Boulder leads with values. Innovation. Respect. Inclusion. Integrity. In this city, leadership is more than a role—it’s a reflection of who you are and what you stand for.

The community here doesn’t just talk values—they live them. From sustainable practices to entrepreneurial boldness, Boulder’s culture asks its leaders to walk their talk.

It’s easy to preach presence. It’s harder to live it—especially when the stakes are high, the inbox is full, and the team is looking to you for direction.

I work with leaders who are no strangers to success. But here’s what I’ve learned coaching them at their edges: without anchoring into their core values, even the most talented burn out.

The Truth

The brain is wired for fear. Survival. Protection. Left unchecked, it leads you to lead from reactivity: saying yes when you mean no, micromanaging instead of empowering, avoiding feedback conversations until they explode.

One executive client came to me with classic signs of burnout: tight chest, sleepless nights, and that panicked feeling like something was always about to go wrong. She was respected in her field, but barely holding it together behind the scenes.

In our work, we uncovered her core values: Integrity. Simplicity. Impact.

And then the shift began.

She paused. She listened. And she started leading with her values in real time.

That looked like:

• Ending meetings 15 minutes early so she could breathe.
• Telling her team, “I’m not clear right now. I’ll get back to you tomorrow.”
• Saying no to a flashy opportunity that wasn’t aligned.

The Lesson

Presence isn’t about stillness. It’s about knowing what you stand for so deeply, you can respond—not react.

This only happens when you rewire the brain.

Because fear is fast. But values are powerful.

Another client, a startup founder, was stuck in a cycle of over-promising and under-resourcing. The company culture was burning out fast.

Through our work, he realized his value of Transparency was getting hijacked by his Saboteur: the Pleaser.

Once he made the shift, he started:

• Sharing honest timelines.
• Delegating with clear boundaries.
• Naming his own capacity out loud.

The results? Retention improved. Clients respected the honesty. His team relaxed.

The Application

Want to stay present and powerful?

Start here:

1. Name your top three values. Write your own definitions.
2. Notice where fear overrides them. That’s your growth edge.
3. Choose one value-driven action each day. Even micro-moves shift your pattern.

Examples:

• Instead of sending a rushed email, wait and write it with clarity.
• Say “I’ll get back to you” when your brain is flooded.
• Name your value before a big decision: “I choose this because it aligns with ___.”

This is the only path to sustainable leadership. Without values, presence is performative. With values, presence becomes power.

Let’s land the week. Take a breath. Reflect. What did you choose this week that aligned with your values? What did fear try to hijack—and what did you learn from it?

Leadership doesn’t happen on Monday morning. It happens in the quiet, reflective moments when the emails slow down and the clarity returns.

Let this weekend reset your compass.

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Wiki Values Based Innovation:

Explore how anchoring innovation in values leads to sustainable, purpose-driven outcomes. Dive deeper into the research on values-based leadership and decision-making.

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The Primal Edge: Wake. Lead. Win.

Kate Galt Primal Leadership Business Coaching

Kate Galt coaches and challenges leaders at all levels— from entrepreneurs to seasoned executives— to sharpen their vision, articulate key messages so they connect and inspire, and make decisive, strategic moves that drive real business growth. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she works with individuals and teams to strengthen leadership, improve team dynamics, and achieve measurable results.

Her coaching is rooted in Primal Leadership—because the strongest leaders move with instinct, command presence without force, and create unshakable trust through raw, real connection.

Like any driven person, Kate is always figuring out how to do it all—running a business, raising two kids with her equally involved husband, and still making time for the adventure that brought her to Colorado in 1998. Whether it’s snowboarding, mountain biking, or chasing an ultimate frisbee, she knows the best leadership isn’t just learned—it’s lived.

The bottom line? Kate makes good leaders great.

Curious about what makes her coaching style so impactful? Book a call and experience it for yourself at CoachTheLeaders.com.