What if the patterns that helped you succeed are also holding you back at work? In this episode, I sit down with MIT professor Dr. Deborah Ancona to talk about how the “family ghosts” you carry from childhood can shape the way you handle authority, conflict, responsibility, perfectionism, and asking for help. We dive into how recognizing these patterns helps you understand your triggers, change behaviors that keep you stuck, and lead with greater intention. Tune in to discover how your past may be influencing the way you work, lead, and relate to others.
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In this Episode, You Will Learn
00:00 What are “family ghosts,” and how do they follow us into adulthood?
04:45 Can the patterns from your childhood become your greatest strengths?
09:30 Why some behaviors are easier to change than others.
14:45 How familiar family roles can shape the way you lead.
18:15 How reconnecting with forgotten parts of yourself can strengthen your leadership.
23:45 Which “good ghosts” help ambitious people succeed?
28:00 How avoiding conflict and refusing to ask for help can create anxiety.
30:30 How do you identify the ghosts you want to change?
32:45 How feedback can reveal patterns you may not see in yourself.
37:00 How role models can help you try on new ways of leading.
40:15 Are your workplace relationships repeating old family patterns?
42:00 How thinking in “triangles” can change difficult workplace dynamics.
43:30 When is it time to step away from a relationship or workplace?
Resources + Links
Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever
Watch the podcast on YouTube
Find more resources on our website morraam.com
Follow
Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam
Follow Deborah on LinkedIn: @deborahancona123
