How to quiet that negative parrot perched on your shoulder

(Feb. 2024) If all the world’s a stage, then CEOs are actors, just like the rest of us.  

Guila-Clara Kessous, UNESCO Ambassador and Executive Coach, understands that leaders wear different masks. That’s why she has her corporate clients play various roles – both to enhance their performance in the C-suite, and to get past the discomfort that comes from pushing beyond your comfort zone. 

“The recurrent problem,” says the actress and executive coach, “is this negative parrot … It’s always saying, "’It's not good enough. You need to go further.’"

The parrot can be useful, she says, but it has to be kept on a leash, or all that hard-charging corporate drive can result in burnout.