You've rehearsed this conversation a hundred times. You know exactly what you're going to say. And then your manager responds with something you didn't expect and suddenly your brain goes blank. The script you'd prepared just evaporates. You find yourself nodding along, saying "I understand" or worse, backing down entirely.

This episode of Career Espresso is about how to actually ask for more when the conversation doesn't follow your plan. Not the theory of negotiation. The real work of staying grounded when things go sideways.

• Why most advice focuses entirely on preparation but misses what actually happens in the room when things go off-script
• The specific ways women are conditioned to backpedal when conversations get uncomfortable (and why recognising this helps)
• What to say when you get hit with budget constraints, the praise pivot, or "I need to check with HR"
• Why this is rarely one conversation and how to follow up without feeling like you're being annoying
• Common patterns that keep women stuck: preparation as procrastination, the grateful trap, the "one shot" mentality

Perfect for leaders who've rehearsed these conversations but still find themselves accepting less than they came in asking for.

Want more support with real-world leadership challenges? Head to How to Build a Leader on Substack for in-depth guides and scripts.

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Get the full episode transcript

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You know exactly what you want to do. You've got the plan. You might even have the opportunity sitting right in front of you. And yet... you can't seem to make yourself do it. You're not confused about what needs to happen. You've got ambition coming out of your ears. But somewhere between knowing and doing, there's this gap. This heaviness. This "I know, I know, but I just... can't right now."

This episode of Career Espresso is about what to do when your drive is intact but your fuel tank is empty. Not motivation tips. Not goal-setting advice. The real work of keeping going when you've got nothing left to give.

• The difference between "I've given up" and "I'm depleted" and why that distinction matters
• What minimum viable progress looks like when you're running on empty
• Why pushing harder when you're exhausted just digs a deeper hole
• How to match your actions to your actual energy instead of the energy you think you should have
• The extra costs women carry that often go unacknowledged and how they drain you faster

Listen to this episode if you still care about your goals but haven't got the energy to chase them right now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.