The Saboteur Inside Your Leaders: How Positive Intelligence Transforms Team Performance

Behind every high-performing leader lies a hidden challenge: the mental saboteurs that undermine their best efforts. These inner critics—like the Hyper-Rational, Controller, or Avoider—drive stress, burnout, and poor decision-making.

The problem isn’t lack of skill. It’s lack of mental fitness.

Understanding Saboteurs

Positive Intelligence (PQ), developed by Shirzad Chamine, identifies ten saboteurs affecting leaders’ mindsets. They appear as limiting beliefs, automatic reactions, and hidden stress drivers.

When I took my own PQ assessment, I discovered my top saboteurs were the Hyper-Rational, Controller, and Avoider. That insight was eye-opening. These patterns were costing me energy, narrowing my perspective, and holding me back from showing up with presence and empathy.

Through practice with PQ tools, I learned how to intercept those saboteurs, build resilience, and strengthen my self-command. Over time, I noticed real shifts in how I led—calmer, clearer, and more collaborative.

And today, I can say with pride: I’ve worked very hard and am now at a mastery level. That means I live mostly in Sage. Mental fitness is no longer something I do—it’s my default way of being. Challenges have become fuel for growth, and my sense of peace grows deeper every day.

But mastery isn’t a finish line—it’s a lifelong journey. And the most rewarding part? Other people notice. They comment on the calm, grounded way I now show up. That makes me smile.

As a trained PQ Coach, I now help individual leaders, teams, and organizations experience the same transformation—unlocking performance by strengthening mental fitness and building cultures that thrive under pressure.

Why Saboteurs Hurt Business

Saboteurs show up at work in ways that stall performance:

• Hyper-Rational leaders over-index on logic and miss emotional connection, alienating their teams.

• Controllers over-manage, killing trust and creativity.

• Avoiders delay tough decisions, costing time and progress.

Left unchecked, these saboteurs drain energy, stifle innovation, and erode trust across organizations.

PQ for Teams

The solution is building mental fitness across the leadership team. My 12-month PQ for Teams program helps leaders identify their saboteurs, strengthen their self-command muscles, and unlock their Sage perspective.

The results? Teams that:

• Collaborate more effectively.

• Recover faster from stress.

• Build sustainable performance.

When companies enroll 10+ leaders, their family members also receive access to the PQ app, spreading well-being beyond the workplace.

CC’s Lesson 🐶

Even CC, our Chief Cultural Officer, has her saboteur: the Treat-Seeker. Her Sage shows up when she waits patiently, knowing the biscuit will eventually come. Leaders can learn from that patience too.

How to Get Started

Want to know which inner saboteurs are holding you back?

Before you take the free Positive Intelligence Saboteur Assessment, I’ll send you a personalized invitation that lets me see your results and guide you more effectively as your coach.

Get your free personalized link here

Let’s uncover what’s holding you back — and start building your mental fitness today.