938: LEADERSHIP TIPS: How to Turn Panic Into Power When You Freeze in a Critical Moment

Shameless Leadership

Sara Dean

Education, Management, How To, Business, Self-improvement

4.7 • 800 Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We have all been in situations where we are asked a question or called out in a moment, and we completely freeze. We can feel the room go silent as the spotlight shines brighter and brighter on us, and we can’t overcome the silence that has invaded our bodies. It feels like time has stopped, and it is up to us to make it start again, yet we feel completely unable to access the tools to do so. This can feel scary, overwhelming, and immobilizing. In this episode, we explore why our brains sometimes freeze in high-pressure moments. I share a little about what happens to your nervous system in these moments and how freezing is a protective reaction, not a personal failure. This can help you move away from shame and discomfort and toward self-acceptance and self-compassion in those moments of silence. You'll learn practical strategies to set new default behaviors when you feel a freeze response coming on. From grounding techniques like deep breathing and pausing before speaking, to simple phrases that buy you time to think, these tools will help you stay centered and regain your voice in critical moments and after the fact so you can reclaim your agency and influence, build credibility and authority in high-stakes situations, and honor your unique brain and personality when things get a little sticky. Let’s reframe your “freezing” not as a flaw, but as an opportunity to strategically access your power through intentional presence. With practice, you can move from stuck and silent to calm and clear - even in moments that catch you off guard. If this episode resonates with you, share it with a colleague, team member, or fellow leader who needs a reminder that freezing doesn’t mean failing! Links Mentioned: Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Race the rudder, raise the sails, raise the sales!
0:05.0	Captain, an unidentified ship approaching. Over.
0:07.0	Roger that.
0:08.0	Wait, is that an enterprise sales solution?
0:13.0	Reach sales professionals, not professional sailors.
0:17.0	With LinkedIn ads, you can target the right people by industry, job title, and more.
0:21.4	To get £100 off your first campaign, go to LinkedIn.com slash lead to claim your credit.
0:26.6	That's LinkedIn.com slash lead. Terms and conditions apply.
0:34.1	Welcome to shameless leadership. I'm your host, Sarah Dean. This show is for women, transgender people,
0:40.2	non-binary folks, as well as allies, who are committed to advancing their leadership while also
0:45.2	advancing the leadership of those around them. In each episode, we will offer practical tips,
0:50.3	leadership strategies, and inspiring stories to help you become a more confident, compassionate, and
0:55.2	inclusive leader. The truth is, you were born to lead. What might happen for you if you were to
1:00.9	wholeheartedly embrace that part of yourself? So let's start now, together. Hello, shameless leaders.
1:07.3	I'm so happy to be here with you today where I'm sitting. The sun is streaming
1:11.2	in my window and it feels like it's actually spring. And if you don't know, I live in Seattle.
1:16.0	And so we get lots of false starts to spring where the sun comes out for one day, but then it
1:21.8	rains for five days. So today we're having a spring probably false start, but I'm loving it
1:27.0	and I'm hoping wherever you are.
1:28.3	There's a little bit of sun, whether it's literal or figurative sun, streaming in your window.
1:33.2	So before we dive in today, a couple housekeeping announcements that are fun, exciting things,
1:38.2	I hope, for you all. We first of all are going to be doing interviews on the show coming up.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Sara Dean, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Sara Dean and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.