Have you ever reached a point where leadership feels much more exhausting than fun? If so, you’re not alone.

Many women in leadership positions face unique challenges that can lead to burnout and self-doubt. Some, however, show remarkable fortitude in the face of adversity and opt to not only survive but flourish, all the while serving as inspirational examples to those around them.

Enter Cindy Monroe, a seasoned businesswoman, friend, and mentor who is using her two decades as a CEO to influence the next generation of business leaders.

Thirty-One-Gifts founder Cindy is an accomplished leader who is passionate about empowering other women to succeed in their careers. She understands the importance of mental health in business and recognizes the prevalence of leadership burnout among female entrepreneurs.

To address this issue, Cindy shares her experience and insights through her podcast, Permission to Lead, where she also interviews experts and coaches for their take on different issues. 

In one of her episodes, Cindy opens up about her own struggles with leadership burnout and how she overcame them with the help of entrepreneur coach Craig Wiley.

With sales declining and her disappointment in herself and the business growing, Cindy knew she needed help. That’s when she met Craig, who helped her get unstuck and focus on what she knew to be true about her business, her consultants, her customers, and herself. 

Cindy recalls telling Craig, “I want to stop being a hot mess of a leader.”

Through working together, she was able to transform her leadership style and regain her confidence. This experience inspired her to share her journey with other women facing similar journeys. 

In the podcast episode, Craig talks about the difficulty of losing your inner coach and, consequently, not trusting yourself. “Every leader has strengths and strong moments, and then they also have weak moments, between which we often lose our inner coach and trust,” says Craig.

In a rapid-fire coaching session, Cindy and Craig discuss various issues that stymie high-achieving female leaders, such as doubting one’s decisions, building communities, and embracing failures. 

Here are some of the main takeaways from the podcast:

1. Listen to Your Gut

Leaders often second-guess their decisions, which leads to a lack of trust in themselves. To address this problem, Craig suggests trusting your instincts more. According to him, you must create an environment where listening to your gut can be natural.

This involves being surrounded by people with a shared vision of what you are trying to achieve and having a clear idea of your goals and values. 

2. Foster Collaboration

Cindy and Craig discuss how collaboration serves as the driving force behind revenue generation and expansion.

They expound on the need for leaders to establish a culture that nurtures creativity and innovation, and they address how fostering communities is a key driver of trust and conviction, resulting in heightened employee motivation and contribution. 

3. Ask Questions

In the podcast, Cindy and Craig share the No. 1 thing you can do to create a better understanding between you and your team members: ask questions. 

It is important for you as a leader to get into the habit of seeking answers before giving instructions. This helps build trust and ensures that everyone involved gets an equal chance to communicate their opinions without feeling judged or unheard.

According to Craig, the difference between the leader who responds and the leader who reacts is the willingness to seek understanding. 

4. Separate Professional and Personal Mindsets

As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to become mired in your own struggles and uncertainties. 

Cindy and Craig talk about how you must keep your personal and professional lives separate in order to lead with clarity. In Craig’s opinion, the best advocate for the company is a leader who can take charge of the company while separating themselves from their own unconscious bias.

“Don’t let your insecurities be the business,” Craig urges. “Evaluate the business and the possibilities of business, and lead with that.”

5. Embrace Failure

Finally, embracing failure is key to long-term success. 

It allows you to learn from your mistakes and be better prepared for future challenges. You also need to know the difference between owning failure and letting it paralyze you.

Cindy and Craig stated that an effective leader must recognize the missteps, accept the appropriate level of responsibility, and ask for help where needed. 

In candid conversations with experts like Craig Wiley, Cindy’s podcast is an empowering resource for women in leadership positions. 

For more, listen to the complete podcast here; visit Cindy Monroe’s website; or follow her on Instagram.