The Power of Being Highly Sensitive: My Journey from Misfit to Leader

In 45 seconds

The world felt overwhelming as a kid. Turns out, I’m an HSP (highly sensitive person) – 15-20% of us out there, according to research. My sensitivity, once a burden, became my strength. I built a business on emotional intelligence and empathy, creating a more human way to do business. It wasn’t just boardrooms – injustice sparked my activism.

Being HSP is tough, but we’re also deeply empathetic, intuitive, and creative. I learned self-compassion to quiet anxieties, and to channel empathy into action for positive change. Mindfulness helps manage the noise, and I don’t try to carry the world’s weight.

We HSPs bring a lot to the table. We can be social justice warriors, healers, or creative forces. Even creating harmony in your own life makes a difference. Embrace your sensitivity, and care for yourself, and the world will benefit from your compassion and fight for a better tomorrow.

In 3.5 minutes

They say the world wasn’t built for people like me. As a child, I felt like a square peg trying to squeeze into a round hole. The competitive environment, the harsh judgments – it all felt overwhelming. But what I didn’t know then was that my sensitivity, this very thing that made me feel like an outsider, would become my greatest strength.

Research, pioneered by psychologists Elaine Aron and Arthur Aron, helped me understand myself a lot better. For years I thought I was defective. I was told “You think too much and too deeply about things”, “You’re too sensitive so harden up”, “Stop worrying about everyone”, etc. It turns out, that being an HSP isn’t a disorder, it’s a personality trait. Estimates suggest 15-20% of the world’s population are highly sensitive people (HSPs) and some sources suggest the percentage could be as high as 30%, but what matters most is how we navigate this unique experience.

Being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) in the corporate world wasn’t easy. Early on, I witnessed the limitations of a system focused solely on profit. It clashed with my deep sense of fairness and yearning for harmony. But I wasn’t one to just sit by. I knew there had to be a better way.

Instead of storming the castle walls, I chose to build bridges. In 1995, I founded Barrett, and emotional intelligence became my tool of choice. My HSP nature allowed me to pick up on subtle cues and build genuine connections, a skill that proved invaluable. We integrated emotional intelligence with strategy, ethics, and change management, creating a human-centred approach to sales and business – one built on trust and collaboration.

This “radical” idea, as some called it, redefined success for Barrett and the many leaders and businesses we worked with. But my journey wasn’t confined to boardrooms. The climate crisis, rising extremism – I couldn’t turn a blind eye to the suffering. My empathy, powered by my HSP nature, compelled me to take action. I channelled my leadership into activism, using my voice to fight for justice and a better world.

Being an HSP can feel like a double-edged sword. The world can be a sensory overload, but it’s this very sensitivity that makes us deeply empathetic, intuitive, and creative. Here’s what I’ve learned about navigating this unique landscape:

• Self-compassion is key: We HSPs often pick up on every social cue, leading to anxiety about judgment. But I learned to focus on self-compassion and inner validation, a powerful tool that combats those anxieties.
• Turn empathy into action: The injustices of the world can weigh heavily on us. Instead of feeling helpless, I channel my empathy into actionable steps, no matter how small. Every positive ripple counts.
• Manage the noise: The constant negativity can be draining. Mindfulness and stress management techniques, including regular exercise participating in sport, became my go-to for regulating my emotions and finding peace.
• Don’t carry the world: It’s easy to feel the weight of the world on your shoulders as an HSP. I learned to acknowledge those feelings without letting them consume me – most of the time.
• Embrace your strengths: We HSPs have a treasure trove of strengths to offer the world. My empathy allows me to build strong relationships and offer unwavering support. My intuition has been a powerful tool in decision-making, guiding me on the right path. And my curiosity and creativity power my desire to learn more and make a positive impact.

Leading with an HSP heart

My experience as an HSP has been a gift, especially in the realm of leadership. Our deep empathy allows us to truly see and understand the people we lead. We can create spaces where people feel valued, heard, and safe to take risks. This fosters a sense of trust and collaboration, leading to a more engaged and productive team. Our intuition can also be a powerful tool for decision-making, helping us to navigate complex situations and identify potential challenges before they arise.

The world needs HSPs. We bring empathy, curiosity, creativity, and a deep desire for harmony to the table. Being highly sensitive is not a weakness. It’s a superpower waiting to be unleashed. Focus on self-care, embrace your unique gifts, and the world will be a better place because of your compassion and unwavering pursuit of a better tomorrow.

Barrett helping people engage, communicate, and sell better.

Author: Sue Barrett

An inspirational business and community leader, business growth strategist, and sales and communications specialist, Sue is leading the human-centred sales and communication evolution and is the perfect business adviser on how to build and execute effective go-to-market sales strategies and redefine traditional sales stereotypes to capitalise on the power of business savvy, emotionally intelligent, human-centred communication, sales and leadership practices that attract and retain more of the clients and employees you want.

CEO of Barrett , a sales and communications advisory firm (est. 1995), and the Selling Better Movement, Sue is also a founding organiser of March4Justice (15 March 2021) and Voices of Goldstein, and Zoe Daniel's campaign manager for the federal seat of Goldstein in 2022 and campaign leader for Goldstein for YES at the 2023 Voice referendum which delivered a YES result.

Committed to fairer, sustainable business practices, integrity, equality and climate action, Sue has the ability to raise awareness of our interconnectedness as a foundation for empathy, compassion, decency and ethics, which in turn informs our moral cognition – our capacity to ‘do the right thing’ in business and in life. She encourages us to think deeply about how our decisions affect others and the planet, and how to take positive action that affects real change and delivers lasting results.

Sue lives in Melbourne, with her family; is a Monash BSc graduate; a competitive swimmer and field hockey player; a community gardener; Cats supporter, K-drama enthusiast and is inspired by David Bowie, Rachel Carson, Kate Raworth, Peter Drucker, and Maria Montessori