In today’s episode, I share an unexpected lesson from a Keith Urban show finale that lit up a truth most high-achieving leaders forget under pressure: connection doesn’t happen through perfection—it happens through participation. If you’ve been leading with “tight control” (or quietly performing for approval), this is your invitation back to presence, resonance, and real influence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to spot the moment you’re “performing” in leadership instead of connecting

• Why intuition gets drowned out when comparison creeps in—and what to do instead

• Simple ways to invite participation so your leadership becomes a shared experience

Timestamps/Chapter Guide:

• 00:00 Welcome + what Heart Glow CEO is about

• 00:01:55 The story: why a reality show finale became a leadership lesson

• 00:03:10 “They already won” — the habit of leapfrogging your wins

• 00:03:40 Cassidy’s finale: talent, joy… and the subtle shift into doubt & comparison

• 00:05:10 Leadership nuance: authenticity vs. respecting the “ground you’re serving on”

• 00:06:05 The regret moment: “I should have paid attention to what I already knew” (intuition)

• 00:07:30 Adam’s difference: acknowledgment, invitation, eye contact, play

• 00:08:45 The core insight: performance vs. experience

• 00:09:35 “Connection doesn’t happen through perfection. It happens through participation.”

• 00:10:30 Why people love helping dreams come true (and how this applies to leadership)

• 00:11:10 The paradox of conscious leadership: the more it’s about others, the more impact you have

• 00:12:05 3 reflection questions to lead differently in 2026

• 00:13:00 Closing: “Breathe joy.”

Key takeaways:

• Talent and credentials matter—but they don’t create resonance on their own.

• Comparison is a signal: it often disconnects you from your intuition and your audience.

• Conscious leadership isn’t a solo act. It’s a shared experience built through inclusion.

• The goal isn’t to be louder in 2026—it’s to be more connected.

Quote to remember:
Connection doesn’t happen through perfection. It happens through participation.

Reflection questions:

1. Where in your leadership could you invite more participation?

2. What would change if your next conversation, presentation, or decision became a shared experience—not a performance?

3. How might your leadership evolve if you trusted that connection, not control, creates real resonance?

Next step:
Choose one place this week to shift from performance to participation—a team meeting, a client call, a hard conversation—and experiment with inviting people in (not impressing them from the stage).

Share the pod love:
Enjoying Heart Glow CEO®? A quick review is the simplest way to support the show (and it helps the right people find it): www.lovethepodcast.com/brilliance

About Kc:
Kc Rossi, PCC, is an Integrative Leadership Coach helping mission-driven entrepreneurs and executives regulate stress, strengthen self-trust, and lead with clarity—without sacrificing health or values.
Connect with Kc on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kcrossi/

In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Corinne Gavlinski (Founder & CEO of The Gav Group) to name what this looks like in real leadership life, what it costs, and the antidote: creating space to reflect, getting back into your Impact Zone, and taking small, deliberate actions that restore clarity and momentum.

We also talk about identity jolts—those messy, humbling chapters that can become a catalyst for more grounded leadership when you stop trying to “power through” and start leading from truth.

• How to recognize when you’ve drifted into “lazy leadership” (even if you’re working nonstop)
• The antidote: how leaders return to the Impact Zone with clarity and intention
• Why identity jolts can refine your leadership and strengthen your legacy

• 01:54 — What “lazy leadership” is (and what it’s not)
• 04:27 — The Impact Zone + the antidote: space to reflect + a “catapult” tool
• 10:50 — Legacy leadership: “Who do you want to be remembered as?”
• 13:25 — Identity jolts: caregiving, pivots, ego hits, reinvention
• 16:30 — Betting on your innate talents (not just passion)
• 22:01 — A practical team clarity process (why accountability matters)
• 30:48 — The closing reflection + your 24-hour action step

The Impact Zone Guide

Corinne Gavlinski is Founder & CEO of The Gav Group and a thought partner to C-suite leaders who want results that matter—to their teams and their legacy. She’s a former SVP of Customer Success with 20+ years in executive Sales and Account Management roles across digital healthcare and finance. She holds an MBA from Loyola University Maryland and is board-certified as an executive coach and certified as a team coach.

Kc Rossi, PCC is an Integrative Leadership Coach and host of the Heart Glow CEO® Podcast, where mission-driven, high-performing leaders learn to lead with clarity, emotional steadiness, and self-trust—without burning out or abandoning what matters most.

💫 If this episode supported you, leave a quick review at lovethepodcast.com/brilliance and share it with a leader who’s carrying a lot.

Instead of a full reset or visioning exercise, you’ll be guided through one simple micro-move designed to bring your mind, heart, and nervous system back into coherence in just one minute.

In this episode, you’ll experience:

• A one-minute coherence reset that signals safety to the nervous system

• A powerful question to help you release 1 thing before the year ends

• How small, consistent practices create cumulative impact (think compound interest for your well-being)

Join me for a grounding way to close 2025 with clarity instead of clutter!

💗💗💗 Until next time, breathe joy! Kc 💗💗💗