Struggling to unplug, set boundaries, or move your body after a long day? This Ask Me Anything episode tackles three of the biggest challenges new managers face with actionable mindset shifts and tools that make a real difference.

Ever feel like your brain won’t shut off even when your body’s ready to?
You're not alone.

In today’s Ask Me Anything episode, we’re diving into three of the most common challenges high-achieving professionals face in leadership: setting boundaries without guilt, finding motivation for movement when you’re exhausted, and learning how to truly unplug your mind after work.

If you’ve ever struggled with managing conflict between work and personal life, building trust as a leader through example, or figuring out how to stop feeling overwhelmed as a manager, this episode is for you.

We’ll unpack the real reasons behind your exhaustion and guilt, explore mindset shifts for sustainable leadership, and teach you how to lead yourself better so you can show up stronger for your team and family.

By the time you finish listening, you’ll learn:

• How to set boundaries as a new leader (without feeling guilty)
• What to do when your brain won’t shut off at night
• How to motivate yourself to move your body, even on your most exhausting days

You’ll also hear my favorite mindset trick for reframing productivity, plus a simple shutdown routine that helps your brain and body disconnect after work.

Want help figuring out your Working Genius or DISC style? Head to intentionalaction.net/self-awareness to take your assessment and book a free debrief with me. Knowing your genius zones is the first step to building a cohesive team and taking intentional action in your leadership role.

Topics discussed in this episode: new manager tips, how to set boundaries as a leader, how to delegate, building trust as a leader, how to stop feeling overwhelmed as a manager, managing conflict, executive presence, high-performing team, team building for new managers, imposter syndrome in leadership, how to hold employees accountable, how to unplug from work, shutdown routine, Working Genius, DISC assessment, having hard conversations as a leader

Connect With Desiree on Linkedin
Buy the book - Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

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Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

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• Get the Foundation of Self Framework
• Take your personality assessment

Resilience isn’t just something you build after a crisis. In this episode, you’ll learn how to strengthen your mindset, build emotional stamina, and proactively prepare for life’s hard moments, so you can handle them with more calm, clarity, and confidence.

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Do you only feel strong after everything falls apart?

Resilience isn’t something we should only discover when we’re forced to. Whether you’re leading a team or simply trying to lead yourself through tough seasons, this episode will help you understand what it means to build resilience on purpose.

From personal challenges to professional growth, we talk about what it means to face discomfort with intention, how to shift your mindset, and how to strengthen your habits now—before the pressure hits.

You’ll also hear the study that blew my mind about dopamine, discipline, and why your brain actually feels better when you do hard things first.

By the time you finish listening, you’ll learn:

• The difference between reactive and proactive resilience and why it matters in every area of life
• Three ways to build resilience daily by leaning into discomfort
• How doing hard things first actually boosts your brain’s dopamine response
• How personality assessments helped me face hard truths and can help you too

Want to figure out where you're getting in your own way?
Take a personality assessment at intentionalaction.net/self-awareness and get a free 30-minute debrief with me. Let’s turn your self-awareness into personal growth and leadership clarity.

Connect With Desiree on Linkedin
Buy the book - Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

New manager tips, how to delegate, building trust as a leader, how to hold, employees accountable, managing conflict, executive presence, how to stop feeling overwhelmed as a manager, imposter syndrome in leadership, how to lead a team meeting, cohesive teams, how to fix a toxic culture, high-performing team, team building for new managers, difficult employees, having hard conversations as a leader, how to get promoted into leadership

Elisa Ellis, Founder of Turnkey Style
Visit Elisa's Webiste

Buy the Book: The Style Advantage

Stylist Elisa Ellis shares how what you wear can shift how you lead. Learn how to feel more confident, aligned, and respected—without changing who you are.

Last week we talked about what’s really behind employee disengagement—and how to fix it.

This week, we're diving into something leaders rarely talk about but feel every day: how your clothes impact your confidence and authority at work.

If you’ve ever second-guessed your outfit before a big meeting, felt like you were “faking it” in a blazer, or wondered if what you wear really makes a difference in how your team sees you—this episode is your permission slip to rethink it all.

Wardrobe stylist Elisa Ellis joins me to talk about the mindset and strategy behind dressing with confidence, and why what you wear isn’t about fashion—it’s about energy, presence, and alignment. Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or simply want to show up more intentionally, Elisa breaks it down with warmth and zero judgment.

Key Takeaways:

• What enclothed cognition is—and how it shapes your confidence and focus as a leader
• Why your “power outfit” doesn’t have to be a blazer (or heels!) to command respect
• How new managers can communicate dress expectations without becoming the “outfit police”

Connect With Desiree on Linkedin
Buy the book - Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

New manager tips, how to delegate, building trust as a leader, how to hold, employees accountable, managing conflict, executive presence, how to stop feeling overwhelmed as a manager, imposter syndrome in leadership, how to lead a team meeting, cohesive teams, how to fix a toxic culture, high-performing team, team building for new managers, difficult employees, having hard conversations as a leader, how to get promoted into leadership