capacity—without burning out. Learn practical tools to lead with clarity, reclaim your energy, and build a life that reflects your deepest values. Capacity isn’t about doing more. It’s about holding more, with care.
Burnout isn’t just about overwork—it’s a systemic issue deeply rooted in hustle culture, perfectionism, and mission-driven environments. This episode offers a powerful reframe: rest is resistance.
What you’ll learn:
The hidden cost of “proving” your worth through productivity
How your Enneagram type reveals your burnout pattern
Why rest isn’t lazy—it’s revolutionary
A 5-step invitation to shift from depletion to presence
This episode is for you if:
You’re tired of self-care checklists that don’t work
You work in a nonprofit or purpose-driven org
You’re ready to reclaim your energy and purpose
📥 Bonus: Download the Burnout Pattern cheat sheet in the shownotes: uplevelingwork.com/17
🔗 Book a consult with Michelle or bring her to your team: uplevelingwork.com
If you’ve ever felt like you had to prove your worth, play a part, or shrink yourself to succeed—this episode is for you.
In the final episode of our imposter syndrome mini-series, we’re talking about what it means to rewrite your internal narrative and why that kind of mindset work is far more than personal development. It’s a political act. Because the stories you’ve inherited—about who you’re allowed to be and how you’re supposed to lead—were shaped by systems that don’t serve you.
We explore how coaching can become a powerful, subversive tool to help you unlearn, reclaim, and show up on purpose.
You’ll learn:
Why your “personality” might actually be an old survival strategy
How mindset work can free up energy and agency
What reauthoring your leadership story actually looks like
Plus, an invitation to go deeper in a free live webinar on Imposter Syndrome next week or book a discovery call to explore coaching together.
🔗 https://uplevelingwork.com/16
Why does visibility feel so risky — even when you’re ready?
In Episode 15 of Upleveling Work, Michelle explores the internalized roles that keep high-achieving women and marginalized leaders playing small. From The Good Girl to The Invisible Worker, we unpack the survival strategies you didn’t choose — but may still be running on autopilot.
You’ll learn how to:
🎙️ Part 2 of 3 in our imposter syndrome deep dive
📆 Register for the free webinar → michellekayanderson.com/webinar
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You’re not an imposter — you’ve been conditioned to doubt yourself.
In this episode of Upleveling Work, Michelle Kay Anderson breaks down the truth behind imposter syndrome and why it’s not a personal flaw, but a systemic issue. You’ll learn how gendered social conditioning, cultural gaslighting, and structural inequity shape our self-perception — and how to start reclaiming your confidence with context, not shame.
🎧 Part 1 of a 3-part series reframing “imposter syndrome”
🌱 Register for the free webinar: michellekayanderson.com/webinar
We break down why true leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers — it’s about sensing, adjusting, and staying clear on your deeper purpose when everything around you is shifting.
Why it matters:
In a complex, brittle world, leaders who cling to certainty get stuck. Leaders who prioritize clarity — and stay flexible — create resilience, innovation, and trust.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Resources mentioned:
✨ Clarity is your compass. Certainty is a mirage. Learn how to lead with steady vision, even when the next steps aren’t clear.
🔗 Transcript and show notes: https://uplevelingwork.com/13
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Ever feel stuck, foggy, or on the edge of burnout—and wonder if something’s wrong with you? This episode unpacks what overwhelm and confusion are really signaling, how to respond with clarity and self-leadership, and why these emotions may actually mean you’re growing.
In this episode of Upleveling Work, Michelle breaks down the brain’s protective patterns around stress and uncertainty—and how to work with them instead of getting stuck. You’ll learn:
Whether you’re holding the pressure of leadership, navigating personal change, or simply trying to stay human in a high-stakes season—this episode will help you move through hard moments with more grace, perspective, and capacity.
🔗 https://uplevelingwork.com/12
📲 Connect with Michelle:
You’ve probably written goals or resolutions before. Maybe even a mission statement at work. But when was the last time you crafted a personal vision that actually felt aligned, energizing, and alive?
