Overcoming Personal Resistance with Angus Nelson

The Leadership Habit

In the latest episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast, host Jenn DeWall engages in a thought-provoking conversation with executive coach Angus Nelson on overcoming personal resistance and how it impacts personal and professional growth.

In this episode, Nelson dives deep into the concept of resistance—what it is, how it shows up in our lives, and most importantly, how we can overcome it. As leaders, understanding and managing resistance is crucial to success. By building self-awareness in leadership, we can identify the subconscious patterns that hold us back and develop strategies to push through those barriers.

Meet Angus Nelson, Executive Coach & Author

Angus Nelson is an executive coach who transforms entrepreneurs into their best selves and achieves success, balance, and fulfillment. Nelson is the author of the upcoming book Confidence Comes Later: How the Quest for Certainty Holds Us Back. He hosts the Evolve Leadership podcast and founded the Wealthy Entrepreneur Circle mastermind. With business psychology and emotional intelligence expertise, Angus impacts high-achievers in startups, Fortune 500 companies, and celebrity circles. He’s spoken at Walmart, Coca-Cola, BMW, & Adobe. Based in Lisbon, Portugal, he’s the go-to strategist for those seeking excellence in all aspects of a wealthy life.

What Is Personal Resistance?

At the beginning of the episode, Jenn DeWall introduces the central topic: “You likely have noticed yourself maybe that big goal that you have in your head, and then, of course, that big obstacle that’s preventing you from being that person that you know that you can be.” This idea of resistance is something everyone grapples with—whether it’s fear of failure, self-doubt, or simply getting stuck in old habits.

Nelson defines resistance as “the thing you feel, that internal tension that arises when you are pushing towards a new growth opportunity.” It’s the discomfort that prevents us from moving forward despite knowing what we want to achieve. This resistance can manifest in various forms, such as procrastination, imposter syndrome, or anxiety, and can impact every area of our lives—from our careers to personal relationships.

But as Nelson emphasizes, overcoming personal resistance is not just about recognizing it—it’s about developing self-awareness to understand where it comes from and how to push through it.

The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership

Nelson believes that self-awareness in leadership is the key to unlocking potential. Leaders who can recognize their own resistance are better equipped to manage it. According to Nelson, “Self-awareness is the gateway drug to personal development.” Without self-awareness, leaders are likely to fall into subconscious patterns that hold them back from reaching their full potential.

One of the examples Nelson shares involves working with a client who struggled with fear of public speaking. After some exploration, they discovered that the fear stemmed from a childhood incident. “The more you pay attention to these elements, the more you can actually start to see revealed that the inner workings of your life are creating ceilings holding you back,” Nelson explains.

This anecdote highlights how deeply ingrained resistance can be and how critical self-awareness is to overcoming it. By uncovering the stories we tell ourselves, we can begin to rewrite them. Nelson emphasizes that overcoming personal resistance often starts with a deep understanding of where these feelings come from: “Once we give our clients this kind of clarity, it makes it so much simpler to build new stories. Those new stories create new behaviors. Those new behaviors create better results.”

Breaking Free from Resistance: Take Action Despite Fear

One of the most powerful insights Nelson offers is that overcoming personal resistance requires taking action, even when fear is present. “Success doesn’t make you more confident,” Nelson says. “In fact, success often makes you less confident because you start having these questions: Did I just get lucky? Can I pull off the next one?”

For high achievers, this fear can become paralyzing. Nelson’s advice is to face it head-on by taking small, consistent actions. “When you step out to do something new, and you feel that resistance, take action anyway,” he advises. “Do something that changes your state—whether it’s going for a walk, spending time with your kids, or doing something fun. The key is to move forward despite the resistance.”

Nelson also speaks to the importance of reassessing the standards we hold for ourselves. Often, resistance is fueled by the unrealistic pressures we put on ourselves to succeed. “Sometimes, the things we’re experiencing are because we’re tolerating too much BS in our lives,” Nelson points out. By raising our standards and setting healthier boundaries, we can reduce the impact of resistance and create space for growth.

The Resilience Triangle: Awareness, Action, and Learning

As the episode closes, Nelson gives the audience his Resilience Triangle model, a framework designed to help leaders develop the resilience needed to push through personal resistance. The three components of the model are:

1. Awareness: The first step in overcoming personal resistance is to recognize it. Nelson explains, “When you feel fear, self-doubt, or anger, that’s resistance showing up. Pay attention to what triggers these feelings and where they come from.”
2. Action: Once you’ve identified the resistance, take consistent, courageous steps to combat it. Nelson encourages leaders to act in ways that challenge their default responses. “If you feel like retreating, go out and do something,” he says. “By taking action, you change your emotional state.”
3. Learning: Finally, Nelson emphasizes the importance of reflection. “Everything is teaching us, training us, and preparing us for the next step in our process,” he explains. Resistance is not meant to be avoided; instead, it’s a tool for growth. Each time we confront resistance, we gain valuable insights that make us stronger and more resilient.

Where to Find More From Angus Nelson:

• Visit AngusNelson.com
• Connect on LinkedIn
• Check out his YouTube channel

How Crestcom Can Help You Overcome Personal Resistance

At Crestcom, we believe that leadership development starts with self-awareness. As Angus Nelson highlights in this episode, leaders who can understand and manage their personal resistance are better equipped to inspire their teams and achieve their goals. Crestcom’s leadership development programs are designed to help leaders build resilience, develop self-awareness, and overcome the barriers that hold them back.

Are you ready to overcome your own personal resistance and become a more effective leader? Join us for a free Leadership Skills Workshop, where you’ll gain practical tools and insights to strengthen your leadership.

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