Episode 336

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Published on:

30th Nov 2025

336: Your Overwhelm Is Showing

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Your words either build trust or break it. And when you talk like you're overwhelmed, you train your leaders to doubt your capacity—even if you're actually capable of more. 

In this episode, I'm sharing the unintended cost of sounding stressed and how high-performing leaders can protect their credibility by changing how they communicate under pressure. 

I walk you through how language shapes perception, why leaders often send the wrong signals without realizing it, and how to shift from overwhelm to ownership without pretending everything's fine. 

If you've ever said "I'm slammed" or "We're swamped" in a status meeting, when what you meant was "We've got it under control," this episode is for you. 


What You'll Learn: 

  • Why saying "we're overwhelmed" chips away at leadership trust 
  • How to frame pressure with structure instead of stress 
  • What executives actually hear when you vent 
  • Real-world leadership language that builds confidence 
  • How to communicate risk and ask for support without spiraling 

👉 Press play to learn how to lead through pressure and talk like the leader they trust with more. 


P.S. Ready to transform your PMO into a strategic powerhouse? Our IMPACT Engine System can help you elevate your PMO’s role and drive organizational success. Register today to explore how we can support your journey towards strategic alignment and influence. 

Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights! 

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

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About the Podcast

PMO Strategies
with Laura Barnard
In this podcast, PMO leaders and those wanting to capitalize on the best of project management to deliver the organization’s strategy will uncover the hidden secrets of the best PMOs, learn the game-changing techniques that transform any PMO into a value-driven IMPACT Engine, and explore the best ways for the PMO to become an integral part of the fabric and future of an organization. After spending two and a half decades helping organizations deliver change, with 15 of those years in the shoes of PMO leader inside organizations, Laura strongly believes that there is more to making an IMPACT than templates, tools, and process. She’ll show you how to make the shifts necessary to become a business-focused PMO that will become an invaluable organizational asset. With her guests and insights, we explore the sticky situations and tough challenges PMO leaders face, from sorting through all of the “noise” about what the PMO “should” do to finding the best ways for your PMO to make an IMPACT. Listen in, and you can discover how to shift your focus from outputs to outcomes, fundamentally changing the game for your PMO and personal success.

About your host

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Laura Barnard