Let me ask you a question.

Have you ever noticed that the harder you push, the more resistance you feel?

You’re gripping your leadership tighter... but nothing is moving.

You're speaking with more force... but your team seems to be listening less.

You’re putting in more hours... but getting back less clarity, less creativity, and definitely less joy.

This is the story we've been sold.

It's the myth that's been handed down to every ambitious, capable leader. We call it grit. We call it hustle. We call it strength.

We call it Pushing Through.

But what if it's a trap?

What if the very strategy you're using to succeed is the one that's quietly dismantling your well-being, your connection to your team, and your love for the work itself?

What if the solution isn't found in applying more force... but in finding exactly where to release it?

In this podcast we are dismantling The Myth of Pushing Through. We'll explore the neuroscience of why it keeps you stuck, and how the timeless wisdom of the horse can show us a more powerful, more present way to lead.

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

Are you constantly feeling stretched, taking on more than your fair share, or solving problems your team members should be handling?

This episode of "The Reins of Leadership" dives deep into a common leadership pitfall: working harder than your team, instead of empowering them to step up. We explore what enabling truly looks like in a leadership context, the role of boundaries in accountability and growth, and the difference between genuine, respect-driven leadership and detrimental people-pleasing.

If you're ready to shift the dynamic and cultivate a more capable, independent team, this episode is for you. Plus, stick around for five powerful realignment questions to help you reflect and reclaim your energy.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Recognising Enabling Behaviours: Identify the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways leaders inadvertently enable their teams, leading to over-functioning and team under-performance.

The Power of Boundaries: Why clear boundaries are not about being harsh, but about creating clarity, respect, and enabling sustainable leadership.

People-Pleasing vs. Authentic Leadership: The difference between seeking approval and leading with integrity and mutual respect, even when it means having tough conversations.

The Cost of Over-Functioning: How taking on too much can impact your energy, team morale, productivity, and the overall development of your team members.

Key Takeaways:

🌸 Recognise your own patterns of enabling or people-pleasing is the first step for change.

🌸 Clear boundaries protect your energy and empower your team to grow.

🌸 Develop your team's capabilities rather than doing the work for them.

🌸 Courageous Conversations Create Clarity.

🌸 Lead with Respect, Not for Applause.

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au

What if the key to truly effective leadership isn't about saying more, but about communicating with clarity - often saying less and showing up with a calm, focused presence?

In today’s episode of The Reins of Leadership, we explore a powerful, often unspoken, dimension of leadership: the messages your team receives beyond your words. Drawing wisdom from the honest feedback of horses, we uncover how your energy, intention, and non-verbal cues shape your team's experience and performance.

This conversation was inspired by a recent workshop, where the principles of effective communication and influence kept pointing back to the lessons learned in the paddock. Horses don't lie; they mirror your clarity, your energy, and your deepest intentions.

🔑 In this episode, we unpack:

• The Power of Clear Cues: Why, just like with horses, your team needs unambiguous signals. Discover how misalignments between your words, actions, and energy can create confusion, and learn to deliver your message with precision.

o Reflect: When was the last time your "unspoken" message might have contradicted your words?

• Leading with Calm Energy: Understand the energetic atmosphere you cultivate and its direct impact on team safety, trust, and innovation. Learn how to be the steady anchor, even in turbulent times.

o Reflect: What kind of energetic wake do you leave behind in your team interactions?

• The Compass of Intention: Explore why your underlying purpose as a leader matters profoundly. We discuss how to clarify your intention so it authentically guides your actions and resonates with your team.

o Reflect: Is your core leadership intention clear to you? More importantly, is it palpable to your team?

• Reading the Room (and the Herd): Moving beyond just "delivering" information to truly tuning into your team’s unspoken feedback. Learn to lead responsively by developing your emotional intelligence.

o Reflect: Are you truly listening to what your team isn't saying, or just performing in front of them?

The Core Lesson:

Effective leadership is less about control and more about congruence. It’s not about pushing harder, but about showing up more consciously. By mastering your clear cues, calm energy, focused intention, and your ability to read your "herd," you build trust, create psychological safety, and unlock your team's true potential.

Join us as we shift from "herding cats" to moving in harmony with the herd. This episode is your invitation to realign how you lead from within.

Connect with Merinda:


Instagram: @IamMerindaSmith

Website: www.merindasmith.com.au