536: Navigating Leadership Shock with Pete Steinberg

What if the key to thriving in leadership isn’t doing more—but leading with greater intention and authenticity?

In this compelling episode, Nicole Jansen sits down with executive coach and former USA Women’s Rugby head coach Pete Steinberg, author of Leadership Shock: Using Authenticity to Navigate the Hidden Dangers of Career Success. Drawing on decades of elite coaching and executive leadership, Pete introduces the concept of “leadership shock”—those jarring moments when once-successful strategies suddenly fail you.

Pete unpacks the turning points he’s witnessed and lived through—revealing why even high achievers get blindsided in new roles, shifting markets, or during organizational upheaval. Through powerful stories and his step-by-step Authentic Leadership Model, he offers a practical guide to moving from reactionary survival mode to resilient, purposeful leadership. Whether you’re running a company, launching a startup, or navigating a career pivot, this episode provides a proven path to reclaim clarity, energy, and focus.

What We Discuss in This Episode

• What is “leadership shock”? Why even top performers struggle when entering new leadership seasons.
• Moving from autopilot to intention. How to make your leadership conscious, consistent, and effective.
• The Authentic Leadership Model. A roadmap to reset, realign, and lead with purpose and clarity.
• When your strengths stop serving you. Why past success can’t always be relied on—and how to adapt.
• Context is everything. How to reassess your purpose, strengths, beliefs, and current environment.
•   Facing the inner work. Why leaders avoid self-reflection—and how to embrace it for long-term growth.
•   Time as your most limited resource. How to evaluate your calendar with ruthless intentionality.
• The art of saying “no.” Why turning down good opportunities can unlock great ones.
•   Guarding against “busy culture.” How to protect white space and foster real connection in remote teams.
• Never stop growing. Why great leaders are grounded in feedback, curiosity, and humility.

Podcast Highlights

0:00 - Overcoming Leadership Shock

4:24 - Explicit Leadership Transformation

8:46 - Purpose Fuels Long-Term Success

10:45 - Contextual Leadership: Vision and Expectations

15:03 - Client-Centric Coaching

18:12 - Maximizing Impact: Time Management Strategy

21:15 - Prioritizing Purpose Over Busyness

23:36 - Prioritize Tasks Over Meetings

28:51 - Pursuit of Better Leadership

30:51 - Explore Leadership Innovation Resources

32:30 - Transform Your Life Today

Top 10 Key Takeaways

1. Leadership Shock is real—and common. Even high-performers can struggle when their usual approaches fail in new environments.
2. Lead with intention. Most leaders operate unconsciously—clarity comes from making your leadership explicit.
3. Know your authentic model. Define your purpose, strengths, and beliefs, and adapt them to each new context.
4. Evolve your strengths. What once made you successful may become a liability if you don’t grow with your role.
5. Purpose energizes performance. When your work aligns with your deeper why, it fuels resilience and sustainability.
6. Context creates clarity. Reevaluate expectations, organizational culture, and your own vision regularly.
7. Time is sacred. Treat your calendar like an investment portfolio—allocate it wisely.
8. Say no to say yes. Great leadership means declining “good” options to make space for what truly matters.
9. Protect your margin. Leave room to think, reflect, and reconnect with what’s important—don’t fill every gap.
10. Never stop learning. The best leaders seek feedback, reflect often, and remain humble, knowing growth is continuous.

This episode delivers a powerful blend of wisdom, real-world examples, and actionable tools. Leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about showing up with clarity, intention, and authenticity.

Favorite Quotes

“Behavior isn’t authentic; it’s really grounded in the things that are important to you.”

“People experience leadership shock in moments of transition—what’s important is to intentionally reset your approach.”

“If you can connect your activities to your purpose, it’s energy-giving, rather than energy-draining.”

Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/536-navigating-leadership-shock-with-pete-steinberg 

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

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