Have you ever felt like no matter how much you do, it’s never enough? That you’re constantly trying to meet impossibly high standards at work and at home? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Leadership Rx for Women Physicians, Dr. Asha Padmanabhan dives deep into The Perfectionism Trap—what it is, how it shows up in our lives, and what we can do to break free from it.

Drawing from her own experiences as a young attending striving to be both the perfect doctor and the perfect mom, Dr. Asha shares relatable stories, actionable insights, and one simple tool you can use today to let go of perfectionism and reclaim your time, energy, and joy.

Whether you’ve over-prepared for a presentation, stayed late rewriting a note, or felt guilty for missing a family event, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. What perfectionism is—and why it’s so common among women physicians.
2. How perfectionism impacts your work, your relationships, and your mental health.
3. A practical strategy called The 80% Rule to help you start breaking free from perfectionism today.

Sign Up for My Free Webinar:
If this episode resonates with you, I invite you to join my free webinar, Tame Your Inner Critic: How to Break Free from Perfectionism and Silence Self-Doubt.

• Save your spot here: https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/mastering-the-art-of-saying-no-LRX
• In this webinar, we’ll dive deeper into the perfectionism trap and explore additional tools to help you show up fully and confidently in your life.

Let’s Connect!
If you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Share this episode with someone who might need it, and don’t forget to leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps me reach more women physicians just like you.

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Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
📝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.padmanabhan.9
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

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✨ If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, rate ⭐️, and leave a review ✍🏼. Your support helps us bring these conversations to more women physicians.

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Welcome to The Leadership Rx for Women Physicians! In this episode, Dr. Asha Padmanabhan tackles one of the most emotionally draining patterns that keeps women physicians stuck: the guilt-resentment cycle.

If you’ve ever said yes out of guilt, only to end up feeling resentful toward the person you helped, the situation, or even yourself, you’re not alone. This exhausting loop leaves us emotionally drained and overcommitted.

Dr. Padmanabhan breaks down the three stages of the guilt-resentment cycle and offers the first steps toward breaking free. This episode will help you recognize guilt as a signal, not a directive, and reclaim control over your boundaries.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. What the guilt-resentment cycle is and why it keeps you stuck.
2. The three stages of the cycle: guilt, resentment, and repeating the loop.
3. How guilt often masquerades as a sign to say yes, when it’s actually a cue to pause and reevaluate.
4. How breaking this cycle starts with recognizing and addressing guilt, not suppressing it.

Key Moments in the Episode:

• [0:00] Introduction: Recap of previous episodes and today’s topic.
• [2:00] A personal story about overcommitting out of guilt and the resentment that followed.
• [4:30] Stage 1: Guilt as a motivator—why we feel obligated to say yes.
• [6:00] Stage 2: Resentment builds—how overcommitting affects your mood and relationships.
• [8:30] Stage 3: Repeating the cycle—why guilt and resentment feed each other.
• [11:00] Breaking the cycle: The first step toward setting guilt-free boundaries.
• [12:00] Closing thoughts and invitation to the webinar.

Related Resources:

📅 Register for the free webinar, Master the Art of Saying No – How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt:
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/mastering-the-art-of-saying-no-LRX

Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
📝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.padmanabhan.9
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter

✨ If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, rate ⭐️, and leave a review ✍🏼. Your support helps us bring these conversations to more women physicians.

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter


To explore how Coaching can help you, DM me on LinkedIn or Facebook

Welcome back to The Leadership Rx for Women Physicians! In this episode, Dr. Asha Padmanabhan takes a deeper dive into the often-overlooked costs of saying yes too often. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about being busy.

Dr. Padmanabhan shares relatable stories and insights that uncover the ripple effects of overcommitting—on your emotional health, relationships, career, and overall well-being.

