What if brilliant leaders stumble not from lack of skill but from hidden, childhood‑wired patterns and chronic stress? In this episode, Dean Newlund interviews Kendra Dahlstrom to reveal how cultivating self‑awareness and emotional regulation can restore presence, decision quality, and leadership freedom.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Kendra Dahlstrom discuss:

• Why high-achieving leaders sometimes react in ways they later regret
• The concept of the “window of tolerance” and how stress impacts behavior
• How digital habits and modern work environments increase reactivity
• The influence of childhood experiences on leadership patterns and coping mechanisms
• Practical approaches to building self-awareness and improving emotional regulation

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional intelligence, especially self-awareness and self-regulation, is essential for sound decision-making and leadership under pressure.
• Chronic stress and constant digital stimulation push leaders outside their window of tolerance, increasing reactivity.
• Early life experiences often shape coping patterns like workaholism or overcontrol that show up in leadership behavior.
• Evaluating the real costs of behaviors helps leaders distinguish productive habits from harmful ones.
• Improving emotional regulation strengthens presence, clarity, and overall leadership effectiveness.

“Errors are expensive, and the higher you are up in the hierarchy, the more expensive an error will be.” — Kendra Dahlstrom

About Kendra Dahlstrom:

Kendra is an executive coach and senior advisor to high-achieving leaders operating in complex, high-stakes environments. She specializes in emotional intelligence, intuition-informed decision making, executive presence, and leadership under pressure. Her work helps CEOs, founders, and senior executives resolve internal misalignment, regulate nervous system responses, and lead with clarity, authority, and integrity. Drawing on decades of experience advising Fortune 50 companies and global leaders, Kendra integrates psychological insight, strategic rigor, and embodied leadership to support sustainable performance and authentic influence.

Connect with Kendra Dahlstrom:  

Website: https://kendradahlstrom.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendradahlstrom

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendra.dahlstrom

The High Achieving Leader Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yXxXkHjoY35KaSKykVSsW

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw

Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/

The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/

Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com

Phone: 1-800-926-7370

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