The Hidden Cost of Unrealistic Expectations for Leaders & 3 Mindset Shifts to Let Go

Get Organized at Work | Career, Leadership, Project Management, Productivity, Time Management

The Hidden Cost of Unrealistic Expectations for Leaders & 3 Mindset Shifts to Let Go

In this episode of the Get Organized at Work Podcast, leadership coach and working mom Kayla Fahey-Ahrndt reveals the hidden cost of unrealistic expectations and why people-pleasing quietly drains your energy, joy, and impact at work. Learn how to spot the signs of unrealistic expectations—like guilt when resting, overcommitting, and tying your worth to productivity—and how to break the “pressure cycle” that keeps high-achievers stuck. Kayla shares practical mindset shifts that help self-aware leaders lead with clarity instead of guilt.

You’ll also get this week’s reflection prompt: “What’s one ‘should’ I can release this week?”—and a reminder to download your free Realistic Leadership Reflection Journal inside the Get Organized at Work Community App.

✨ Missed the live Sprint? Don’t worry—get access to The Organized Leader Sprint Lite, a self-paced version of Kayla’s signature program that helps you move from reactive to proactive leadership on your own time. Learn more at www.kfaconsulting.org/sprintlite.

Realistic Leadership Series Episodes:

Week 1: Redefining Your Best: How Self-Aware Leaders Build Realistic Expectations

Week 2: The Hidden Cost of Unrealistic Expectations for Leaders & 3 Mindset Shifts to Let Go

Week 3: You Don’t Have to Hustle to Be a Great Leader: How to be a Purpose Driven Leader

Keywords:

get organized at work, realistic expectations at work, signs of unrealistic expectations, people pleasing at work, leadership mindset, stop being hard on yourself, self-aware leaders, productivity guilt, leadership boundaries, proactive leadership, capacity-based planning, organized leader sprint, realistic leadership journal

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

1. 📱Join My Free Podcast Community for Professionals (get 20% off Merch inside the community, plus that's where all my freebies live!)
2. Leave me a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Apple Podcasts Show Link
3. 🛒Shop My Amazon Storefront
4. 📒📘☕Grab Podcast Branded Merch: Check out our Get Organized at Work Podcast Shop

--

RECENT EPISODES:

• The Consistency Blueprint: Why Leader Standard Work Actually Works
• Consistency Wins: Leadership Lessons from a Half Ironman
• Burnout-Free This Fall: How to Stay Consistent Without Losing Balance with Automations, Templates, and Delegation
• How to Build Consistent Work Rhythms That Survive Even Your Worst Day (🎉Merch is Here!)
• The 80/20 of Work Systems: What Actually Matters Most
• The Hidden Costs of Inconsistency at Work (& How Can I Show Up More Consistently at Work?)
• Why You Don’t Need to Organize Your Email or Notes (and What to Do Instead)
• 7 Game-Changing Lessons I’ve Learned from Hosting the Get Organized at Work Podcast
• What’s Stopping You? The Career You’d Choose If Fear Wasn’t a Factor - Reclaim Your Fulfillment at Work
• Soft Life Systems: Organizing Your Work for a Less Hectic Life
• Unplug to Recharge: Smart Summer Scheduling for Leaders
• How to Ask For Help at Work WITHOUT Saying "I'm So Busy"
• How to Get Promoted by Getting Organized: The Real Secrets They Don't Teach You
• Karen Read’s Attorneys - What Leadership Skills Can We Learn from Them?
• 🏆20K Downloads! Consistency Wins: Why Rough Drafts are OK & Takeaways from the May Challenge
• Reflect & Celebrate: How Small Check-Ins Keep You Consistent at Work (Week 4 – May Consistency Challenge)
• Build Your Leadership Rhythm: 3 Daily Habits That Stick (Week 3 – May Consistency Challenge)
• Celebrate the Small Wins: How 10 Minutes a Day Builds Real Progress (Week 2 – May Consistency Challenge)
• Master Your Focus: The One-Thing Rule for Consistent Progress at Work (Week 1 - May Consistency Challenge)
• How Your Why Fuels Consistency at Work (and in Leadership) - Sharing MY WHY with You
• Stuck in the Procrastination Cycle? How to Beat it with Consistency over Perfection!
• Get Organized at Work Blueprint Course is LIVE TODAY! 6 Major Career Lessons I've Learned
• March Madness Hacks: 5-Min Tips to Boost Work Productivity (That You Might Not Have Thought Of!)
• 3 Signs You Need Better Organizational Systems at Work - Which One is Holding You Back?
• Spring Forward - How to Get Organized at Work in 6 Simple Steps
• How to Get Promoted at Work: Prove Your Value, Tips for Career Advancement
• Efficiency Hacks - How to Be Your Own Project Manager with Asana, ChatGPT, and Bullet Journals
• Feeling Stagnant in Your Career? Here’s How to Fall Back in Love with Your Work
• Using My Amazon Productivity Planner: Key Takeaways for Better Time Management
• How to Get Piles Off Your Desk: Organizing Your Paperwork & Digital Files
• Thinking Bigger: How Leaders Can Drive Culture Change & Innovation
• Why Your To-Do List is Failing You: Why Leader Standard Work is the Ultimate Solution for Getting Organized at Work
• Build Your Personal Brand at Work: Tips for Standing Out and Thriving with 16Personalities

CONNECT WITH KAYLA:

📱Join My Free Podcast Community for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

RESOURCES:

📅Schedule a Organize My Work Consulting Call - Get Help Organizing Your Work

🆓Free Resource Library: https://www.kfaconsulting.org/freeresourcelibrary

🌐Website: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org

More about Kayla: --Kayla’s “Why” and Leadership Journey: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org/meetkayla