Sometimes the bravest move you can make as a leader is to pause. In this episode of Lead Easy, Sara opens up about her decision to press pause on the podcast—and why this season of life is calling her to step back with intention.

She shares the personal and professional shifts that influenced her choice, what she’s learning about following energy instead of forcing progress, and how you can apply the power of pausing in your own leadership journey.

Inside this conversation:

- Why hitting pause isn’t failure—it’s strategy

- How personal and professional seasons influence leadership decisions

- The mindset shift from “pushing forward” to “leading with ease”

- Lessons you can take into your own work, family, and leadership

This is not goodbye—it’s simply a pause to create space for what’s next. Stay connected with Sara, revisit past episodes, and reflect on how giving yourself permission to pause might open new possibilities in your own life.

Stay connected. Email Sara here: sara@sarakobrien.com

FREE 15 Minute Leadership Strategy Call:

Book today https://tinyurl.com/FREE-15-Min-Strategy-Call

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***Unlock your authentic leadership potential with the BREAKTHROUGH coaching program—designed to help ambitious women lead with confidence, clarity, and impact; visit saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough to get started.

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FREE Guide: 2-Second Confidence Shift for High-Stakes Meetings:

Visit saraobriencoaching.com to Download the Guide today.

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Keywords:

Pressing pause, leadership lessons, executive leadership, leadership reflection, seasons of leadership, energy leadership, breakthrough mindset, women in leadership, work-life balance, burnout recovery

Music Credit:

• Track Title: Over You

• Artist: Atch

• Source: YouTube

• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Executive presence isn’t just about how you dress or the tone of your voice—it’s about the energy you bring into every room. In this episode, Sara O’Brien breaks down what executive presence really means and why starting with surface-level “fixes” doesn’t last. Instead, lasting presence comes from building awareness of your energy and leading with authenticity.

If you’re preparing for a big presentation, leading a team, or simply want to show up with more impact, this episode will give you the tools to lead with confidence, clarity, and authentic influence.

Subscribe and listen now and discover how energy is the true foundation of executive presence.

FREE 15 Minute Leadership Strategy Call:

Book today https://tinyurl.com/FREE-15-Min-Strategy-Call

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***Unlock your authentic leadership potential with the BREAKTHROUGH coaching program—designed to help ambitious women lead with confidence, clarity, and impact; visit saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough to get started.

--------------------------------

FREE Guide: 2-Second Confidence Shift for High-Stakes Meetings:

Visit saraobriencoaching.com to Download the Guide today.

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Keywords:

Executive Presence, Leadership Confidence, Energy Leadership, 7 Levels of Energy, Authentic Leadership, Leadership Presence, Confident Communication, Influence and Impact, Women in Leadership, Leading with Energy

Music Credit:

• Track Title: Over You

• Artist: Atch

• Source: YouTube

• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Feeling stressed or burnt out? The Four C Framework — Clarity, Claim, Collaboration, Control — helps you lead with confidence, improve communication skills, and advocate for yourself effectively.

This framework comes from Sara’s Breakthrough Coaching program, designed to help leaders define their vision, own their role, foster collaboration, and take control of outcomes without losing energy. Learn when and how to make your voice heard, build confidence, and strengthen your self-advocacy in work and life.

Subscribe and listen to Lead Easy on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube @saraobriencoaching for practical tips on leadership, influence, and stress-free success.

FREE 15 Minute Leadership Strategy Call:

Book today https://tinyurl.com/FREE-15-Min-Strategy-Call

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***Unlock your authentic leadership potential with the BREAKTHROUGH coaching program—designed to help ambitious women lead with confidence, clarity, and impact; visit saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough to get started.

------------------------------

FREE Guide: 2-Second Confidence Shift for High-Stakes Meetings:

Visit saraobriencoaching.com to Download the Guide today.

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Keywords:

leadership, clarity, confidence, collaboration, influence, control, team building, business growth, mindset, leadership tips, team leadership, communication, productivity

Music Credit:

• Track Title: Over You

• Artist: Atch

• Source: YouTube

• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Learn how to make confident leadership decisions using the holographic thinking framework, a powerful tool to help you balance logic, emotion, and instinct.

In this live walkthrough, Sara O’Brien guides leaders through high-stakes decision-making with clarity and executive presence. Whether you’re managing complex systems, growing in your leadership role, or leading a team through tough calls, this episode will help you break free from decision fatigue and lead with conviction.

Ready to lead with more presence and confidence?

Subscribe to the Lead Easy podcast and join Sara’s free decision-making walkthroughs, where real leaders grow real influence.

FREE 15 Minute Leadership Strategy Call:

Book today https://tinyurl.com/FREE-15-Min-Strategy-Call

---------------------------------

***Unlock your authentic leadership potential with the BREAKTHROUGH coaching program—designed to help ambitious women lead with confidence, clarity, and impact; visit saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough to get started.

---------------------------------

FREE Guide: 2-Second Confidence Shift for High-Stakes Meetings:

Visit saraobriencoaching.com to Download the Guide today.

