Holding your nerve when it feels deeply uncomfortable

Episode Number

1

What does it really mean to hold your nerve when everything in you wants to bolt? In this very first episode, I open up about the uncomfortable, unfiltered reality of stepping into the unknown – from launching my business with no plan, to learning how to stay grounded when everything feels shaky.
Holding your nerve when it feels deeply uncomfortable

What does it really mean to hold your nerve when everything in you wants to bolt?

In this very first episode, I open up about the uncomfortable, unfiltered reality of stepping into the unknown – from launching my business with no plan, to learning how to stay grounded when everything feels shaky. It’s not just about pushing through. It’s about doing what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable.

So, expect a mix of personal stories, relatable leadership lessons, and an unexpected metaphor involving lobsters. If you’ve ever found yourself second-guessing a bold move or wondering If discomfort means you’re on the wrong path, this one’s for you.

Here are the Highlights:

Emma’s Personal Experience (0:42)

Examples of Successful Leaders Overcoming Challenges (1:59)

The Importance of Holding Your Nerve (4:08)

Personal Stories and Practical Advice (7:31)

My Call to Action (10:54)

Mentioned: The Lobster

Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

Share:

More Podcast Episodes

Your Most Powerful Leadership Lessons of 2025

This episode is a little different, because instead of sharing my reflections, I am handing the space over to you.

As we reach the end of the year, it is the perfect moment to pause, look back and make sense of what shaped you as a leader in 2025. Reflection is one of the strongest predictors of leadership growth, yet it is the habit most people skip when the pace picks up.

The HR Space - a year-long group support process designed specifically for senior HR practitioners

How Groups Really Make Decisions

I loved recording this one because it is such a classic leadership trap. We rush straight into the topic, full of energy and opinions, but skip the one thing that would actually help us reach a decision.

Contact Mind Values Leadership - Emma Canter and Team

Why leaders need psychological training as much as skills

In this episode, I reflect on something sparked by my son’s athlete review and how the four part athlete development model mirrors the gaps we often leave in our own leadership growth.

We are brilliant at focusing on skills, outcomes and delivery, but far less disciplined when it comes to the mental and emotional fitness that actually keeps us performing well.

What a rugby crowd can teach us about leadership

This episode starts with a moment at Twickenham that completely caught me off guard and ended up teaching me more about leadership than I expected.

I was there to enjoy the Rugby match, not to learn a lesson, but what happened in those first few minutes made me stop and think about expectations, assumptions and how easy it is to react before you truly understand what is going on. It reminded me how important it is, especially in a new environment, to observe first and act later.