What if being harder on yourself isn’t making you better?
Meet Dwayne. He’s a respected COO who appears calm and confident, but internally he second-guesses himself, replays conversations, and feels like he should always be doing more. His instinct to help also leads him to take on too much, leaving him drained.What Dwayne wants most is to quiet the inner critic, trust himself, and lead with more confidence and authenticity.
Today, Jay sits down with Kristen Harcourt, executive coach, keynote speaker, and emotional intelligence expert. Together, they explore how leaders can challenge self-doubt, practice vulnerability, and quiet the inner critic without losing their edge.
Notable Quotes
“There’s a part of them that believes that inner critic that can be very loud has helped them get to where they are today.” — Kristen Harcourt
“Once you make conscious what was unconscious, you get to create a new story and a new way of showing up.” — Kristen Harcourt
“You have to start by coaching yourself.” — Kristen Harcourt
“Ultimately, we all want to give and receive love.” — Kristen Harcourt
About Our Guest
Kristen Harcourt is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and emotional intelligence expert who helps leaders become more self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and intentional in how they lead. Her work focuses on helping high performers better understand their internal patterns, quiet their inner critic, strengthen emotional resilience, embrace vulnerability, and create deeper connections with the people they lead.
Resources & Links
Kristen Harcourt
Website – https://kristenharcourt.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenharcourt/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kristenharcourt/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kristenharcourt/
X – https://x.com/@kristenharcourt/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmeNVxP4IwkjSdLFpp696zQ
Jay Abbasi
Website – https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Join Us Next Time
On Friday, Jay shares the story of Jack Jack and a simple technique he learned years ago on a meditation retreat for dealing with the inner critic. Instead of fighting that critical voice or allowing it to take over, Jay explains how he learned to respond with greater kindness while still maintaining his edge. You’ll learn how to create your own version of this technique to work through self-doubt, stop fighting with yourself, and change your relationship with the voice that constantly tries to put you down.