What if the very thing you're doing to reward success is the one thing that guarantees failure? In this episode, I speak with leadership mentor and author William Davis, who’s seen more than four decades of leadership mistakes up close. Together we get straight to the heart of a painful truth: most managers are made, not chosen—and we’re getting it badly wrong.

We talk about the classic disaster promotion—when your best individual contributor gets “rewarded” by becoming a leader, with zero prep and no support. William’s message is blunt and clear: if they don’t want to be a leader, they’ll never be a good one. So how do you spot the right ones? How do you shift that mindset from individual success to team success? And how do you build genuine, trusting relationships that hold up when things inevitably go wrong?

This one is full of practical gold for any sales leader trying to coach their team without losing their top players or their mind.

Don’t assume success in the role means readiness to lead. It’s a different job.

Ask the question early: Do you actually want to be a leader? If the answer’s no, don’t push it.

Great leadership starts with a mindset shift—from my success to my team’s success.

Build trust through personal connection—get to know your people outside of the office.

Use humour and humility to lower the pressure and make people feel safe.

Understand what actually matters to each person—professionally and personally.

[02:04] – William on why wanting to lead is non-negotiable

William Davis’ book: Building Genuine Relationships

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