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Episode 25 Make Yourself Unavailable: The Counterintuitive Thought that Transformed Jacki's Leadership

Hello, my lovely!

Welcome back to the Leader Within Podcast. Over the past few weeks, we've explored the theory of coaching—what it is, how it's different from everything else you've tried, and why it's one of the most strategic investments you can make in your career.

But today, we're moving from theory into reality.

Today, I want to take you inside the coaching journey of an incredible woman I've had the absolute privilege of coaching over the past five years. Her name is Jacki Hooper. When I first met Jacki, she was a successful mid-level leader in a male-dominated industry—but she was feeling stuck and exhausted.

I'll never forget one of our early conversations where she described her reality with a powerful metaphor: "I feel like I'm pushing a wheelbarrow up a hill, and it's just getting heavier and heavier."

Over the past five years, I've watched Jacki completely reconstruct that reality. And because she's far too humble to say it about herself, I'm going to say it for her: It's been an absolute privilege to watch this powerhouse of a woman unlock her quiet leader within, claim her space, and lead with the courage that was always inside her.

Listen to discover:

👉 What was actually happening in Jacki's leadership reality before coaching started

👉 The hesitations she had—and why she said yes anyway

👉 What happens in your first coaching session (spoiler: it's a safe place to finally download)

👉 The one thing that surprised her most about coaching

👉 How coaching compares to the leadership training she'd already done

👉 The single counterintuitive thought that changed her entire leadership approach

👉 Why "make yourself unavailable" became the four words that transformed everything

👉 How group coaching created something one-on-one sessions alone couldn't

👉 The cold hard truth about ROI—and why her investment added a third to her salary

Episode Navigation: What You'll Discover

[00:02:56] What Was Happening When She Considered Coaching

Jacki had spent 25+ years working in male-dominated industries—mining, energy, defense, government agencies. But the pattern was always the same: work harder than everyone else to prove yourself. Over the past 20 years, that meant long hours, being hands-on, carrying her team, providing support to everyone around her with very little recognition. She was exhausted. And that's when she first thought about coaching.

[00:04:43] The Pressure of Proving Yourself in Male-Dominated Spaces

Working in industries where women are underrepresented created a specific kind of pressure for Jacki: the belief that she had to work harder than anyone else to get recognition. But here's what she discovered—that belief was actually holding her back from the very thing she wanted most: to grow and develop as a leader.

[00:05:28] Hesitations and Doubts: Why She Said Yes Anyway

What's beautiful about Jacki is that she didn't have massive resistance to coaching. She was the kind of person willing to give almost anything a go. But she also didn't realize how transformational it would actually be. She just decided to try it. And that openness changed everything.

[00:06:26] Your First Coaching Session: What It Actually Feels Like

Jacki describes her first session as having a best friend at work. Someone who could actually listen to the details of what was going on—without the limits your husband or work friends have. For the first time, she had a space to download everything. And that safety created the foundation for everything that followed.

[00:07:27] What Surprised Her About the Coaching Process

The biggest revelation? The answers were already inside her. The coaching didn't tell her what to do. It teased out what she already knew. And what surprised her most is how gradually it worked—not like information you memorize, but like a gentle wash of thinking that layered new possibilities over time.

[00:08:43] How Coaching Compares to Leadership Development and Training

Jacki had done leadership training before. But she discovered something crucial: traditional training teaches youwhatto do as a leader. Coaching, on the other hand, is abouthow you thinkas a leader. Training was about managing people. Coaching was about developing herself. Two completely different things. And only one created real change.

[00:10:12] The Moment Everything Clicked: One Reconstructed Thought

There was a specific moment when Jacki's thinking shifted. A simple suggestion: "Make yourself unavailable." She wrote it on a sign and put it on her desk. Those four words became the pivot point. They allowed her to move away from doing everything, being hands-on, doing it all. Instead, they allowed her to delegate better, to understand why delegation mattered, and to step into the leadership level she needed to be at.

[00:12:16] Uncomfortable Moments That Became Breakthroughs

Were there moments of discomfort? Jacki's answer is honest and revealing. There could have been moments that felt uncomfortable, but because she's generally open to suggestions and willing to explore ideas, she didn't experience coaching as confrontational. Real coaching doesn't need to be uncomfortable to be transformational.

