Nextfem Leaders
Nextfem Leaders · Episode 25

#25 - Why the disease to please is blocking your next level (and what to do instead)

15 April 2026 · 25:33

Nextfem Leaders · Episode 25

#25 - Why the disease to please is blocking your next level (and what to do instead)

0:000:00

Show notes

Welcome to the Nextfem Leaders Podcast!

Have you ever felt like being "nice" and "empathetic", the very qualities that helped you for so long, are now holding you back in your career?

Then this episode is for you.

Today we're talking about one of the most common saboteurs I see in the women I coach: the People Pleaser, or what research also calls the Disease to Please.

I'm sharing what it really is, what it's costing you as a leader, and five practices to manage it so you can lead with both warmth AND clarity.


Resources mentioned: → Take the free Saboteur Assessment → https://positiveintelligence.com/saboteurs/ → Episode 5: Let's Talk About Unrealistic Dreams


Questions to reflect on:

  1. Where is the People Pleaser showing up most in your leadership right now?
  2. That guilt you felt last time you set a boundary, was it real guilt or identity-shift guilt?
  3. When you say no to something, what are you saying YES to?
  4. What would happen if you turned your empathy toward yourself the way you do toward others?

References: Shirzad Chamine — Positive Intelligence ·

Alicia Menendez — The Likeability Trap


Ready to do this work at a deeper level? Becoming HER is six months of deep clarity, confidence, and inner leadership. I would love to invite you to a free career strategy session.

Book yours → https://calendly.com/isabelfonseca/careerstrategysession

Learn more about Becoming HER - https://www.isabelfonseca.com/1on1career-leadership-coaching

Don't miss a single insight — subscribe to our monthly newsletter for updates, exclusive tips, and empowering resources straight to your inbox. https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1657777/171964544851117655/share

Stay connected → Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextfemleaders/ → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-fonseca-coaching/

If this episode resonated, share it with a woman in your life who needed to hear this today.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for walking this journey with me.

See you in the next episode, beautiful.

Music Credit Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) Track: Floating in Space by Danijel Zambo https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/floating-in-space License code: E3XA5M3RNXJFBRJN