87: Fired for Being Honest: How to Handle Injustice at Work

87: Fired for Being Honest: How to Handle Injustice at Work

"I told the CEO the truth, and then I was fired." If you have a strong sense of justice and integrity, you've likely felt the sting of corporate politics. You see a problem, you fix it, and instead of being rewarded, you're sidelined or pushed out. In this episode, Hannah breaks down the high-performer's "Integrity Trap." She explains how to navigate these environments without sacrificing your soul, and when to realise that the system you are fighting isn't just broken - it's designed to exclude people like you. The bottom line: Integrity is your greatest asset. Don't waste it on an organisation that doesn't deserve it. 🚨 Got a career challenge? Submit your questions and frustrations to the Hannah Hotline Email: hello@hannahkissel.com If you've been burned by corporate politics, you're not the problem—the system is. If you're ready to stop being 'the inconvenient one' and start building a career that actually values your integrity, grab my free Career Confidence Course at www.hannahkissel.com [https://www.hannahkissel.com] and let's get you aligned. Timestamps: 01:30 — The "Good Operator" fallacy: Why honesty is sometimes a liability 03:00 — Why power trumps competence in corporate environments 04:30 — "Inconvenient to power": Recognising the dynamic 06:00 — Tactical advice: Presenting data without being confrontational 07:30 — Self-preservation vs. Selfishness 09:00 — When to stop trying to fix a broken ship 11:00 — If you're always getting fired for honesty, consider a different model Hannah Hotline is sponsored by dominiquejingles — where quirky, clever, and corporate branding is reimagined. A client says, 'We just want something different.' Dominique turns that into a jingle that sticks in your head all day. DM Dominique on Instagram @dominiquejingles or email dominiqueenglish04@gmail.com [dominiqueenglish04@gmail.com]

86: The Truth About Identity Shifts: Moving From Burnout to Metamorphosis

You've achieved everything you set out to achieve. So why do you feel like you're losing your edge? For high performers and executives, we are wired to believe that more work, more hustle, and more sacrifice is the answer to every problem. But what happens when the very mechanism that built your success — your relentless drive, starts to feel like a cage? In this episode, Hannah gets vulnerable about a recent shift in her own ambition. After years of building, growing, and hustling, she's found herself in the "mush" — that uncomfortable, transitional space where the old identity has dissolved, but the new one hasn't quite arrived yet. Using Martha Beck's "Change Cycle," Hannah explains why you might be experiencing a loss of drive, why your ambition might actually be a lingering trauma response, and why the most productive thing you can do right now is "go gentle." The bottom line: If you're changing identities right now, you don't need to force a solution. You need to surrender to the cycle. Timestamps: 01:30 — Why identity shift is the ultimate high-performer struggle 03:30 — Healing PTSD and the death of "trauma-response" ambition 04:30 — It's not just business: Why identity shifts are universal for women 05:00 — Martha Beck's Change Cycle: The framework you need 05:30 — Stage One: The "Mush" (Death and Rebirth) 07:00 — The danger of hustling through the "Mush" 07:30 — A quick overview of Stages Two, Three, and Four 08:00 — The invitation to "go gentle" and surrender Key Takeaways: 1. Metamorphosis is not comfortable. 2. Ambition is often a trauma response. 3. Surrender is not giving up. 4. Natural cycles exist for women. 5. Your drive will change. #identityshift #careertransition #changecycle #careeradvice #highperformer #workplaceadvice #createyourownfuture #hannahkissel 📩 Got a question for the Hannah Hotline? Email hello@hannahkissel.com Free Career Confidence Course: www.hannahkissel.com

85: Is It Wrong to Take a New Job When I Know I Want a Baby Soon?

In this episode, Hannah tackles a deeply relatable dilemma sent in by a listener who hates her job, wants to switch roles, but feels guilty about joining a new company while planning to get pregnant. Hannah cuts through the noise with her signature no-BS approach, reminding us that company loyalty is a two-way street, and more often than not, it only runs one way. From anti-discrimination laws to fertility timelines to the reality of mass redundancies, Hannah lays out exactly why you should never put your personal goals on hold for an organization that wouldn't think twice about making you redundant. If you're a high-performing woman navigating career transitions, family planning, or both — this one's for you. 📩 Have a dilemma? Send your letter to hello@hannahkissel.com to be featured on this podcast or the Daily Telegraph. ✅ Key Takeaways • Company loyalty is not a marriage contract. • Stop asking for permission to live your life. • Pregnancy is not a professional failure. • "Dishonesty" is a control tactic. • Black-and-white thinking is keeping you stuck. • Prioritise the career you actually want. • The risk is not starting a family. The risk is staying in a job you hate. • Look for the employer who expects women to have lives. Timestamps: 01:15 — The listener's dilemma: hated job, family planning, and the guilt trap 02:30 — Why high performers think being "dishonest" is a personality trait 03:45 — Corporate loyalty: why it's a one-way street (and why that's okay) 05:00 — The "last in, first out" myth and the reality of redundancies 06:30 — Pregnancy is not a "debilitating" factor — debunking the bias 08:00 — You don't owe them your life plan — privacy vs. dishonesty 09:30 — Stop falling into black-and-white thinking: finding your middle ground 11:00 — Why you should quit the job you hate now 12:30 — How to identify a supportive company during the interview process 14:00 — Final advice: Prioritise yourself, or you will be trapped by their priorities 🚨 Got a career challenge? Submit your questions and frustrations to the Hannah Hotline! Email: hello@hannahkissel.com Gain Access to the free Career Confidence Course: https://www.hannahkissel.com/careerconfidence Follow Hannah Kissel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmaekissel/ Connect with Hannah Kissel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahkissel/ Visit Hannah's website: www.hannahkissel.com ------- Hannah Hotline is sponsored by dominiquejingles — where quirky, clever, and corporate branding is reimagined. A client says, 'We just want something different.' Dominique turns that into a jingle that sticks in your head all day. DM Dominique on Instagram @dominiquejingles or email dominiqueenglish04@gmail.com

