How Armour Quietly Blocks Trust, Connection—and Impact

Ever catch yourself getting defensive?

Your body tenses.
Your brain goes into overdrive.
And before you even realize it—you’ve shut down.

Yeah... that’s armour.
And as a leader, it’s costing you more than you think.

It’s human. Normal. Understandable.
But armour doesn’t just block pain—it blocks connection, trust, and growth, too.

Here’s how fast the pattern shows up:
→ You feel like you’re not enough.
→ You worry being honest will make people think less of you.
→ You shift into blame or control mode.

All of this happens in microseconds.
And suddenly, you’re leading from fear instead of strength.

When my armour goes up, I can feel it:
My heart races. My chest tightens. I stop listening and I start shutting down.

It’s a stress response.
And people feel it.
Then mirror it back consciously or not.

You might think you're protecting yourself.
But what you're really doing is setting a tone for fear, disconnection, and politics.

The most powerful leaders I know? 
They’re the ones who notice the armour—and choose to set it down.

Let’s Experiment

Over the next week, just notice your armour.

• When does it show up?
• What happens in your body?
• What shifts in your connection with others?

Why it matters?
You can’t build real trust, connection, or influence when you’re armoured up.

Armour might feel safe—but it also keeps you stuck. Awareness is the first step toward something better.

Want to challenge yourself? 
Visualize your armour. Tell us in the comments what your armour looks like.

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With love and gratitude,
Jenn