Welcome back to Dolly in My Pocket — the solo series from The extra-Ordinary Leader podcast, designed to offer short, powerful reflections you can take straight into your leadership and life.

In this episode, I’m talking about something I call the art of knowing yourself — but not in the “I like coffee and I’m a bit impatient” kind of way.

I’m talking about truly understanding your personality, your wiring, your drivers, and how they influence your leadership, energy, decision-making, and ability to perform.

This isn’t just self-awareness — it’s a strategic advantage. Because when you know how you recharge, how you process information, how you handle pressure, and what makes you tick (and trip!), you stop wasting time trying to be someone you’re not — and start leading from a place of clarity and energy.

If you’ve ever felt like a square peg in a round hole, or found yourself mimicking leadership strategies that just don’t fit, this is the episode for you.

Give it a listen — and let it challenge you to go deeper.

The extra-Ordinary Leader book is out now. Buy it here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

For strategy, speaking or consultancy enquiries: info@dollywaddell.com

If you're new to the podcast, The extra-Ordinary Leader is all about what it takes to lead with more clarity, energy, and purpose — whether in business, at home, or in yourself. Browse the back catalogue and take what you need.

In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sit down with Laura G. Patac, Strengths Coach, creator of Strengths Velocity Lab™, and author of Stories with Purpose. With over 20 years as a corporate executive across five continents, Laura brings a wealth of wisdom on what it really takes to thrive as a leader.

We explore the difference between success and impact, why presence and influence matter as much as results, and how leaders can use storytelling to unlock connection, energy, and purpose. Laura shares her own journey from mathematician to corporate leader to poet and entrepreneur – and why tapping into your strengths is the key to sustainable leadership.

Inside this conversation, Laura also guides me through a live storytelling exercise that uncovered powerful new reflections on resilience, surrender, and authenticity in leadership.

If you’ve ever felt stuck behind results alone or struggled to articulate your leadership presence, this episode will give you practical tools and deep inspiration.

You can connect with Laura on LinkedIn and find her book, Stories with Purpose, on Amazon

Inside This Episode

• Laura’s global corporate journey and why she chose to pivot into coaching and poetry
• Why results alone aren’t enough – the importance of presence, impact, and influence
• How leaders can use storytelling as a practical skill to build trust and connection
• The energy shift that happens when you work in your strengths rather than your weaknesses
• A simple but powerful exercise to discover the difference between capability and natural talent
• How storytelling frameworks can be applied to leadership challenges and feedback conversations
• Laura’s insights on resilience, surrender, and authenticity – and my own personal reflections during our live exercise

If this episode resonates with you, reach out at info@dollywaddell.com. I work with executives and teams to unlock their strengths, harness the power of storytelling, and build the presence and impact that leadership today demands. Together we can create lasting energy, connection, and cultures that thrive.

My book The extra-Ordinary Leader is available now: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

Welcome to another Dolly in My Pocket — the short solo series within The extra-Ordinary Leader podcast, designed to offer pithy, practical leadership insights to carry into your week.

This episode is about quitting — but not in the way you think.

I'm not talking about giving up alcohol or bad habits. I’m talking about something far more radical: quitting the automatic “yeses” and inherited “nos” that shape how we spend our time, attention, and energy.

I unpack a powerful idea: every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else — and vice versa. This matters. Because if you're constantly saying yes to what’s familiar, you may be unintentionally saying no to the future you actually want.

I also share one of my favourite quotes by Augustine of Hippo, the myth of Prince Charming, and what happened when I started saying “no” to Wednesdays.

If you're hoping this year will turn out differently, this is the episode that reminds you: hope isn't a strategy. Quitting the right things is.

The extra-Ordinary Leader book is out now. Buy it here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

For strategy, speaking or consultancy enquiries: info@dollywaddell.com

If you're new to the podcast, The extra-Ordinary Leader is all about what it takes to lead with more clarity, energy, and purpose — whether in business, at home, or in yourself. Browse the back catalogue and take what you need.