I asked a client to name her anxiety 🧠

Many of the tech executives I coach describe themselves as living with high-functioning anxiety. They tell me that many of their colleagues have no idea how anxious they feel throughout the workday.

They may look calm and in control on the surface, but they're like a duck paddling in the water. They look calm, but their anxiety is busy, questioning every statement or decision, paddling away like a duck’s feet underneath it. They may reread a Slack message or email incessantly before they hit send. They may struggle to fall asleep as they ruminate on something they said in a meeting or prepare for their day ahead.

While my anxiety has improved significantly over the years, I can relate. I write and speak openly about living with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and panic disorder. I also completed my doctoral dissertation on the power of mental health storytelling to reduce stigma.

If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone. According to AlixPartners' 2026 Disruption Index, 40% of CEOs reported feeling more anxious in their roles than last year.

World Mental Health Day was this past Saturday, which is why I dedicated my recent Forbes article to leading with high-functioning anxiety. In it, I share the story of a marketing executive I coached who named her anxiety "Little Miss Anxiety." (Yes, we eventually wrote Little Miss Anxiety a job description.)

In the article, you'll discover:

🧠 Why giving your anxiety a name and a job often works better than trying to get rid of it
🧠 The conversation with your boss that removes much of the uncertainty your anxiety feeds on
🧠 3 questions to ask yourself at the end of each work day
🧠 A 10-minute grounding practice you can do on your office floor to feel more present

A few months later, that marketing executive had stopped second-guessing herself in meetings and before she hit send. You can get there, too.

👉🏼 Read the article and explore 4 strategies for leading with high-functioning anxiety.​

Wishing you a fabulous week!

~ Kyle | CaffeinatedKyle.com​

P.S. Ready to take your career or leadership to the next level? My Caffeinate Your Executive Leadership Program will help you navigate change with conviction and grow your leadership skills. While every client is unique, the average ROI of this program is a minimum of 1,000%, based on raises, bonuses, and other incentive pay clients receive as a result of our work together.