3x Olympian | Executive Sparring Partner for Senior Leaders in D-A-CH | The Executive Edge - ASPIRE: High performance that protects people’s health and dignity

I’m Eva Gysling, a three-time Olympic swimmer and executive/team leader with 35+ years in complex organisations. I know real pressure - on the starting block and in the boardroom - and how much potential gets wasted when culture is left to chance, systems are poorly designed, and leadership behaviour goes unchallenged.

My work sits where Olympic mindset, executive leadership, culture and corporate mental health meet. Burnout isn’t an individual weakness, and “tough” leadership doesn’t justify daily micro-suffering - especially when it’s driven by bad behaviour. High performance without psychological safety is a contradiction. If people pay with health or dignity, it’s not performance, it’s system failure and a culture problem.

That’s why I created The Executive Edge - ASPIRE: a clear six-module framework for senior leaders who build healthy high-performance cultures on purpose. ASPIRE turns intent into standards, rituals and tools across:

• Pressure design
• Accountability
• Resilience
• Strategic agility
• Team confidence
• Culture anchoring

Purpose:
Design pressure, behaviour and collaboration so people can deliver ambitious results while staying healthy, respected and appreciated.

Who I work with (DACH)
• Senior leaders in tech, healthcare and other disruptive environments (and their leadership teams)
• People & Culture / HR leaders responsible for culture, mental health and leadership quality
• Interprofessional bridge leaders (Product, IT, Ops, Clinical/Service) living in the friction between silos
• Selected consultants, coaches and executive-education partners who want an Olympic-tested, tool-rich system to plug into their work

Together, we redesign how pressure, workload, behaviour, collaboration and culture are handled so leaders don’t have to choose between results and system health.

What I don’t do:
I don’t train people to “be more resilient” so they can tolerate the intolerable. No glossy wellbeing without accountability. No treating bad leadership as a private issue. Psychological safety is infrastructure, non-negotiable, measurable, and owned.

What working with me feels like:
Calm under pressure; direct, respectful and appreciative; Olympic-level standards with high respect for people. We install small, robust rituals/behaviors that hold when things get tough: clearer decisions, fairer load, healthier teams, and more honest collaboration. Proof, not slogans.

If this sounds like your world, let’s explore whether ASPIRE can help you build the healthy high-performance culture you actually want to own.

Eva Gysling, OLY

Money can buy influence.
Degrees can open doors.
But only character earns respect.

Some things grab attention fast.

Money. Degrees.
Followers. Status.

They look impressive from the outside.
They just do not tell you who someone really is.

What actually matters shows up differently ↓

→ How someone treats people with nothing to offer.
→ How someone carries success without arrogance.
→ How someone acts when no one is watching.
→ How someone gives without needing credit.

Titles fade.
Positions change.
Attention moves on.

But…
Character stays.
And it always leaves a mark.

Choose carefully what you admire.

♻️ Repost now with others
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Eva Gysling

Most mistakes feel enormous only because we replay them in our own head.

We zoom in.
We exaggerate.
We turn one moment into a full story about who we are.

But step outside your perspective for a second.

What feels huge to you often barely registers to anyone else.

People are focused on their own deadlines.
Their own worries.
Their own missteps.

The real damage rarely comes from the mistake itself.
It comes from how long we punish ourselves for it.

Growth does not come from being flawless.
It comes from recovering quickly.

This is what you should do...

✅ Learn the lesson.
✅ Adjust the approach.
✅ Keep moving.

Most mistakes are small.
Staying stuck in them is what makes them feel big.

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Character is revealed not in the spotlight.

It shows up in how you treat the people who cannot help you.

The ones who cannot influence your career.
The ones who cannot reward or recognize you.
The ones who are invisible to everyone else.

This is where true integrity lives.

True leaders behave the same way regardless of the situation:

→ Always give time and guidance.
→ Treat everyone fairly - not selectively.
→ Listen actively and acknowledge perspectives.
→ Speak with respect, even when no one is watching.

Why does this matter?

Because power and success are temporary.

Titles fade.
Money comes and goes.
But reputation and integrity endure.

The way you treat those who cannot help you defines who you really are.

It shows what kind of leader, colleague, or human you are when no one else is looking.

Credits: Jen Blandos

Repost now with others.
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Dr. Chris Mullen

Helping leaders work better, lead better, live better • Author, Better at Life • Keynote speaker

👋 Hey, I’m Chris.

𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬.

I’m a pracademic, someone who lives at the intersection of research and real life. I study the future of work, leadership, and human behavior, then translate those insights into practical ideas leaders can actually use.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

❌ Performance doesn’t improve when people just do more
❌ Burnout is often a boundary problem, not a motivation problem
❌ Most workplace challenges trace back to how people experience work

The truth is simple:
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫.

That belief sits at the center of 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞, my newsletter, keynote work, and upcoming book. It’s about reducing burnout, setting better boundaries, and building habits that make work and life feel more intentional.

I’m a LinkedIn Top Leadership Voice, and my work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Inc., MSNBC, and NBC News.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩

1️⃣ 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 → 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
One short, thoughtful email each week.
A simple, actionable idea to help you work better, lead better, and live better, without adding more to your plate.
👉 Sign up free: https://chrismullen.org/newsletter

2️⃣ 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠
I partner with organizations and leadership teams to rethink culture, performance, and employee experience.
Research-backed, practical, and designed to spark real change.
👉 Learn more: https://chrismullen.org/speaking

3️⃣ 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 → 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤
A clear blueprint built from PhD research and years of hands-on work with leaders across industries, designed to help you build a life that actually fits the season you’re in.
If you want to be the first to know when it’s released, the newsletter is the best place to start.
👉 https://chrismullen.org/newsletter

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭.

