Episode 134: When Protecting Yourself at Work Starts Holding You Back

by | Oct 29, 2026

Episode 134: When Protecting Yourself at Work Starts Holding You Back

by | Oct 29, 2026

Sometimes the habits that help us protect ourselves at work can quietly start limiting us too.

I look at what happens when scrutiny, bias or past experiences make us more cautious about speaking up, putting ourselves forward or being visible. That might look like overpreparing, holding back an idea, shrinking parts of yourself, or waiting until you feel completely ready.

The important question isn’t simply “How do I become more confident?” It’s whether the ways you’re protecting yourself are still helping, or whether they’re now costing you something you care about.

And for leaders, there’s another side to this: are we creating workplaces where people actually feel safe to be visible when we ask them to be?

Highlights:

(03:07) How self-protection can start changing the way we show up

(08:35) What overpreparing and holding back can look like at work

(14:05) How stereotype threat affects confidence and visibility

(18:41) When something can be protective and costly at the same time

(28:08) What leaders need to examine before telling people to be more confident

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Obehi

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Ngozi Weller

Ngozi Weller is a culture change consultant and an ICF accredited coach who helps build resilience into your business by creating psychologically safe workplaces that enable employees to thrive.

Obehi Alofoje

Obehi is a psychologist and culture change consultant who helps senior HR and business leaders reduce employee burnout, absenteeism & talent attrition through mental wellbeing strategy, training & coaching.

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