When the Achievement Drive Becomes a Trap - with Graziela Cajado Ogland

In part two of the Positive Intelligence mini-series on The Executive Coach Podcast, Maya Gudka and executive coach Graziela Cajado-Ogland explore two saboteurs that organisations often reward: the Hyper-Achiever and the Hyper-Rational.These patterns can fuel incredible performance, but left unchecked, they distort our sense of self-worth. Maya's clients are increasingly coming to her specifically wanting to work on their self-worth, and this conversation explores why that matters.Maya shares openly how these saboteurs have impacted her personally, and Graziela brings insights about the real cost of overusing these patterns in leadership and life.The conversation covers how we link our value to our results and what happens when we fail, why being overly rational can leave people feeling unheard, and the three magic words for high-achievers: "Do you want to be heard, hugged, or helped?" They discuss treating emotions as data rather than distractions, and redefining success on your own terms.This episode is particularly relevant for leaders who feel their self-worth is tied to outcomes, high-performers struggling to connect emotionally, anyone navigating career transitions or identity shifts, and coaches and executives ready to lead with more empathy.You’ll Learn:Why hyper-achieving can erode self-worthHow hyper-rationality limits emotional connection and leadership effectivenessThe link between internal judgment and judgment of othersPractical ways to redefine success and reclaim your self-worthHow to treat emotions as data—not distractionsHow to honour your values without burning outWho This Is For:High performers who feel pressure to constantly prove themselvesLeaders who feel emotionally disconnected or misunderstoodCoaches, execs, and entrepreneurs ready to build more sustainable successAnyone navigating transitions in identity, career, or relationshipsYou can connect and find out more about Maya on her website www.mayagudka.comConnect with Graziela on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracoaching/