Manage Smarter 298 — How to Leave Behind What No Longer Serves You with Dr. Rosenna Bakari

HOSTED BY C. LEE SMITH AND AUDREY STRONG
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How can stuck leaders let go of patterns that no longer serve them so they can perform and lead at a higher level? By asking “How am I getting in my own way?”, using brief daily “micro exits” for solitude, and exiting hyper‑ego, leaders gain emotional clarity, psychological safety, and authentic presence—unlocking sustainable performance and more fulfilling careers.

Struggling with clarity, decision-making, or feeling stuck in your career? Dr. Rosenna Bakari, psychologist, educator, and leadership consultant, joins us to discuss her powerful new book, "Seven Exits: Leave Behind What No Longer Serves You." Discover how letting go of outdated patterns, overcoming hyper ego, and addressing silence and secrecy can transform both your personal and professional life.

Dr. Bakari explains how self-reflection enables professionals and managers to strengthen leadership presence, emotional intelligence, and confidence. Learn practical strategies for initiating micro exits, building psychological safety, and fostering authentic connections in the workplace.

In this podcast for sales managers and executive leadership, Audrey Strong, C. Lee Smith and Dr. Rosenna Bakari help you to answer:

The book is designed for accomplished professionals who feel stuck, unfulfilled, or unsure of their next steps despite external success. Dr. Rosenna Bakari emphasizes that these feelings of lack stem from within, and the book offers a path for internal transformation, which is crucial for sustained executive performance and leadership.

What practical strategy can executives use daily to increase clarity and composure?

Taking just five minutes of undisturbed solitude between meetings—a 'micro exit'—can act as a powerful reset and boost executive presence. Dr. Rosenna Bakari recommends using a five-minute timer and doing absolutely nothing during this time, enabling executives to unplug and return with greater clarity to leadership and decision-making.

How should leaders and managers address the challenge of hyper ego in the workplace?

Leaders must recognize and exit the pattern of hyper ego, where their actions focus on personal performance or image rather than fostering authentic team connections and psychological safety. Dr. Rosenna Bakari points out that hyper ego often masks fear and hinders managers from seeing vital data, so genuine self-reflection is essential for sustainable leadership development.

Women should define themselves for themselves—first by identifying role models or examples of how they want to show up, then assessing the gap between their current behavior and desired presence. According to Dr. Rosenna Bakari this intention allows women to show up in boardrooms and leadership meetings with integrity, self-love, and the confidence to overcome gendered socialization and break through workplace stereotypes.

What is the 'magic question' Dr. Rosenna Bakari recommends to unblock growth and change?

"How am I getting in my own way?" is the fundamental self-reflection question for breaking limiting patterns and promoting personal growth and professional advancement. Dr. Rosenna Bakari highlights that using this 'magic question' as a constant self-check enables individuals to identify internal obstacles, overcome self-sabotage, and realize career and life transformation.

"The magic question, when you're stuck in any capacity, is: How am I getting in my own way? "

Dr. Rosenna Bakari

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