Why do smart, capable people keep pushing harder… and still not get the result?

In this episode of The Unseen Advantage, Dr John explores one of the most subtle and costly traps in leadership, performance, and decision-making: the illusion of control.

Drawing on the groundbreaking research of Ellen Langer, alongside behavioural science from gambling psychology and organisational performance, this episode unpacks why effort often feels like progress—even when nothing is actually changing.

Through the story of a CEO navigating a stalled deal, a disengaged team, and board-level pressure, you’ll see how control quietly replaces clarity… and why that’s where performance begins to break down.

This episode introduces key Power in Excellence concepts including:

• The difference between control and influence
• Why perception—not reality—drives behaviour
• How the “Loop of Excellence” replaces reaction with precision
• The hidden cost of over-ownership (the Victim Virus in disguise)

If you’ve ever found yourself pushing harder on something that should be working—but isn’t—this episode will change how you see it.

And once you see it… you can’t unsee it.

References

• Ellen Langer (1975). The Illusion of Control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 32(2), 311–328.
• Langer, E. J. (1983). The Psychology of Control. Sage Publications.
• Grupe, D. W., & Nitschke, J. B. (2013). Uncertainty and anticipation in anxiety: An integrated neurobiological and psychological perspective. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(7), 488–501.
• Friston, K. (2010). The free-energy principle: A unified brain theory? Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11(2), 127–138.
• Clark, A. (2013). Whatever next? Predictive brains, situated agents, and the future of cognitive science. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 36(3), 181–204.
• Dixon, M. J., Harrigan, K. A., Sandhu, R., Collins, K., & Fugelsang, J. A. (2010/2013). Losses disguised as wins and near-misses in modern slot machines. Journal of Gambling Studies.
• Clark, L. (2010). Decision-making during gambling: An integration of cognitive and psychobiological approaches. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 365(1538), 319–330.
• Schüll, N. D. (2012). Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas. Princeton University Press.
• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “What” and “Why” of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. Guilford Press.
• Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer Publishing.
• Gallup (2020). State of the Global Workplace Report.
• Harter, J. K., Schmidt, F. L., & Hayes, T. L. (2002). Business-unit-level relationship between employee satisfaction, engagement, and business outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology.

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Dr John McMahon is a Leadership Psychologist and Executive Coach. He holds a PhD in Management Psychology, and MBA. He has worked with senior leaders, boards, founders, and executive teams across industries and continents.

WhatsApp +44 7860 625551 for more information or to enquire about working with Dr John