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Does being an "authentic" leader mean you have to share every fear with your team? Absolutely not.
In this special episode, the script is flipped. Michael is interviewed by Hugo Dahlbom of the Executive Network Presidents Institute. They dig into the "Doer to Leader" transition and challenge the modern obsession with vulnerability.
Michael introduces the "Pilot in the Cockpit" analogy: If the engines fail, you want the pilot to be honest, but you don't want them screaming in panic. True leadership requires a specific balance of honesty and authority.
In this episode, you will learn:
-The Pilot Analogy: Why "authentic" leadership does NOT mean sharing your panic with the team (and what to do instead).
-The "Doer" Programming: Why your brain is wired to jump in and fix problems yourself, and how to break that addiction.
-The Experiment Frame: How to get a perfectionist team to take risks by changing one word in your vocabulary.
-Auditing vs. Doing: How to find your team's blind spots without doing their work for them.
The Challenge The Vocabulary Audit: This week, stop asking your team to take "risks." Start asking them to run "experiments." Notice how the energy in the room shifts when the fear of permanent failure is removed.
Resources
-Join the Conversation: Join our Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on LinkedIn or Facebook
-Get Live Coaching: Move from listening to doing inside the Growth Leaders Collective. Start your $1 trial at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC
Mentioned in this episode:
Now Open - the 2026 Mindset Accelerator
Special Announcement: Enrollment is open for the 2026 Leadership Mindset Accelerator. This is a live, 3-month program starting February 24th to help you move from "Doer" to "Strategic Leader."
2026 Mindset Accelerator
By R. Michael Anderson | Leadership Coach & CEODoes being an "authentic" leader mean you have to share every fear with your team? Absolutely not.
In this special episode, the script is flipped. Michael is interviewed by Hugo Dahlbom of the Executive Network Presidents Institute. They dig into the "Doer to Leader" transition and challenge the modern obsession with vulnerability.
Michael introduces the "Pilot in the Cockpit" analogy: If the engines fail, you want the pilot to be honest, but you don't want them screaming in panic. True leadership requires a specific balance of honesty and authority.
In this episode, you will learn:
-The Pilot Analogy: Why "authentic" leadership does NOT mean sharing your panic with the team (and what to do instead).
-The "Doer" Programming: Why your brain is wired to jump in and fix problems yourself, and how to break that addiction.
-The Experiment Frame: How to get a perfectionist team to take risks by changing one word in your vocabulary.
-Auditing vs. Doing: How to find your team's blind spots without doing their work for them.
The Challenge The Vocabulary Audit: This week, stop asking your team to take "risks." Start asking them to run "experiments." Notice how the energy in the room shifts when the fear of permanent failure is removed.
Resources
-Join the Conversation: Join our Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on LinkedIn or Facebook
-Get Live Coaching: Move from listening to doing inside the Growth Leaders Collective. Start your $1 trial at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC
Mentioned in this episode:
Now Open - the 2026 Mindset Accelerator
Special Announcement: Enrollment is open for the 2026 Leadership Mindset Accelerator. This is a live, 3-month program starting February 24th to help you move from "Doer" to "Strategic Leader."
2026 Mindset Accelerator