The Story

I’m supposed to know better. I coach and lead with emotional intelligence. I live and breathe The Primal Leadership Way. I guide people on how to recognize their inner critic and reclaim their power.

And still—I missed it.

Last week, I ran my leadership like a checklist. Tasks got done. Meetings ran smooth. Outcomes landed. But my body said something else. Tense shoulders. Jaw tight. Head buzzing by 3 p.m. I ignored it. “Just a big week,” I told myself. But the truth? I’d slipped into performance mode. Not alignment. Not presence. Not truth. By Friday, I sat with it. And what came up surprised me. Fear. Shame. And the old whisper of: You should’ve handled this better.

The Lesson

This is why leadership isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it gig. Even those of us who live this work get hijacked. Because the inner critic doesn’t alway yell. Sometimes it whispers. It slides in under the radar and convinced me that pushing harder is the answer. That I’m behind. That I’ve let someone down. That I DO have to fix it—alone. It’s sneaky. And it will drive leadership if we’re not paying attention. But here’s the power in all of it: As soon as I named what I was feeling, everything changed. I stopped blaming the to-do list. I stopped judging my energy. And I started choosing from a different place. That’s not weakness. That’s emotional leadership.

The Shift

Here’s the truth: your emotions always drive your results. Whether you name them or not.

If you want clarity, confidence, and consistency—don’t bypass the feeling.

Name it.

Use it.

Then choose.

That’s The Choice Model. And it’s not just for your team. It’s for you, too.

The Application

You can’t lead what you won’t feel. So this weekend, I invite you to pause. Right now—even if it’s just 60 seconds—drop into your body. What are you feeling? (Pick one: Mad, Sad, Glad, Fear, Shame.) Don’t explain it. Just feel it.

Then ask yourself:

• What’s the story I’m believing?

• What’s the truth underneath that?

• And what do I want to choose next?

This is how you lead yourself back. Not by grinding through. But by coming home to what’s real.

You Can’t Lead What You Won’t Feel

Leadership isn’t a strategy. It’s a signal. A transmission. A felt presence.

If you’re numb, your leadership is too.

You can have the best plan in the world, the perfect org chart, the smartest team. But if you’re bypassing your emotional reality—if you won’t feel it—you’ll lead from reactivity, not resonance. And your people will feel the dissonance before you even say a word.

• Unfelt anger turns into control.
• Sadness unacknowledged becomes withdrawal.
• Shame unseen becomes overachievement.
• Unacknowledged shame turns into posturing.
• Fear unnamed becomes micromanagement.
• Ignored sadness hardens into cynicism.
• Unshared joy? It becomes burnout in disguise.

You don’t have to be emotionally expressive to be emotionally intelligent. But you do have to be emotionally honest. Because your team isn’t following your words. They’re following your nervous system. The moment you feel it—fully—you stop outsourcing your authority. You stop making others responsible for your unease. You reclaim choice. You create trust.

So here’s the truth:

You can’t lead what you won’t feel. And the good news? Once you do feel it—you become undeniable.

News from Kate

I’m not here to preach. I’m in the arena with you.

And if you’re navigating something hard—schedule a 15-minute Traction Talk.

Want a deeper dive into this concept? Here’s a must-read on stress and overwhelm.

And if you’re in Boulder, here’s what’s happening locally to unwind or reflect this weekend.

You don’t need to be perfect.

You just need to be present.

And still—I miss it sometimes.

That’s why I keep choosing.

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.