[00:12:50] How Coaching Changed Her Thinking, Communication, and Presence

Jacki's entire approach to leadership shifted. Instead of providing answers, she now provides advice. She thinks more strategically. She has the confidence to contribute to senior leadership discussions. She's no longer the reliable executor—she's become the strategic leader. And that shift rippled through everything.

[00:13:44] The Magic of Group Coaching: Why Being in Rooms With Other Women Leaders Changes Everything

Group coaching is different. It's as helpful as one-on-one coaching—but in a completely different way. Being in a room with other women facing similar challenges? It's cathartic. It makes you realize you're not alone. And for women in male-dominated industries, that realization becomes a springboard for real breakthrough.

[00:15:35] What She'd Say to a Woman Standing on the Edge of Investing in Herself

Jacki's message is both practical and powerful. She talks cold hard cash. She talks ROI. Her coaching investment has added a third to her salary over five years. For her, that's undeniable proof that investing in yourself isn't an expense—it's the highest-return investment you can make.

[00:16:32] The Whispered Truth: What Every Woman Leader Needs to Hear

If Jacki could gift one message to every woman leader listening right now—something she wishes someone had told her sooner—it would be this: Get coaching. Invest in yourself. Invest in your journey. You're definitely worth it.

[READY TO EXPERIENCE REAL COACHING? WATCH THE FULL EPISODE: by clicking the video link above]

[READY TO IMPLEMENT? WATCH THE FULL EPISODE: by clicking the video link above]

Why This Episode Is Essential Viewing

Listen if any of these resonate with you:

⭐ You've been working harder than everyone else but still feel stuck

⭐ You're in a male-dominated industry and the pressure to prove yourself never eases

⭐ You've wondered what actually happens in a coaching conversation

⭐ You want to know if coaching is really worth the investment

⭐ You're tired of feeling invisible despite your contributions

⭐ You know you need to change something but aren't sure what

⭐ You're curious what transformation actually looks like from the inside

What You'll Walk Away With

✅Real Proof That Coaching Works— Not theory, but a five-year journey with measurable results.

✅Understanding of What Happens in Coaching Sessions— The safety, the discovery, the breakthrough.

✅The Power of One Reconstructed Thought— How four words ("Make yourself unavailable") can rewire your entire leadership approach.

✅Permission to Invest in Yourself— Without guilt, without wondering if it's worth it.

✅Why Group Coaching Creates Transformation— The healing power of knowing you're not alone.

✅The Real ROI of Coaching— Jacki's story proves that when you invest in your thinking, you invest in your value.

✅Clarity on Your Next Move— Whether coaching is right for you, and how to take the first step.

[TRANSFORM YOUR LEADERSHIP: WATCH NOW - Click the Video Above]

[TRANSFORM YOUR LEADERSHIP APPROACH: WATCH NOW - Click the Video Above]

Ready to Go Deeper?

Jacki's five-year journey didn't happen by accident. It happened because she made one decision: to invest in structured coaching support.

What if your breakthrough is one reconstructed thought away?

If Jacki's journey has resonated with you—if you recognize yourself in her wheelbarrow moment—I've created something specifically for you.

The Power Move Blueprint: Your Personal Deep Dive

This is a personalized coaching experience where you discover your one power move—the one shift that creates immediate relief and opens the door to lasting transformation.

Here's exactly what happens:

1️⃣ You answer reflection questions via VideoAsk (your own pace, no awkward call)

2️⃣ Sue-Anne personally reviews your reflections

3️⃣ You receive a private video coaching session—just for you

4️⃣ She gives you your ONE power move for immediate relief

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This is the clarity-building experience that prevents scattered, expensive coaching efforts. This is where real transformation begins.

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What's Next?

Next episode, we're exploring why group coaching might be your secret weapon—how peer learning accelerates breakthrough, and why you don't have to navigate your leadership journey alone.

Spoiler: The women in Jacki's group became some of her strongest sources of support and transformation.

Until then, keep leading from within, my lovely.

And remember—you're only one reconstructed thought away from the breakthrough you deserve in your life and in your leadership journey.

Sue-Anne Higgins

Host, The Leader Within Podcast