What if the real reason your team isn't thriving isn't them—it's you? In this episode, Ashok sits down with Sel Watts, founder of Wattsnext and a trusted advisor to growth-stage executives, to talk about the blind spots that derail team performance. Sel shares why leaders often overengineer HR systems while neglecting the basic needs of their people—and why getting back to the fundamentals starts with brutal self-honesty.

They explore why traditional job descriptions are outdated, how to rethink role clarity using "outcome profiles," and why consistency beats charisma when it comes to leadership. Sel also shares candid stories from the field—including one about a CEO who had zero emotional intelligence but ran a surprisingly stable company—and explains how tools like behavioral profiling can be powerful when used correctly (and not just shelved after a team offsite).

Inside the episode

Why leadership starts with self-awareness, not structure

The “outcome profile” approach to defining roles clearly

How to tell if someone’s actually underperforming—or just misaligned

What happens when leaders care more about process than people

The surprising upsides of being consistent, even if you're not "warm"

Why behavioral profiling tools are often wasted

One-on-ones, All Hands, and rituals that only work when leaders believe in them

Rethinking hiring decisions by starting with the org chart, not the title

The cost of skipping reflection before replacing a team member

A real-world example of a team where mutual accountability actually works

 

Mentioned in this episode

Wattsnextpx - https://www.wattsnextpx.com

Extended DISC - https://www.extendeddisc.org/

AcuMax - https://www.acumaxindex.com/

Myers-Briggs - https://www.themyersbriggs.com/en-US/Products-and-Services/Myers-Briggs

Predictive Index - https://www.predictiveindex.com/

Entrepreneurs' Organisation (EO) - https://eonetwork.org/

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