Mental Blockers That Hold High-Achievers Back: The Silent Struggles Leaders Face
What mental and emotional blockers in leadership are holding you back from stepping into your fullest potential as a leader?
This is a question I ask my clients, my audiences, and even myself. No matter how much you accomplish, personal and career growth always uncovers new internal challenges to navigate.
High achievers are often so focused on results, responsibilities, and reputation that it’s easy to overlook the internal patterns that quietly hold us back. In my work with executives, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders, I consistently see these same mental and emotional blockers in leadership resurface.
Let’s shine a light on these silent struggles, because naming them is the first step toward releasing them.
1. Lack of Executive Presence
Executive presence is one of those intangible qualities everyone talks about, yet few can truly define. And yet, it makes a measurable difference. Studies show that 26 percent of what it takes to get promoted is directly linked to your executive presence and influence.
That presence is what I call the IT Factor™: a magnetic blend of self-confidence, clarity, and authenticity that draws people in and builds trust. It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about how you carry yourself, how you communicate, and how you influence others through presence, not pressure. The best part is, executive presence and influence are not something you either have or don’t. It’s something you can cultivate. And it starts with self-awareness and intentionality.
2. Confidence Dips
Confidence isn’t a one-time achievement. It’s a daily practice, built over time.
Even the most accomplished professionals experience moments when self-doubt creeps in. Maybe you’ve stepped into a new role, been asked to speak in front of a room full of stakeholders, or faced a bold new challenge. Confidence can dip, especially under pressure. But you’re never stuck there.
Like any skill, self-confidence can be built and strengthened over time. With the right tools, mindset shifts, and support, you can grow your self-confidence, one day at a time.
If this resonates, I invite you to explore my blog on How to Master Presence and Confidence in High-Stakes Moments, where I share more strategies to build your self-confidence from the inside out.
3. Limiting Beliefs & Imposter Syndrome
Believe it or not, we all have similar doubts racing through our minds, even high-profile, seasoned executives. It’s normal to experience imposter syndrome and feel as though we are limiting ourselves, no matter where we are in our career or self-development journey.
“I’m not ready yet.”
“I don’t belong in this room.”
“I feel like a fraud.”
These thoughts often lie beneath the surface, quietly influencing how we present ourselves, what we pursue, and how we lead. Whether it’s imposter syndrome or deep-rooted limiting beliefs, they share a common thread: they convince us to shrink instead of stretch. These internal narratives are rarely based on truth. They’re stories are shaped by early experiences, cultural messages, or past failures. But here’s the empowering truth: stories can be rewritten.
It starts with awareness, recognizing the difference between fact and fear. Then comes the choice to act not out of insecurity, but out of courage. That doesn’t mean the doubts go away completely. But it means you no longer let them dictate your potential. You get to decide whether you lead from the voice of fear or the voice of truth. You’ve earned your place. The challenge now is to believe it and lead from it.
4. Clinging to What Used to Work
One of the hardest truths I have learned, and helped others embrace, is that what got you to where you are in your career today may not get you to where you want to be tomorrow.
It’s easy to stay comfortable with old habits and strategies that once worked. Growth, however, requires us to evolve and expand. That’s why personal and professional transformation calls for a willingness to stretch, to experiment, and to get uncomfortable. It asks us to unlearn and take risks. That’s where personal and professional transformation begins.
Staying comfortable with the familiar may seem safe, but it can quietly keep you stuck. If you feel this way, ask yourself: What am I resisting that could actually help me grow? Am I holding on to something that no longer serves where I want to be?
5. Lack of Preparation
This one might sound simple, but it’s one of the most overlooked blockers I see in high-achieving professionals.
Too often, leaders walk into high-stakes conversations, boardrooms, or important presentations thinking, “I know this stuff, I’ll just wing it.” But that’s not all there is to it.
Presence is a skill. Communication is a skill. Influence is a skill.
And just like any other high-performance skill—like playing an instrument or running a marathon—mastery comes from practice, not chance. Preparation isn’t just about memorizing bullet points or rehearsing slides. It’s about aligning your message with your mission. It’s about clarifying your intention before you ever speak a word and managing your energy, not just your information.
When you prepare intentionally, you show up with clarity, self-confidence, and control. You speak with conviction because you know what matters most and how to communicate it. That’s what builds presence and trust. And that’s what elevates your executive leadership where it’s needed most.
Final Thought: You’re Not Alone, and You’re Not Broken
These mental and emotional blockers in leadership are common, and they don’t mean that you’re unqualified. They don’t mean you’re behind. And they certainly don’t mean you’re broken. They simply mean you’re human.
Every leader I’ve coached has encountered these struggles at some point. The difference between those who stay stuck and those who grow lies in intention, awareness, and support. When you begin to recognize your own blockers with compassion rather than judgment, you reclaim your power to shift them. And from that place, you can step into your next chapter of your leadership journey with more presence, more purpose, and more authenticity than ever before.
You don’t have to do it alone. But you do have to decide that you’re worth the investment. And trust me, you are.
If you enjoyed this blog post, here are some other resources you might enjoy:
My book, "Dare To Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams Into Your Next Chapter": The winner of two Feathered Quill Book awards, and an Book Excellence award, and recommended by Forbes in 2022 as “a teaching memoir”.
My podcast, the "Live Your Best Life with Liz Brunner" podcast: An award-winning and internationally streamed show that highlights powerful stories of re-creation and reinvention from guests who have taken their life experiences, and used that knowledge to create their “next chapters” and live their best lives.
My work as a keynote speaker, executive coach and communication expert. You can read more about more of my services here.
Interested in Taking Yourself or Your Executive Team to the Next Level?
Brunner Communications assists high-profile individuals and organizations in sharpening and developing top level business communication, executive presence, and public speaking skills. Our passionate team provides one-on-one executive business coaching, and runs specialized business workshops. Through customized training, clients learn the necessary skills to become great communicators and build a marketable reputation.
