In this episode, Erik sits down with sales and leadership strategist Monique Lecomte for a raw, generous conversation on the dynamics of leadership, healing, and relational growth. Through the lens of her experience—from working with incarcerated teams to coaching senior executives—Monique reveals how personal wounds, cultural systems, and relational patterns show up in our work, and what it really means to lead with presence rather than performance.👤 About the GuestMonique Lecomte is a keynote speaker, leadership expert, and facilitator with a career spanning 20+ years in global business for iconic brands– Herman Miller, Knoll, and Hightower. Growing up in rural Alabama, she learned resilience and adaptability—skills that shaped her journey from small-town life to the boardroom. A recognized Expert Generalist, she has built high-performing teams, driven cultural change, and helped organizations thrive by balancing innovation with a human connection.🧭 Conversation HighlightsThe subtle (and not-so-subtle) trauma responses that shape how leaders show upWhy the “fixer” instinct often creates disconnection and resentmentWhat leaders can learn from others—and what they absolutely shouldn’t copyHow systemic inequality shapes interpersonal dynamics at workThe difference between “holding space” and avoiding discomfortA practical exercise for exploring relational patterns using you <--> me languageWhy every team has a collective nervous system—and how to listen to itThe real role of somatics, not as a trend, but as a signal of what’s unspoken💡 Key TakeawaysFixing is often a disguised need to reduce your discomfort—not meet their need.Every interaction is shaped by what’s in the system—past stories, power dynamics, and unspoken rules.Language matters: even small shifts (“you <--> me” structures) can expose entrenched roles and change a conversation.Unprocessed trauma or identity harm doesn’t stay personal—it shows up in leadership.Your body often knows the truth before your mind will admit it.❓ Questions That Mattered“What are you protecting when you keep trying to fix things?”“What happens in the space between two people when one always performs and the other always disappears?”“What’s the cost of leadership that avoids conflict in the name of harmony?”“How do we lead when our nervous system is still recovering from old wounds?”“What shifts when we treat power as relational, not positional?”🗣️ Notable Quotes“Fixing makes the other person disappear. It assumes they’re broken and you know better.”“A lot of what we call leadership is just a well-trained trauma response.”“The room is always full of ghosts—of systems, of stories, of history. The work is learning how to see them.”“There’s a difference between being regulated and being controlled. One leads to connection. The other leads to shutdown.”“I’m not here to optimize you. I’m here to help you tell the truth in the room.”🔗 Links & ResourcesCheck out Monique's Website: moniquelecomte.comMonique's LinkedInMonique's InstagramRead or Listen to 'The Expert Generalist', Monique's Book

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