_{A Monthly Newsletter: October 2025}

Welcome to the October edition of my monthly newsletter!

This month I am doing a LOT of self reflection. Have you ever noticed your body trying to tell you what your mouth won’t say? That quiet fatigue, the desire to pull back, or that subtle dread before another meeting—sometimes, our energy knows what’s best before we do.

This realization hit home for me just this month. Summer was filled with sunshine and good memories, yet as September rolled around, I found myself drained instead of recharged. In back-to-back conversations with peers, I heard myself admitting how tired I was and how a string of bad client calls left me feeling even less enthusiastic about my work.

Here’s what I observed: I was saying yes to every opportunity, every request—mostly because I felt I couldn’t afford to say no. But the result wasn’t abundance; it was depletion. I showed up to calls with reluctance rather than anticipation. That kind of energy, whether we like it or not, is contagious. It shapes how others experience us, and in my case, it cost me business.

A fellow business owner nudged the truth into the open: “You lost business because you weren’t resting. People notice.” That stung—but he was right. On the flip side, another trusted advisor reframed it for me: “Celebrate this space—it means you’re growing. You’re finding your edge.” Both were right—and that paradox is worth exploring.

The pattern wasn’t new. Years ago, in a workplace where my role felt precarious, I said yes to every new task, afraid to appear anything less than indispensable. I kept silent as my boundaries eroded, until my boss called me out—with compassion, but also with clarity. It ended in tears of exhaustion and relief—a moment I’ll never forget.

Why share this? Because so many high-achieving professionals—my clients included—fall into this trap. They don’t voice their limits, until their bodies do it for them. Burnout, disengagement, resentment—all are signs that something needs to change, and often we ignore them until it’s nearly too late.

What if we took those signals seriously? What could happen if we gave ourselves permission to say “no”—without guilt, but with intention and energy?

This is still a work in progress for me, but what I’ve noticed: reclaiming my time and saying no isn’t limiting—it’s liberating. It frees up energy to do my best work, both for myself and for the leaders I coach.

Here’s my takeaway: Pay attention to how you feel, not just what you think you should do. The body is an early warning system. Respect those signals, set mindful boundaries, and make rest a non-negotiable. That’s not just self-care—it’s a leadership skill.

Wishing you a productive and restful month ahead!

-Emma

 Want to Dig Into This More? A couple of resources I enjoyed are below:

Saying Yes but Need to Say No (Psychology Today)

How Burnout Became Normal — And How to Push Back Against It (Harvard Business Review)

ps. When you’re ready…..I help individuals and organizations through in-person team training, coaching, and facilitation.

Giving & Receiving Feedback Training Participants!

If you are a People & Culture leader and you are looking for someone to provide creative ideas for growth and development across your teams, please drop me a note. I would love to discuss your needs and come up with a bespoke plan that creates immediate results. Drop me an email here to discuss: [email protected]

Leadership Course Starting Again Soon!

Thinking about enhancing your leadership skills to be ready for that next opportunity, all within a supportive setting? My course could be what you are looking for.

We will be covering the following topics:

• Leadership styles and how to leverage for situations

• Emotional intelligence - how to grow it.

• Leading through change and uncertainty

• Networking for purpose

• Building your personal brand

The logistics:

• Kick off - Wednesday, November 5th @9am

• Meeting weekly for 7 weeks between 9-10am over zoom.

• Small cohorts - maximum 8 people.

• Workbooks and material for each week.

To register for the event and secure early bird pricing of $400, click on the link here! Places are already filling up, so don’t miss out!

Referring Someone in Your Network

It makes sense that you trust your colleagues and friends to provide great professional contacts. So, if someone in your network could use coaching and/or team training support, please introduce us!

My LinkedIn profile for sharing is here.

I’m very grateful for everyone who connects me with their colleagues and friends. Thank you!

Emma