Mental fitness coaching for leaders — the Positive Intelligence (PQ®) program

Most leaders are their own toughest critic. This program changes that.

​

The PQ® Mental Fitness Program is a neuroscience-backed, 8-week experience for leaders who are ready to quiet the inner voice that second-guesses, overworks, and people-pleases — and replace it with clarity, confidence, and calm. Built on Shirzad Chamine's groundbreaking research with over 500,000 participants, it's one of the most evidence-based programs available for sustainable leadership growth.

​

Apply for September cohort 

​

​

​Cohort size is limited to 6 leaders. Sessions begin September 2026. Payment plans available. 

​

What is Positive Intelligence?

Positive Intelligence (PQ®) is the measure of your mental fitness — specifically, how well your mind acts in your own best interest versus working against you.

​

PQ research identifies 10 internal "Saboteurs": the patterns of thinking that cause leaders to experience unnecessary stress, conflict, and self-doubt. You may recognize some of them in yourself: the Judge who criticizes every mistake, the Pleaser who can't say no, the Perfectionist who avoids starting anything they can't do flawlessly, or the Controller who struggles to trust others.

These aren't character flaws. They're mental habits — and like any habit, they can be rewired.

​

The PQ® program builds three core mental muscles:

• Saboteur Interceptor — catch and quiet the patterns that hold you back

• Sage Perspective — shift from reaction to response, even under pressure

• Self-Command — stay in control of your own mind rather than being driven by it

​

The result is a leader who performs better, recovers faster, and leads with far less internal friction.

​​

Your IQ and experience got you here. Mental fitness is what takes you further.

​

Research across 500,000 professionals shows that 80% of people operate with a mental fitness level low enough to limit their performance, relationships, and well-being — regardless of how talented or experienced they are.

For leaders, the gap is especially costly. The same drive and high standards that fuel success can quietly become self-sabotage: overcommitting, avoiding hard conversations, tying your worth to outcomes, or burning out in pursuit of perfect.

Mental fitness training doesn't add more to your plate. It changes how you carry what's already on it.

​

How the program works

Eight weeks of structured practice, peer support, and real-world application — designed to fit a leader's schedule.

​

Each week, you meet with a small cohort of up to 6 leaders for a 90-minute facilitated session. You'll work through real challenges together, share insights and wins, and receive focused coaching from your Sanders Coaching Team facilitator. Between sessions, you have access to email & text support so you're never navigating a hard moment alone.

​

PQ app and daily practice

The PQ® app guides your daily mental fitness practice — short, focused exercises of 2–3 minutes each that together build to 15 minutes a day. These aren't journaling prompts or lengthy meditations. They're precise, neuroscience-based reps that strengthen your Sage muscles the same way physical exercise strengthens your body. Consistency matters more than intensity; most participants notice a shift within the first two weeks.

​

On-demand learning modules

Video modules, broken into 3–15 minute segments, deepen your practice week by week. New concepts are introduced progressively so the learning builds on itself rather than overwhelming you upfront. Optional monthly modules allow you to continue deepening your practice beyond the 8 weeks.

​

What's included

• 8 weeks of weekly mastermind sessions (up to 90 minutes each)

• Access to the PQ® app and full guided exercise library

• Shirzad Chamine's bestselling book Positive Intelligence (audiobook included)

• On-demand learning library

• Email support between sessions

• A cohort of fellow leaders invested in the same growth

​

What to expect, honestly

This program asks for 15 minutes of daily practice, one 60-minute video learning and our weekly session. That's it.

We know your time is not unlimited. The daily practice is designed for busy schedules — you can do it during a commute, between meetings, or first thing in the morning. What matters most is showing up consistently, not perfectly.

If you're already thinking "I don't have time for this" — that response is worth paying attention to. It may be exactly why this program was designed for leaders like you.

​

This program is a strong fit if you recognize yourself here

​You don't need to be in crisis to benefit from this work. Most of our participants are high-functioning leaders who know something is quietly getting in their way. You might be:

• Hard on yourself when things don't go as planned

• Prone to saying yes when you mean no — with colleagues, clients, or family

• Someone who avoids starting something unless you can do it well

• Struggling with delegating, even when you know you should

• Carrying more stress than your role actually requires

• Feeling the early signs of burnout despite external success

• Ready to lead from a calmer, more grounded place — and not sure how to get there

This program is for executives, directors, business owners, and physician leaders who are willing to do the inner work that makes outer results sustainable.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

What participants say

​“It is such a relief to be able to set boundaries! I have more time to do the work that needs to get done!”

​“My boss was on the rampage. I was able to stay calm and ask questions instead of feeling defensive. She apologized for the way she talked to me. First. Time. Ever.”

​“Being able to focus has made such a difference for me.”

​“Understanding my Saboteurs has opened my eyes to why I react to people the way I do.”

​

Led by certified PQ® coaches who've done the work themselves

​

Dawn Sanders is a certified Positive Intelligence coach, John Sanders uses the Positive Intelligence practices with his clients daily. Both are ICF-credentialed professionals with deep experience coaching leaders across business and healthcare. They bring the Sanders Coaching Team's signature blend of accountability, warmth, and evidence-based practice to every cohort.

​

Both Dawn and John have used the Saboteur Assessment and Positive Intelligence App to increase their own awareness of their Saboteurs and how they show up both personally and professionally. 

​

Apply for the September 2026 cohort

​

We keep cohorts intentionally small — no more than 6 leaders — so that every session is focused, every voice is heard, and every participant gets real value. Because of this, we review applications individually to make sure it's a strong fit for everyone in the group.

​

The application takes about 5 minutes. There's no pressure and no wrong answers — it's simply a conversation starter.

​​

​

Questions before applying? Reach us directly at coach@sanderscoachingteam.com or book a free 30-minute call.

​

FAQ

Do I need any prior experience with coaching or Positive Intelligence? No experience is needed. Many of our participants come to this program having never worked with a coach before. The PQ® framework is accessible from day one, and your cohort will include other leaders who are also starting fresh.

​

I'm a physician or healthcare leader — is this relevant to me? Very much so. Burnout, perfectionism, and difficulty setting boundaries are pervasive in healthcare, and the Saboteur patterns PQ identifies show up with particular intensity in high-stakes clinical environments. We work with physicians and healthcare leaders regularly and find the program especially impactful in that context. Learn more about our physician coaching →

​

What if I miss a session? Life happens. Sessions are not recorded out of respect for the group's privacy, but your coach will follow up with you directly so you stay connected to the material and the cohort.

​

What happens after the 8 weeks? Many participants continue with ongoing mastermind membership, one-on-one coaching, or our other leadership programs. The 8-week program is designed to build lasting habits — the goal is that you leave with tools you'll use for the rest of your career, not just insights that fade after the program ends.