Which Belief Is Running Your Leadership?

Every leader hits a wall and the instinct is to blame what's around us: the budget, the team, the difficult boss. But after two decades coaching hundreds of executives, Muriel Wilkins found the biggest blockers almost never live out there. They live in here, in beliefs so ingrained we don't even know we're carrying them.

In this episode, Rob and David explore Wilkins's seven hidden blockers — from “I know I'm right” to “I can't make a mistake” to “I don't belong here” — and self-diagnose in real time. They walk her three-step framework (uncover, unpack, unblock) and connect it to the work of just leadership: seeing the whole playing field starts with seeing yourself clearly. Along the way they get honest about where these beliefs come from, why a blocker is often a real strength that's outgrown its boundary, and why lasting change is an identity issue before it's a behavior one.

Because the healthiest leaders aren't the ones without blind spots — they're the ones humble enough to name them and invite others in. That's what it looks like to help people and cities thrive. Listen in, then take the challenge: put the seven in front of someone you trust and ask which one they see in you.

TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Welcome and the seven beliefs running your leadership

02:10 – The article behind the conversation: Wilkins on hidden blockers

03:20 – Which one jumps out? David and Rob self-diagnose

05:50 – The three blockers they see most in the leaders they coach

09:40 – Seeing yourself clearly, and step one: uncover

10:40 – Step two, unpack: where the belief came from

11:30 – When strengths become blockers

18:20 – Why you can't skip straight to fixing

19:40 – Not a behavior problem, an identity problem