You think you’re ready for senior leadership until you're in the seat.
This episode breaks down the unspoken realities no one tells you about the top job.

From optics beating substance to the human cost of climbing the ladder, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing 10 brutal truths I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.

If you want to lead at a higher level without losing yourself in the process, this one’s for you.

Timestamps

**Act 1: How The Game Actually Works**

1:20 - Optics Beat Substance:
Why perception often matters more than performance.

2:32 - Power Dynamics Drive Decisions:
It’s not about ideas, it’s about who holds the power.

3:25 - Value is Wasted Without Context:
Even good work gets ignored if it’s not aligned with the top priorities.

**Act 2: How The System Protects Itself**

4:40 - Wins Are Required for Survival:
Leadership is a “what have you done for me lately” game.

5:32 - Losses Are Hidden or Deflected:
Accountability often disappears at the highest levels.

6:32 - Swim Lanes Are Protected:
Territory becomes sacred, and people get weird about it.

**Act 3: The Human Cost & What's At Stake**

7:44 - Sponsors Sometimes Matter More Than Performance:
Visibility and advocacy often outweigh skill.

8:45 - Egos and Insecurity Are Everywhere:
Bigger titles come with more fear, comparison, and fragile confidence.

9:53 - The Frontline Gets Forgotten:
The farther you get from the work, the easier it is to lose perspective.

10:49 - Some Leaders Lose Themselves Trying to Win:
How people change when status becomes their identity.

12:16 - Challenge For Listeners:
Define your non-negotiables before stepping into the top seat.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

The people who grow the fastest in their careers know how to make decisions, even when both options are terrible. In this episode, I share a five-question framework I’ve used for over a decade to make fast, clear decisions, plus how to recover when you get it wrong.

Timestamps

01:18 – StoryTime: Where I developed the decision-making framework.

03:30 – The 5 Lens Decision Making Framework: The five key questions I run every decision through to reduce fear and make high-quality decisions fast.

5:37 – What to Do When All the Options Suck: My two survival questions for navigating no-win situations where none of the choices feel right.

7:25 – How to Bounce Back After a Bad Decision: Three keys to recovering fast when you make the wrong call.

9:16 – Challenge for Listeners: Take one uncomfortable decision you’ve been avoiding and run it through this framework.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

For the final episode of 2025, Im reflecting on the moments that defined the year, the wins, the setbacks, and the mindset Im carrying into 2026. The podcast saw incredible growth this year, and it's all thanks to you.

I'll be back January 14th with a new episode. Have a great Christmas and New Year!

Timestamps:

00:52 – 3 Wins from 2025
Leaning into video, staying consistent, and experimenting with new formats.

02:38 – What Didn’t Go Well
Why living in the future and poor time management almost derailed progress.

3:55 – The Biggest Realization of the Year
It's time to stop playing safe and bring full-strength Austin into the content.

4:52 – My Theme for 2026
Why identifying and staying in your strength zone matters more than ever.

5:42 – Challenge For Listeners
One question to ask yourself as you head into the new year.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Too many people chase success at the cost of who they are. But what if you didn’t have to choose between doing well and doing what’s right? In this episode, I share a story from my early leadership career, and the moment I realized that how you win matters more than just winning. We’ll talk about the hidden costs of unchecked ambition, why integrity matters more than ever, and how to build a career you’re actually proud of.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

What if your coworkers were straight out of a sitcom? In this episode of The Introvert Leader Podcast, I’m breaking down five workplace archetypes using characters from The Office. From the passionate-but-clueless Michael Scott to the perfectionist Angela and people-pleaser Andy, you’ll learn how to spot these styles, appreciate their strengths, and work around their blind spots. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to survive your 9-to-5, this one’s packed with insights and laughs.

Timestamps

01:44 – Michael Scott (Mr. Nothing But Heart): Why leading with passion matters and how it can backfire when you don’t read the room.

06:04 – Angela Martin (Mrs. Perfection): High standards and hidden mistakes, and the double-edged sword of perfectionism at work.

10:42 – Andy Bernard (Mr. People Pleaser): People pleasing feels productive, but it often masks insecurity and undermines leadership.

15:13 – Jim Halpert (Mr. Wasted Potential): Coasting in your comfort zone? Learn how to stop playing it safe and start showing up.

21:10 – Kelly Kapoor (Mrs. Blind Confidence): The boldness is impressive, but how far can confidence take you without self-awareness?

25:02 – Challenge for Listeners: Which character are you, and what are two blind spots you might need to confront?

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Taking a short break to reset and plan what’s next. I’ll be back on November 19th with a special episode. It's something a little more fun, but still focused on leadership, growth, and real-world lessons from the workplace.

In the meantime, catch up on past episodes and keep growing.

The Office - New episode on Nov.19th

You inherit a team. One person is dragging everyone down. Now what?

In this episode, I break down how to turn around a low-performing employee without killing your team’s culture or your own credibility. I’ll share a personal story of a turnaround attempt that didn’t work, the five biggest mistakes leaders make, how to uncover the real reason behind low performance, and what to do when it's already too late.

Timestamps

00:34 – Story: Why coaching, feedback, and accountability didn’t work and what I learned from failing to turn someone around.

03:04 – 5 Mistakes Leaders Make With Low Performers: From waiting too long to pushing too hard. Here are the common traps leaders fall into when trying to fix performance.

05:52 – How to Find the Real Problem: Is it a skill issue? Or a will issue? Learn how to diagnose the root cause before creating your plan.

9:33 – The Turnaround Strategy: How to build a plan that balances high standards with human empathy and actually works.

15:41 – When It’s Too Late: Three warning signs that it's time to move on, even if you've tried everything.

17:49 – Challenge For Listeners: An action step to help you stop avoiding a tough conversation and start leading with clarity.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Ever feel stuck in your career but can’t quite figure out why? Or feel like networking makes you fake? Or wonder what to do when you lose your motivation?

In this episode of Career Support, I tackle the real, raw questions people are afraid to ask. These aren’t hypothetical questions; they’re pulled directly from the internet and answered through the lens of 15+ years of career experience and leadership growth. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re on the right path, this episode will help you find clarity and momentum.

Timestamps

00:16 – Welcome to Career Support: Why I started this series and how tough questions drive growth

00:35 – Changing Careers in Your 30s: When money’s not enough; Meaning, fear, timing, and how I made the leap

03:00 – How to Network Without Feeling Fake: 7 steps that changed how I build relationships (as an introvert who hates networking)

7:22 – What to Do When You Lose Motivation: How to rediscover your drive when the spark is gone, plus a personal story that changed everything

11:37 – Challenge For Listeners: Your next bold move starts with one honest question

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Resources

• Simon Sinek Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp0HIF3SfI4
• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): https://sts-coaching.com/resources/

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com