Founder and CEO

Empowering people to maxim their potential and fully step into who they are. It's time to ELEVATE YOURSELF!

Check out my website - www.chrismullen.org

Responsible for providing executive leadership coaching, organization development, and training to a range of companies from non-profits to higher education to a bestselling author and entrepreneurs.

Leadership isn’t tested on stage.

It’s tested when no one’s watching.

I once watched a senior leader stay late to help a junior employee rehearse a presentation.
No audience.
No recognition.
No LinkedIn post about it.

Just quiet support.

That moment told me more about their character than any keynote ever could.

Here’s what most people get wrong:

Some are kind when it benefits them.
Others are kind when it costs them.

That’s the difference between reputation management and identity.

Real, non-performative leadership looks like this:

1/ They help without leverage.
↳ No mental scorecard. No future favor expected.

2/ They speak well of people who aren’t in the room.
↳ Integrity shows up in absence.

3/ They treat interns like executives.
↳ Respect isn’t title-based.

4/ They follow up when it’s inconvenient.
↳ Reliability is kindness in action.

5/ They give credit fast and take blame slow.
↳ Ego doesn’t drive them.

6/ They don’t weaponize vulnerability.
↳ Trust is sacred.

Kindness as strategy builds transactions.
Kindness as identity builds trust.

And trust is what actually builds careers.
Quiet character compounds.

__________
♻️ Repost if you believe kindness should be a way of life, not a tactic.
👋 Building better habits starts small. Follow me (Dr. Chris Mullen) and get one intentional idea each week from BETTER AT LIFE: https://lnkd.in/gJTcghKK

A supportive workplace isn't a luxury.

It's the foundation of a thriving career.

Everyone thinks securing a job is the ultimate goal.

But I believe the workplace culture is just as important.

Here's why:

Early in my career,

I focused solely on landing a job.

I didn't consider the workplace environment.

One day, I found myself in a toxic workplace.

It drained me mentally and emotionally.

That's when I realized the value of a supportive work culture.

Now when I look for a job, I focus on the company culture.

3 things I look for:

1. Respect and Trust
↳ Is there mutual respect among colleagues?
↳ Do they foster a trustworthy environment?
↳ Are ideas and concerns openly shared?

2. Opportunities for Growth
↳ Do they offer training programs?
↳ Are there mentorship opportunities?
↳ Can you see a clear path for advancement?
↳ Mental Well-being

3. Do they support mental health initiatives?
↳ Is there a good work-life balance?
↳ Do they provide resources for stress management?
↳ Reflect on your core values.

Align your career choices with supportive environments.

You're not just seeking a job, you're seeking a culture.

A nurturing workplace accelerates your career and enriches your life.

A toxic workplace can have the opposite effect.

❓What does a supportive culture look like to you right now?

__________
♻️ Repost if you believe culture is a career decision, not a perk.
👋 Follow me (Dr. Chris Mullen) for more practical guidance on choosing workplaces that help you grow and subscribe to BETTER AT LIFE to build better habits and better leadership: https://lnkd.in/gJTcghKK

You can't fix a toxic workplace

It will break you first.

Toxic workplaces normalize bad behavior.
They blur your sense of what’s acceptable.
They chip away at your energy, confidence, and self-trust.

No paycheck is worth losing yourself.

10 Ways to Protect Yourself:

1/ Notice early red flags
↳ Gossip, fear-based leadership, high turnover.

2/ Listen to your nervous system
↳ Stress, dread, Sunday night anxiety = loud signals.

3/ Document conversations
↳ Save emails and messages to protect yourself, not out of paranoia.

4/ Set and enforce clear boundaries
↳ Say no without guilt. Protect your non-work hours.

5/ Find mentors outside your company
↳ They'll help you see what you might be normalizing.

6/ Limit emotional labor
↳ Care without carrying others’ burdens.

7/ Prioritize your health
↳ Mental and physical health aren’t “luxuries.”

8/ Practice exit strategies
↳ Update your résumé before you need it.

9/ Strengthen your support system
↳ Stay close to those who remind you of your worth.

10/ Remember: leaving is a power move
↳ Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away.

You are not weak for protecting yourself.
You are wise enough to know when something won’t change
and strong enough to choose a better path.

❓What was the first red flag you ignored?

__________
♻️ Repost for anyone questioning their sanity in a toxic workplace.
👋 Follow me (Dr. Chris Mullen) for more honest conversations about boundaries, burnout, and brave exits and subscribe to BETTER AT LIFE to build better habits and better leadership: https://lnkd.in/gJTcghKK

Smart people memorize.

Smarter people learn how to think.

Thanks to my friend César Solís for these useful tips!
(Give him a follow)

“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” – Albert Einstein

Here are 6 ways how to think smarter everyday:

1/ Challenge Your Thinking Habits.
2/ Teach What You Learn.
3/ Change Up Your Routine.
4/ Dream About the Future, but Plan for Problems.
5/ Sleep-Based Intelligence Boosting.
6/ Reverse Problem-Solving.

Train your brain like you train your body, with intention.

❓What’s one small shift that’s helped you think better, not just do more?

_________
♻️ Repost to help others train their minds intentionally.
🔔 Follow César Solís and Dr. Chris Mullen for more practical ways to build smarter thinking habits.

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The Battle

Eva Gysling, OLY

Dr. Chris Mullen

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Performance ScoreDr. Chris Mullen's LinkedIn Performance

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The Battle

Eva Gysling, OLY

Dr. Chris Mullen

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Eva Gysling, OLY's LinkedIn Performance

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