Where Do You Need to Go OffScript First?

Let's brew this together and create a movement

This is Post #000/2 of Offscript. The first official essay drops on 1 July 2025. As part of a movement of corporate leaders done with fear and suffocating rules, expect the mindset and tools to advance your career without betraying your values. Build workplaces where talent stops being silenced and drives real innovation. If you’d like more support on your leadership journey, join Offscript Society. You’ll get monthly Q&As, special workshops, and events.

Yesterday morning, a high-performing leader told me he watched a promotion go to someone who "speaks better" but knows less. Again.

Then another pinged me while I was having my mid-day tea, that double-checking the 13th time a message she was to deliver at the town hall on Monday. “What if I say something wrong? I don’t want to look stupid.”

This morning, the first message on my phone: “I’ve tried to be nice and accommodating, but how do I get my team to be less scared of me, and share their challenges? I wanna help them but they won’t let me!”

Does any of the above describe you?

Ever since my first clients at the UN in 2012, I thought these were individual struggles. Then the struggles began to repeat, and the patterns crystallized. Over the last 13 years, I had gathered so much content that it was enough to put into two books (8 Paradoxes of Leadership Agility and Leaders People Love.)

But corporate leaders today still face the same core challenges. Too many to count, too many to tackle all at once.

That's exactly why OffScript tackles this through three clear areas where every leader needs a reboot.

I wanna know where you wanna begin, so chime in below.

(SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM FOR THE POLL)

Three Core Pillars

Over the next few months, I'm rolling out content that dismantles the real barriers keeping people from leading effectively while staying authentic. Here's what's coming:

#1 🔥 Fear Breakup

People tell me how fears sabotage their daily interactions.

A VP got promoted and felt the crushing weight of being an impostor.

Someone won the biggest contract but felt anxious about exceeding expectations on the next deal.

Leaders who run tight ships lose sleep over details because they don't want to look bad in front of their bosses.

High performers struggle to ask for bigger opportunities because they don't want to deal with rejection.

Most career advice tells you to 'get over' your fears. That's useless advice.

Instead, we're dismantling fears from a research perspective, understanding how they show up in work and life, and constructive ways to break up with fears.

• The shame spiral that makes you overthink every contribution

• Authority fears that make you shrink at key conversations

• Imposter syndrome that keeps you playing small

• The perfectionism trap that prevents you from taking action

• The fear of public speaking and having weak knees every time you stand in front of an audience

Many more fears we can talk about, but let’s think about it as a bucket first.

Important to note that this isn’t therapy. My goal is to help you understand it and explore possible reframes. I will also share strategies that worked for me, as well as brainstorm something for you (for my paid members).

#2 ⚡ Rule Rebellion

We're exposing social conditioning and corporate norms that are actively sabotaging diverse talent:

People beat around the bush when giving feedback because "being direct is rude."

People find it hard to say no because "being responsible and dedicated is the gold standard."

Ramblers get promoted ahead of strategic thinkers because they look more "leader quality" (while wasting everyone's time in meetings.)

If the rules don’t fit, you might not be the problem. It’s time to rethink.

We're challenging the outdated scripts that keep capable people stuck in their careers:

• Why lack of trust (not logic) is the real problem in persuasion

• Why "speak up more" advice fails for culturally humble communicators

• Why we struggle to say no and become overly responsible aka working non-stop!

• How to develop "Main Character Energy" in your executive presence

• Why managing your energy is your responsibility, not your boss's

• Self-promotion strategies that honor your values and reverse social conditioning

#3 🌊 Culture Ripple

Real culture change happens when individuals stop waiting for permission and start creating the workplaces they want. This pillar is more skills-focused as it’s about driving change.

A manager stopped office gossip by redirecting conversations to solutions instead of problems.

A director created psychological safety by restructuring how feedback flows through the team, and innovative ideas increased by 200%.

A VP started rotating meeting facilitation among quiet team members instead of always calling on the same voices, and suddenly, breakthrough insights emerged from unexpected places.

Culture change can't wait for perfect conditions. It starts with bold leaders taking strategic actions, so I want you to stack the small wins.

We're learning how small, intentional moves create organizational transformation:

• Breaking negativity cycles that poison team dynamics

• Creating psychological safety that actually works for multicultural teams

• Building influence without formal authority through building trust

• Developing personal brand strategies that feel genuine to corporate professionals

• Becoming an audience-centric communicator everyone wants to listen to

Here's Where I Need Your Help

Which of these resonates most with where you are right now?

Are you stuck in the 🔥Fear Breakup phase, wondering how to stop overthinking your way out of opportunities?

In ⚡️Rule Rebellion mode, tired of following scripts that weren't written for you?

Or ready for 🌊Culture Ripple, knowing you can create change but needing the tools to make it happen?

Subscribe to join the poll:

Drop a comment/ reply this email and tell me:

1. Which of the above topics stood out to you?

2. Any others worth considering?

Your input will shape how I approach each topic. This isn't just content—it's a movement we're building together.

P.S. If this post resonates, share it with another leader who's tired of playing by yesterday's rules. The more diverse voices we have in this conversation, the stronger our collective impact.

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