Episodes

  • Shifting from Perfectionism to Progress

    Shifting from Perfectionism to Progress
    May 13 2026
    Perfectionism can keep talented professionals stuck, invisible, and over-preparing. In this episode, Andrea C. McLean explains why perfectionism is often fear wearing the mask of standards and shares four practical shifts to help you move from perfectionism to progress. Resource: Promotion Ready Leader Workbook, andreacmclean.com/promotion-ready
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    10 mins
  • How to Build a Resilient Mindset During Career Uncertainty

    How to Build a Resilient Mindset During Career Uncertainty
    May 6 2026
    Uncertainty is no longer the exception in your professional life. It is part of the condition many leaders and high-achieving professionals are navigating every day. In this episode of Designing Your Future Self, Executive Coach Andrea C. McLean explores what resilience really means. Resilience is not toughness, endurance, or pretending you are fine. It is the capacity to adapt, recover, and bounce forward with clarity and intention. Andrea identifies four factors that make high-achieving professionals more vulnerable to uncertainty, shares how her F.L.A.P. Method®, Face Life’s Adversities and Persevere, serves as a practical resilience framework, and walks you through five ways to build a resilient mindset starting today. Because resilience is not a personality trait you either have or don’t have. It is a skill. A practice. And you can build it. Resource mentioned in this episode: Promotion Ready Leader Workbook andreacmclean.com/promotion-ready
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    10 mins
  • From Comparison to Celebration

    From Comparison to Celebration
    Apr 30 2026
    Comparison isn't just the thief of joy. In your career, it's the thief of clarity, confidence, and momentum. In this episode of Designing Your Future Self, Executive Coach Andrea C. McLean unpacks the comparison trap: why high-achieving professionals fall into it, what it's quietly costing them, and how to break free. Drawing on the S.O.A.R. Method®, Andrea walks through the three most common comparison triggers she sees in her coaching practice — Milestone Envy, Timeline Anxiety, and Identity Comparison — and shares four practical ways to shift from measuring yourself against others to celebrating your own unique path. Because here's the truth: your career is not a race with other people. It is a journey toward your own fullest expression of leadership. And the only meaningful comparison is between who you are today and who your future self is becoming. Resources: Promotion Ready Leader Workbook — andreacmclean.com/promotion-ready
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    10 mins
  • The Art of Saying No: Setting Boundaries Without Guilt

    The Art of Saying No: Setting Boundaries Without Guilt
    Apr 15 2026
    Every high-achieving professional knows the feeling — the requests keep coming because you're the one who always delivers. But every yes you give to something that doesn't serve your priorities is a no to your future self. In this episode, executive and career coach Andrea C. McLean breaks down why the most capable people in the room are often the ones who struggle most with saying no — and what it's costing their careers. You'll learn where the guilt really comes from, why boundaries are not walls but the architecture of your leadership, and how to say no with confidence, clarity, and grace. In this episode: - Why high achievers attract more demands, and how saying yes to everything becomes a dangerous identity - The three layers behind the guilt: social conditioning, fear of consequences, and a misunderstanding of what boundaries are - How The S.O.A.R. Method® connects boundary-setting to owning your value as a leader - Four practical approaches for saying no without damaging relationships or derailing opportunities Saying no is not selfishness. It is strategic leadership. 🎯 Ready to do the deeper work? The Promotion Ready Leader Workbook is available at andreacmclean.com/promotion-ready for $47. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 5 — we're talking money mindset and rewriting your wealth story.
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    10 mins
  • Transforming Fear into Fuel: Building Confidence from Within

    Transforming Fear into Fuel: Building Confidence from Within
    Apr 8 2026
    Fear isn't the problem. What you do with it is. In this episode, Executive Coach Andrea C. McLean reframes fear entirely, showing you why the most powerful leaders aren't fearless; they've simply learned to use fear differently. Drawing on the F.L.A.P. Method®, Andrea shares four practical tools she uses with coaching clients to transform fear from a paralysis trigger into the fuel that drives bold leadership decisions. If fear has been keeping you stuck, silent, or playing small in your career, this episode will change how you think about it. Resources: Promotion Ready Leader Workbook — andreacmclean.com/promotion-ready
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    11 mins
  • The Courage to Be Seen - Embracing Visibility in Leadership

    The Courage to Be Seen - Embracing Visibility in Leadership
    Apr 1 2026
    The leader who gets promoted isn't always the most qualified. They're the most visible. In this episode of Designing Your Future Self Season 2, Executive Coach Andrea C. McLean breaks down why so many high-achieving professionals are terrified of visibility — and what it's quietly costing their careers. If you've been waiting for the right people to notice how hard you work, how much you contribute, and how ready you are for the next level — this episode is for you. In this episode — Why visibility matters more than qualifications — The four reasons talented professionals stay hidden — The real cost of staying invisible — Five steps to finding the courage to be seen — Your assignment for the week ahead Subscribe and follow Designing Your Future Self for a new episode every Wednesday. Resources available Promotion Ready Leader Workbook — andreacmclean.com/promotion-ready Designing Futures Newsletter — andreacmclean.com
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    10 mins
  • Breaking Free from Limiting Mindsets

    Breaking Free from Limiting Mindsets
    Mar 25 2026
    Is there a story you're telling yourself about what's possible in your career that might not actually be true? In this first episode of Season 2, we're starting with the most important conversation I could think of: limiting beliefs. I'll walk you through where they come from, three powerful questions to identify the ones quietly running in the background of your career, and a four-step framework to break free and replace them with something more accurate and more empowering. Because the gap between where you are and where you deserve to be isn't a skills gap, it's a belief gap. Your assignment is waiting at the end of the episode. Ready to take this work deeper? The Promotion Ready Leader Workbook walks you through the mindset work, strengths diagnostic, and 90-day action plan to position yourself for your next promotion — available now for $47 at andreacmclean.com/promotion-ready
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    12 mins
  • Navigating Transitions - Thriving Through Career Changes

    Navigating Transitions - Thriving Through Career Changes
    Jul 31 2025
    Career transitions can feel both exciting and daunting. Whether you’re stepping into leadership, changing industries, or starting a new path, the right mindset and strategies can turn uncertainty into growth. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to embrace a growth mindset to approach change with resilience Ways to leverage your transferable skills and reframe your experience Why building a support network accelerates your transition Practical tips to manage uncertainty and stay focused on what you can control Key Takeaway: Career transitions are opportunities to reset and grow. With the right approach, you can redefine your journey and step into new roles with clarity and confidence. Action Step: Define one clear goal for your next career chapter, identify at least three transferable skills that support it, and reach out to one mentor, colleague, or contact who can guide you. Highlights: 00:41 Navigating Career Transitions 02:03 Embracing a Growth Mindset 02:40 Leveraging Transferable Skills 03:30 Building Your Support Network 04:19 Managing Uncertainty During Transitions 05:04 Action Plan for Career Transitions 05:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Resources & Links: Follow me on social media for more personal growth tips @andreacmclean Read the blog post: Navigating Leadership Pivots in the Workplace: Steer Your Team to Success https://acmcoachinggroup.com/navigating-leadership-pivots-in-the-workplace-steer-your-team-to-success/
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    7 mins