What we covered in our chat
In this episode of the Well Workplace Podcast, Mark Jones shared the moment that forced him to confront the cost of sustained pressure. A panic attack that became a turning point in how he approached work, health and leadership. His story is a powerful reminder that many high performers don’t realise the toll until their body intervenes.
How internal narratives shape wellbeing and performance
A major focus of our conversation was the role of internal narratives. These are the stories we tell ourselves about success, failure, competence and worth. Mark explained how these stories often sit beneath behaviours we see at work, such as overworking, avoiding difficult conversations or chasing perfection. These narratives tend to intensify during promotions, periods of change or increased responsibility, particularly when identity becomes closely tied to role or performance. From a wellbeing perspective, this creates sustained internal pressure that is rarely visible but deeply impactful.
A practical framework leaders can use
Mark introduced his Story Code framework:
- Challenge
- Override
- Decide
- Encode
This framework is a practical way to identify, question and reshape unhelpful internal stories. What stood out for me was how applicable this is for leaders working with their teams. Rather than rescuing or reassuring people, this approach helps individuals build awareness, agency and resilience. Leaders can use this framework in one‑on‑one conversations to support confidence, adaptability and healthier decision‑making without creating dependency or taking on emotional labour that isn’t theirs to carry.
Final thoughts
My biggest takeaway from this conversation is that performance is shaped from the inside out. Leaders who understand the power of internal narratives and help people challenge unhelpful ones can create workplaces with stronger psychological safety, greater resilience and more sustainable performance over time.
Written by Tom Bosna
April 2026