Why Leadership Feels Hard and How to Fix It

To see if Laura’s Executive Presence Mastery System 90-day coaching intensive is right for you, set up a strategy call here.

Are you a high-performing leader frustrated that you're not being recognized—or promoted—despite doing everything “right”?  

In this episode, Jimmy Burrows—ex-British Army officer and performance leadership consultant—dives deep into why smart, capable professionals often stall at mid-management and what communication habits are sabotaging their leadership impact. If you’ve ever felt stuck, undervalued, or unsure how to truly show up as a leader, this conversation is a must-listen.

By the end of today’s conversation with Jimmy you’ll know:

🚀 The 3 invisible communication barriers even high performers face—and how to eliminate them

🎯The “Simplify to Amplify” method that’s been shown to boost team performance by 40%

🧲Game-changing scripts and leadership frameworks to build trust, clarity, and strategic influence—even if you're introverted

This episode is a roadmap for anyone feeling "stuck despite doing everything right"—it's not about working harder, but communicating smarter to unlock promotions and respect. If it resonates, definitely hit play for the full scripts and stories from Jimmy's Army-to-boardroom journey.

If you’ve been promoted into leadership and suddenly feel like you’re carrying your old “manager backpack” full of outdated habits — juggling too much, solving problems instead of leading through others, and wondering why you’re not being seen as “executive-ready” — this episode should be your wake-up call.

That’s exactly why we created the Executive Presence Scorecard — to help leaders like you identify which old skills to let go of, and which new leadership behaviors to develop to step confidently into that next-level role.

So if you’re serious about upgrading your leadership operating system, email me hello@speakupwithlaura.com with “score” in the subject line and I’ll send you access to the Scorecard.

About our guest:

Jimmy Burroughes is a global leadership expert who transforms how leaders and teams operate in high-pressure environments. His journey from British Military Officer to renowned consultant uncovered a pivotal insight: traditional leadership approaches often breed burnout while undermining sustainable success. To address this, he founded JBL High Performance, empowering leaders to escape the cycle of endless firefighting and deliver exceptional results without exhaustion. 

As the author of Beat Burnout – Ignite Performance and Escape the Multitasking Trap, Burroughes has crafted methodologies that elevate leadership effectiveness across Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups, fusing military precision with cutting-edge corporate strategies that teams can apply right away.

What distinguishes Burroughes' programs is their unwavering practicality—he doesn't merely impart concepts but weaves them seamlessly into a team's everyday workflows. His no-nonsense facilitation style merges captivating storytelling with proven, battle-hardened techniques to foster trust, enhance alignment, and sharpen clarity among participants. 

In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion opportunities. 

By honing communication skills and fostering a trusted advisor mindset, aspiring executives cultivate mastery in public speaking and beat imposter syndrome. Your leadership becomes more strategic and inspiring.