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Keywords:

leadership decision making, executive presence, holographic thinking, confident leadership, gut instinct, logic vs emotion, decision fatigue, leadership growth, make tough decisions, leadership mindset, Sara O'Brien, lead easy podcast

Music Credit:

• Track Title: Over You

• Artist: Atch

• Source: YouTube

• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Influence without formal authority is more than a leadership skill — it’s essential. Especially for women balancing ambitious careers and motherhood.

In this episode, Sara O’Brien reflects on leading major projects early in her career without a title, and how the same principles helped her navigate parenting. She shares how trust, empathy, and connection create real influence at work and at home.

Tune in to explore how leading with energy, not control, can shift everything.

Subscribe to Lead Easy and catch last week’s episode: "Lead With Energy, NOT Authority." Start there for the full story.

Also Mentioned:

‘Energy-Driven Leadership: The 7 Levels That Define Your Influence’

https://saraobriencoaching.com/blog/energy-driven-leadership

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FREE 15 Minute Leadership Strategy Call:

Book today https://tinyurl.com/FREE-15-Min-Strategy-Call

------------------------------------------

***Unlock your authentic leadership potential with the BREAKTHROUGH coaching program—designed to help ambitious women lead with confidence, clarity, and impact; visit saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough to get started.

------------------------------------------

FREE Guide: 2-Second Confidence Shift for High-Stakes Meetings:

Visit saraobriencoaching.com to Download the Guide today.

------------------------------------------

Keywords:

Influence without authority, leading without a title, energy leadership, women in leadership, leadership skills, parenting lessons, collaborative leadership, high-level leadership, soft skills, lead easy podcast, sara o’brien, leadership podcast, emotional intelligence, working moms, empathy-based leadership

Music Credit:

• Track Title: Over You

• Artist: Atch

• Source: YouTube

• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Feeling stuck leading a project without formal authority? If you’ve ever felt responsible for the outcome, but not the people, you know how tough it is to influence without the title.

In this episode of Lead Easy, executive coach Sara O’Brien shares how to lead from energy, not hierarchy, using her ICA Method:

- Influence through energy

- Co-create, don’t command

- Authority is claimed, not given
You’ll learn how to navigate cross-functional teams, overcome project delays, and communicate with clarity, even when you’re not “in charge.”

This is for high-performing women who’ve been quietly shrinking in rooms they’re meant to lead. Time to change that.

Want FREE coaching or to join the Breakthrough Coaching waitlist? Email your leadership challenge, or just write “Breakthrough” to sara@saraobriencoaching.com.

Also Mentioned:

‘Energy-Driven Leadership: The 7 Levels That Define Your Influence’

https://saraobriencoaching.com/blog/energy-driven-leadership

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FREE Guide: 2-Second Confidence Shift for High-Stakes Meetings:

Visit saraobriencoaching.com to Download the Guide today.

------------------------------------------

Keywords:

executive coaching, women in leadership, how to influence others, leadership coaching, leadership without the title, influence without authority, energy leadership

Music Credit:

• Track Title: Over You

• Artist: Atch

• Source: YouTube

• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Still circling a decision? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing personal stories of decision fatigue and how I’ve had to work through my own spirals of overthinking and fear of getting it wrong.

Breaking through indecision isn’t about more information, it’s about building self-trust and learning what’s really getting in the way.

🎧 Listen now to break through decision fatigue and start leading with clarity and confidence. Subscribe to Lead Easy for weekly guidance that blends strategy, neuroscience, and grounded self-leadership.

** FREE Decision Self-Audit: https://mailchi.mp/sarakobrien/decision-making-audit

Join the Breakthrough Coaching Waitlist (opens September): saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough

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Keywords:

decision fatigue, decision paralysis, how to stop overthinking, leadership mindset, women in leadership, how to make better decisions, emotional burnout, overcoming fear, trust yourself, executive coaching, Lead Easy podcast, Sara OBrien

Music Credit:

• Track Title: Over You

• Artist: Atch

• Source: YouTube

• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Struggling to make choices even when you're performing at your peak? This episode dives into how to break through decision paralysis and regain mental clarity. Learn how to make empowered decisions and move forward with grounded leadership.

We’re not talking about procrastination, we’re talking about the kind of indecision that strikes in the middle of high performance. When you're leading, delivering, showing up... and yet the next move feels paralyzing.

Inside this episode of Lead Easy, Sara explores:

- Why smart, capable leaders get stuck in decision fatigue

- What’s happening in your brain and nervous system when you freeze

- A key mindset shift that rebuilds self-trust

- Two practical decision-making tools (including Holographic Thinking + the Impact Grid)

Whether you're circling a big career move, team shift, or business strategy, this is your guide to making clear, confident decisions under pressure.

** FREE Decision Self-Audit: https://mailchi.mp/sarakobrien/decision-making-audit

Join the Breakthrough Coaching Waitlist (opens September): saraobriencoaching.com/breakthrough

Energy-Driven Leadership: The 7 Levels That Define Your Influence: https://saraobriencoaching.com/blog/energy-driven-leadership

Subscribe to Lead Easy for unfiltered leadership lessons every week.

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Keywords:

Lead Easy, Sara O’Brien, decision paralysis, leadership overwhelm, decision fatigue, women in leadership, executive decision making, self-trust, energy leadership, strategic coaching, intuitive leadership

Music Credit:

• Track Title: Over You

• Artist: Atch

• Source: YouTube

• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)