345: The Science of Self-Talk and Its Impact on Leadership with Dr. Suzy Burke

The voice in your head may be leading your team more than you realize.

Nikki sits down with Dr. Suzy Burke, leadership expert, speaker, author, and psychologist, to unpack the science of self-talk and how our internal dialogue shapes the way we lead. From overthinking and self-doubt to the "monster" that shows up when we step outside our comfort zones, Dr. Suzy explains why leaders must learn to catch, confront, and change the stories they tell themselves. 🧠

Together, Nikki and Dr. Suzy explore the real cost of negative self-talk, the neuroscience behind fight, flight, and freeze, and practical tools like the DIG folder and the three Cs to help leaders shift from fear to grounded confidence. This conversation is a powerful reminder that when we learn to lead ourselves better, we create healthier teams, stronger cultures, and better outcomes for everyone.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Suzy on LinkedIn

Get the book "Headamentals" now!

Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

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Nikki's Key Takeaways:

• Self-talk quietly shapes leadership effectiveness.
• Overthinking delays action and erodes confidence.
• Leaders' emotions spread through their teams.
• Catch, confront, and change negative narratives.
• Confident self-leadership creates healthier team culture.