The Leadership Group That Changes Everything
By Heidi Sadecky, PCC – Executive Coach & Director, Townsend Leadership Program
A Leader Who Was Out of Time
Are you wondering why you’re working harder than ever but still feel like you’re falling behind?
Have you tried delegating, but somehow the work still ends up back on your desk?
Do you keep telling yourself you’ll work on your leadership skills… but never seem to find the time?
If so, you’re not alone.
Meet Brooke
Brooke, a 41‑year‑old senior manager in the healthcare industry, had built an impressive career. She was smart, respected, and known for getting results. She was also a devoted wife, mom of two teenagers, and active in her church’s women’s ministry.
But behind her warm smile and full calendar, Brooke was exhausted.
Her workdays were packed from morning until night. Her team came to her for every decision, big or small. She volunteered at every school fundraiser, baked for church events, and never wanted to let anyone down. But every “yes” came at the expense of her own time, health, and peace of mind.
One day, during a coaching session, she finally let her guard down and said quietly:
“I feel like I’m failing at everything. I can’t keep up. My team needs me, my family needs me, and I’m just… not enough for any of them.”
That was the heart of the problem.
She didn’t have the time or energy she needed because she hadn’t yet developed the skills — and the confidence — to lead differently. To say no without guilt. To ask for what she needed. To empower her team instead of carrying their workload. To believe she was enough, just as she was, without running herself into the ground.
The Turning Point
When Brooke finally decided to invest in coaching, she wasn’t sure what to expect. In her mind, leadership development was for people who already had it together, not for someone who felt like she was barely hanging on.
But in her first E4 development session, something shifted.
Instead of starting with rules or management techniques, we started with her — her values, her strengths, her blind spots, her needs, and the unhelpful beliefs she’d been carrying for years.
One of those beliefs?
“I’m not doing enough. I should be better. I’m letting everyone down.”
We worked on challenging that lie and replacing it with a truth she could stand on:
“I am capable. I am called to lead. I can ask for what I need. And I can do it without sacrificing myself or my family.”
From there, Brooke began to build a new way of leading — one that gave her back her time and her confidence.
She learned how to:
Say no without guilt and protect time for what matters most
Delegate with trust so her team could take ownership instead of relying on her for every decision
Set clear expectations so she could stop “rescuing” people and start empowering them
Prioritize rest and renewal so she could show up fully present for work, family, and church
Within just a few months, her days looked different. Her team was thriving without constant oversight. Her evenings were free for family dinners and unhurried conversations. She started regular exercise and joined a book club just for fun.
Brooke no longer felt like she was failing everyone. She finally believed:
“I’m enough. And I can lead well without losing myself.”
The Takeaway
When you invest in your leadership, you don’t just gain time — you gain freedom.
Freedom to lead with clarity and confidence.
Freedom to stop running on empty.
Freedom to be fully present with the people and priorities that matter most.
If you’ve been telling yourself, “I’ll work on myself when I have more time,” here’s the truth:
You won’t find the time.
You have to make the time — and it starts with one intentional step.
Your Next Step
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
This fall, a new E4 Leadership Group will begin — a small, high‑impact coaching experience designed for leaders who are ready to step out of constant overwhelm and into confident, purposeful leadership.
In E4, you’ll learn how to:
Break free from the cycle of being “always on”
Develop a leadership style that inspires trust and results
Create margin for what matters most — faith, family, and purpose
Lead from a place of strength, not exhaustion
E4 programs are intentionally small, and I take care to ensure each group is made up of compatible, like‑minded leaders who will learn and grow together.
To explore whether the fall E4 group is the right next step for you, I invite you to schedule a time to talk with me directly.
Heidi Sadecky is a trusted executive coach who partners with leaders to unlock their full potential. Her mission is to help leaders understand their unique behaviors and decision-making patterns, empowering them to avoid costly mistakes and lead with confidence, authenticity, and emotional intelligence. Heidi holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and multiple high-level certifications, including Emotional Intelligence (EQi and EQ360). Learn about workplace training programs here.