If you’ve ever felt drained, stretched too thin, or stuck in a cycle of over-giving, this episode is for you. Discover the five biggest costs of saying yes and how learning to say no can help you reclaim your time and energy.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. The emotional toll of constantly saying yes and how it leads to burnout.
2. How overcommitting compromises your relationships at home and at work.
3. Why saying yes to everything can actually make you less effective professionally.
4. The hidden costs of neglecting self-care and personal well-being.
5. How saying yes to low-impact tasks stalls your career growth.

Key Moments in the Episode:

• [0:00] Introduction: Recap of Episode 1 and today’s topic.
• [2:00] Dr. Padmanabhan’s story about overcommitting and feeling drained.
• [4:30] The cost of emotional burnout and why it’s about more than working hard.
• [6:00] How saying yes too often impacts personal and professional relationships.
• [8:00] The irony of decreased professional effectiveness due to overcommitting.
• [9:30] Why neglecting self-care affects your ability to show up for others.
• [11:00] Career stagnation: The hidden price of low-impact commitments.
• [13:00] Closing thoughts and invitation to the webinar.

Related Resources:

🎙️ Listen to the previous episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-rx-for-women-physicians/id1531236342?i=1000682459253

📅 Register for the free webinar, Mastering the Art of Saying No – How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt:
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/mastering-the-art-of-saying-no-LRX

In this live session, Dr. Padmanabhan will share actionable strategies to help you set boundaries confidently, guilt-free.

Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
📝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.padmanabhan.9
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter

✨ If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, rate ⭐️, and leave a review ✍🏼. Your support helps us bring these conversations to more women physicians.

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter


To explore how Coaching can help you, DM me on LinkedIn or Facebook

Welcome to The Leadership Rx for Women Physicians! In this episode, Dr. Asha Padmanabhan explores a challenge that resonates deeply with so many women physicians: Why is it so hard to say no?

From the fear of disappointing others to internalized perfectionism, Dr. Padmanabhan breaks down five common reasons women physicians struggle to set boundaries—and why this matters for your well-being, relationships, and career.

This episode is packed with relatable stories, thought-provoking insights, and a roadmap to help you take the first step toward healthier boundaries.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the endless demands on your time or said yes when you really wanted to say no, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why women physicians feel a deep obligation to say yes, even at the expense of their own needs.
2. The emotional and professional toll of overcommitting.
3. How cultural and societal expectations make it harder to say no.
4. The first step toward unlearning these patterns and setting boundaries without guilt.

And if this resonates with you, stay tuned to Dr. Padmanabhan's LinkedIn and Facebook page for details on how to register for the free webinar, Master the Art of Saying No – How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt

In this webinar, Dr. Padmanabhan will take you deeper into this conversation and share practical strategies to help you reclaim your time, energy, and confidence.

Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
📝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.padmanabhan.9
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter

✨ If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, rate ⭐️, and leave a review ✍🏼. Your support helps us bring these conversations to more women physicians.

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter


To explore how Coaching can help you, DM me on LinkedIn or Facebook

In this episode, Dr. Padmanabhan reflects on a year of transformation, filled with bold steps, new experiences, and moments of growth. From starting a Locums life to navigating unfamiliar cities, living in hotels, and even dancing uninhibitedly in a crowd, it’s a journey of embracing bravery and stepping out of comfort zones.

Listeners will hear:
✨ Insights on why discomfort is the key to personal growth
✨ How small, courageous steps can lead to big transformations
✨ 3 actionable takeaways to help navigate change and uncertainty

This episode offers inspiration and practical lessons for anyone facing change or seeking the courage to take their next bold step.

Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
📝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.padmanabhan.9
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter

✨ If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, rate ⭐️, and leave a review ✍🏼. Your support helps us bring these conversations to more women physicians.

