In this eye-opening episode of Helping Organisations Thrive, we talk with Angela Cox, founder of Paseda 360 coach training academy, multi-award winning executive coach, therapist, and two-time bestselling author. Angela shares her powerful journey from corporate exhaustion to authentic leadership, revealing how she transformed her life after walking away from a lucrative consulting role when the weight of "pretending" became unbearable. Her story of losing eight stones while searching for fulfillment, only to realise that external changes couldn't fix internal disconnection, sets the stage for a profound exploration of workplace authenticity. Angela unveils her groundbreaking research showing that 97% of leaders wear masks at work, identifying four primary personas: the Perfectionist (driven by fear of mistakes), the People Pleaser (seeking approval at all costs), the Persecutor of Self (engaging in constant self-blame), and the Persecutor of Others (deflecting blame when things go wrong). She explains how these protective mechanisms, born from our fundamental need to belong and avoid rejection, create an exhausting cycle that hampers both individual resilience and organisational effectiveness. The conversation provides practical tools for breaking free from these patterns, including exercises to build self-value and self-trust, while acknowledging the challenging but ultimately rewarding journey of removing the masks we've worn for decades to reveal our authentic leadership potential.   Connect with Angela: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelacoxpaseda360/ Website:  https://angelacoxcoaching.com/     ##########   If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com   You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2   ##########