In this episode, Michelle helps you reimagine what a fulfilling, rich life looks like—not based on external expectations, but on what matters most to you.
You’ll learn:
🎁 Don’t miss the free Big Juicy Vision Starter Kit mentioned in the episode. Download it here: uplevelingwork.com/11
You don’t get what you want just by setting a goal—you get what you’re willing to grow into. In this episode, we break down the real (and often messy) process of personal transformation, with four steps to build the inner capacity to hold the life and leadership you’re reaching for.
You’ll learn:
Why goals don’t work without capacity
How to stop defaulting to burnout, self-doubt, and over-functioning
The 4 steps to becoming the person your next level needs
🔑 The 4 steps:
Know What You Want – Define success on your terms
Know Yourself – Spot patterns that hold you back
Disrupt Your Patterns – Practice conscious response over reactivity
Stay With It – Build endurance for long-haul growth
In this episode, we delve into Jeanna's journey through a major job transition. From initial frustrations and uncertainties to newfound confidence, Jeanna shared her experiences navigating the challenging job search process and overcoming emotional hurdles.
This exploration of Jeanna's six-month evolution was captured through Marco Polo clips, offering you an intimate glimpse into her mindset as she prepared to leave her previous job. As she faced challenges, Jeanna grappled with questions of worthiness and inherent value (a struggle familiar to many job seekers). We discuss the importance of reframing thoughts, externalizing feelings, and building awareness to navigate the complexities of job transitions successfully. Additionally, Jeanna shared how a crisis in her personal life added layers to her decision-making process, highlighting the interplay between the personal and the professional.
Through engaging conversations, practical advice, and candid reflections, this episode provides valuable insights for those navigating job transitions, showcasing the resilience and growth that can emerge. Join us as we continue Jeanna's story, offering inspiration and guidance for listeners navigating their career journeys.
Episode Contents:
[00:01:38] Reflections on Jeanna's evolution from insecure/afraid to dreaming bigger and confidently interviewing
[00:08:20] Marco Polo Clips over 6-months as she gets ready to look for a job
[00:12:55] Assumed Worthiness
[00:16:17] Energy changes as you work somewhere over time
[00:19:44] In the background: personal life in crisis
[00:24:23] Marco Polo Clip: Turning around the last few days of work
[00:37:02] Time management and prioritization
[00:40:38] When your heart is not in alignment
[00:48:20] Why it is common for women to default to overworking
[00:49:42] Starting to dream bigger
[00:57:20] Energetic upleveling
[01:01:38] Marco Polo pep talk in preparing for interviews
[01:09:37] Conclusion
🔗 This episode is packed with tools and resources to help you uplevel work. You'll find everything mentioned in the complete show notes at https://uplevelingwork.com/9
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In this episode, Michelle interviews her sister Jeanna and they delve into the profound impact of coaching on Jeanna's life, particularly in addressing the emotion of dread and transforming it into a tool for empowerment.
The conversation emphasizes the idea that dread is not merely an emotion but a thought process, providing a crucial clue to the underlying stories or tapes that drive such feelings. Through coaching, Jeanna learns to identify and shift these narratives, leading to a more empowered and positive mindset.
The discussion expands to reflect on coaching dynamics, with Michelle highlighting the importance of consensual, adult-to-adult relationships in coaching, challenging traditional hierarchical models.
Key Ideas Discussed:
The conversation provides valuable insights into the nuanced and transformative nature of coaching, offering a glimpse into Jeanna's personal journey and the broader implications for redefining coaching relationships.
🔗 This episode is packed with tools and resources to help you uplevel work. You'll find everything mentioned in the complete show notes at https://uplevelingwork.com/8
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In this episode, I continue our exploration of four ways to use the Enneagram at work to build trust within your team. We cover how to build stronger relationships to reduce friction and inefficiencies and how to be more effective communicators.