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter


To explore how Coaching can help you, DM me on LinkedIn or Facebook

In this podcast episode, Dr. Asha Padmanabhan discusses the importance of embracing conflict constructively in order to enhance personal growth and improve relationships. She explains that conflict is often avoided out of fear of rejection, causing harm or escalating a situation. However, avoiding conflict leads to deterioration of relationships and mental health. She introduces a three-step framework for managing conflict, which includes preparation, communication, and resolution. She stresses on active listening, empathy, and finding a common ground as the keys to effective conflict resolution. The episode concludes with an invitation to sign up for her newsletter and watch out for a free assessment she is launching that aids in identifying communication style and tackling communication challenges.

00:06 Introduction to Embracing Disagreements

00:51 Understanding the Fear of Conflict

02:09 The Cost of Avoiding Conflict

02:57 The Solution: Embrace Conflict Constructively

03:12 Three-Step Approach to Managing Conflict

03:26 Step One: Preparation

04:13 Step Two: Communication

05:22 Step Three: Resolution

06:16 The Importance of Active Listening and Empathy

06:38 Applying the Three-Step Framework

07:27 Turning Conflicts into Constructive Conversations

07:48 Invitation to Sign Up for the Newsletter

08:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
📝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.padmanabhan.9
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter

✨ If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, rate ⭐️, and leave a review ✍🏼. Your support helps us bring these conversations to more women physicians.

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter


To explore how Coaching can help you, DM me on LinkedIn or Facebook

Mastering Assertiveness: Demystifying the Fine Line between Assertiveness and Aggression

In this episode of the Leadership Prescription Podcast for Women Physicians, host Dr. Asha Padmanabhan explores the oft-misunderstood concept of assertiveness. She dispels myths associating it with aggression and explains how it is actually rooted in respectful communication. Assertiveness, according to Dr. Asha, involves three key ingredients: confidence, clarity, and empathy. She provides practical tips to become more assertive, such as setting personal boundaries, owning your space, and expressing your needs and opinions. She concludes by inviting listeners to join her for tailored coaching sessions to work on these concepts in depth.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:12 Understanding the Dilemma of Assertiveness

01:21 Debunking Myths about Assertiveness

01:45 The Misconception of Assertiveness

02:25 The True Meaning of Assertiveness

03:32 The Ingredients of Assertiveness

08:05 Practical Tips for Assertiveness

08:12 Setting Boundaries

09:24 Owning Your Space

10:51 Expressing Your Needs and Opinions

13:01 Conclusion and Invitation

Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
📝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.padmanabhan.9
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter

✨ If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, rate ⭐️, and leave a review ✍🏼. Your support helps us bring these conversations to more women physicians.

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter


To explore how Coaching can help you, DM me on LinkedIn or Facebook

Strategically Handling Difficult Conversations: A Three-Step Framework

In this episode of Leadership RX for Women Physicians, Dr. Asha Padmanabhan, the host and anesthesiologist, physician leader, and founder of Leadership RX coaching, discusses the challenges of navigating difficult conversations. She provides a simple three-step framework — preparation, execution, and follow-up — to handle such situations better and with less stress. Alongside, she emphasizes the importance of two key tools, active listening, and emotional intelligence. Drawing from her own experiences, she demonstrates the application of these principles and encourages listeners to practice for better management of challenging dialogues. Additionally, she hints at the launch of a free self-assessment tool for honing communication-related skills.

00:06 Introduction and Welcome

00:14 The Challenge of Difficult Conversations

02:09 Common Mistakes in Difficult Conversations

03:50 Three-Step Framework for Difficult Conversations

07:08 Tools for Effective Communication: Active Listening and Emotional Intelligence

09:20 Reiteration and Application of the Framework

10:03 Offering a Self-Assessment Tool and Conclusion

Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
📝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.padmanabhan.9
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter

✨ If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, rate ⭐️, and leave a review ✍🏼. Your support helps us bring these conversations to more women physicians.

Subscribe to my email newsletter for more actionable tips, click here
https://asha-padmanabhan.mykajabi.com/newsletter


To explore how Coaching can help you, DM me on LinkedIn or Facebook