84: Rigid vs Flexible: The Power of a Flexible Mental Model For High Performers

The most dangerous thing a high performer can do? Stick to a bad plan just because they "said they would." We are taught that consistency is a virtue. We are taught that changing our minds is a weakness, a sign of indecision, or a failure of control. In corporate environments, being "Rule Book" (as Hannah was affectionately nicknamed at LinkedIn) is a badge of honour. But there is a massive difference between commitment and rigidity. In this episode, Hannah gets brutally honest about a massive U-turn she just made in her business. She'd announced one thing, put the plan in motion, and then, after looking at the data, her personal capacity, she chose to change her mind. If you're a high-performing executive who uses rigidity as a trauma response to feel "safe," this episode is for you. The bottom line: The strength of your leadership is not measured by your ability to stay the course — it's measured by your ability to pivot when the course is no longer serving you or your business. Key Takeaways: - Rigidity is often a control mechanism. - Flexible mental models are your biggest competitive advantage. - "Rule Book" is a limiting identity. - The "cost of entry" for high growth is flexibility. - Re-evaluation is data-driven, not impulsive. --- If this episode resonates with you, please leave a rating. It's the biggest way you can support what we're building here, and every single review helps us reach someone who needs this. Big love, dreamers. Gain Access to the free Career Confidence Course: https://www.hannahkissel.com/careerconfidence The Truth About Imposter Syndrome: https://open.spotify.com/episode/129YgMPuJWGLQK5VB9CncR?si=a352646dfec6411a Follow Hannah Kissel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmaekissel/ Connect with Hannah Kissel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahkissel/ Quiz: Discover Your Career Alignment Score: https://hannahkisselcareerquiz.scoreapp.com #mentalmodels #flexibility #adaptable #highperformer #careertransitions #careeradvice #decisionsmatter #workplaceadvice #growthmindset #businessinsight 📩 Got a question for the Hannah Hotline? Email hello@hannahkissel.com

83: Holding a Grudge at Work? Here's What It's Really Costing You

You're senior, successful, and capable, so why is this one coworker still living rent-free in your head? In this Hannah Hotline episode, Hannah responds to a listener navigating a persistent grudge against the colleague who covered her maternity leave. Hannah breaks down the real psychology behind why grudges stick, introduces the Grey Rock Method for disengaging from toxic dynamics, and reveals the surprising reason workplace drama keeps pulling you back in. #highperformer #workplaceadvice #workplaceculture Timestamps: 01:30 — Why grudges have a "payoff" and what yours might be 02:30 — Taking personal responsibility: what was your part in this? 03:15 — What to clean up and do differently next time 03:39 — The Gray Rock Method: become boring, stop providing ammo 05:00 — Why you can't let go: the creative outlet theory 06:17 — The link between workplace drama and a lack of joy in your life 06:30 — How to fill your life so the grudge loses its grip 💬 Loved this episode? Know someone who's still venting about that one coworker? Send this to them. And if you've got a workplace situation you want Hannah to tackle on the Hannah Hotline, email hello@hannahkissel.com — your question could be the next episode. 🚨 Got a career challenge? Submit your questions and frustrations to the Hannah Hotline! Email: hello@hannahkissel.com Gain Access to the free Career Confidence Course: https://www.hannahkissel.com/careerconfidence Follow Hannah Kissel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmaekissel/ Connect with Hannah Kissel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahkissel/ Visit Hannah's website: www.hannahkissel.com ------- Hannah Hotline is sponsored by dominiquejingles — where quirky, clever, and corporate branding is reimagined. A client says, 'We just want something different.' Dominique turns that into a jingle that sticks in your head all day. DM Dominique on Instagram @dominiquejingles or email dominiqueenglish04@gmail.com.