I show how the Enneagram can nurture containers for growth that improve understanding, reduce conflict, and build relationships. Understanding the unconscious behaviors, thoughts, and patterns we have towards work, can help you be more empathic or compassionate and understanding towards each other. And that is what ultimately improves team performance.
🔗 This episode is packed with tools and resources to help you uplevel work. You'll find everything mentioned in the complete show notes at https://uplevelingwork.com/7
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Have you ever wondered if an issue you were facing at work was related to the task or perhaps to personality styles? Do you long to feel more confident in your ability to be a great leader? What if I could share data that could give you x-ray vision into your team dynamics?
In this episode, I share two ways that I use the Enneagram personality system to help teams reach their full potential. We cover how the Enneagram can help with leadership development, how to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your team.
(The two ways I use the Enneagram to help teams communicate better are explored in Part 2 next week.)
🔗 This episode is packed with tools and resources to help you uplevel work. You'll find everything mentioned in the complete show notes at https://uplevelingwork.com/6
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Have you ever wondered if an issue you were facing at work was related to the task or could be related to personality styles? Do you long to feel more confident in your ability to be a great leader? What if I could share data that could give you x-ray vision into your team dynamics?
In this episode, I share why I use the Enneagram personality system to help teams reach their full potential.
Episode Contents:
[00:04:38] What the Enneagram is great at
[00:05:48] The business case for working with the Enneagram
[00:06:48] The Enneagram helps you see your default mode
[00:09:42] The Enneagram helps us understand each other
[00:11:09] The ripple effect of working with the Enneagram
[00:13:54] The Enneagram can help teams work together more effectively
[00:16:08] Companies use the Enneagram for organizational development and to support diversity and inclusion efforts
[00:16:31] Coming up next
🔗 This episode is packed with tools and resources to help you uplevel work. You'll find everything mentioned in the complete show notes at https://uplevelingwork.com/5
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This unscripted episode is a raw reflection on why I use the Enneagram personality system as a coach. Learn a more about me, my personality style, and the work that I'm personally doing with the system. I even share my hesitation with using personality tests at work and self-coaching I'm working on.
It is not an exaggeration to say that my life changed when I found the Enneagram and started using it for my own personal development 15 years ago. It helped me to come home to who I am and more clearly see the ways that I was conditioned as a woman in leadership growing up in an evangelical environment.
🔗 You'll find everything mentioned in the complete show notes at https://uplevelingwork.com/4
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Ever found yourself questioning if the old-school 'boss knows best' leadership is still cutting it in our evolving work landscape? Well, grab your headphones because on this episode, I’m diving into the future of leadership, pitting the traditional hierarchy against the cool kids on the block - the inclusive and systems-oriented leaders. I'll also share the three must-have superpowers of future leaders, and of course, share some tips on how you can unleash these powers within your team.
Are you ready to shape the future of leadership?
Episode contents:
[0:00] Introduction and overview
[01:28] Outdated styles of leadership
[04:46] The problem with continuing to use this style of leadership
[o5:53] A better way of leading
[07:24] 3 key capabilities of leaders of the future
[07:44] Capability #1: Seeing the larger system
[[12:18} Cability #2: Creating containers for growth
[15:51] Capability #3: Shifting the collective focus
[18:47] I’m fired up about this!
🔗 This episode is packed with tools and resources to help you uplevel work. You'll find everything mentioned in the complete show notes at https://uplevelingwork.com/3
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Did you know that every team evolves to high performance through a predictable set of stages? Knowing what to expect at each of the stages can help reduce overwhelm and frustration on your team. And it can help you pinpoint interventions that are most likely to help get you unstuck and back on track.
In this episode, I share Bruce Tuckman's stages of group development and describe how each stages looks for teams. I also identify the task, process, and relationship challenges in each stage and offer tips on how to accelerate through the stages to get to high performance faster.
🔗 This episode is packed with resources to help you understand the 5 stages of development, including a free PDF download you can use as a resource. You'll find everything mentioned in the complete shownotes at uplevelingwork.com/2
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