Episode 1

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Published on:

23rd Dec 2025

The Leadership Incompetence Trap: Why You Are Stuck "Doing" The Work (And How to Break Free)

The Peter Principle is wrong. Here is the neuroscience of why you are stuck and the 4-step framework to fix it.

If you find yourself in a leadership position because you are a great "Doer," the same things that got you there are now holding you back.

You were likely promoted because you were the best coder, the best salesperson, or the best problem solver. But leading people is a completely different skillset than doing the work.

In this foundational episode, we break down the Leadership Incompetence Trap.

We dismantle the "Peter Principle" - the idea that you have risen to your level of incompetence - and replace it with the neuroscience of why your brain is actually addicted to the "Doer" mode.

In this episode, you will learn:

-The "Physician Paradox": Why we give doctors 20 years of training but give leaders a weekend workshop (and why this sets you up to fail).

-Goal Line vs. Learning Line: The framework used by high-growth leaders to scale their business and their emotional intelligence simultaneously.

-The Foundational Truth: Why your leadership is simply an extension of the relationship you have with yourself.

-The 4-Step Growth Framework: The roadmap we will use in this podcast to move from Release & Reset to Strategy & Influence.

💪 The Challenge for This Episode:

(each episode ends with one challenge for you to put into practice)

I want you to identify one thing that made you successful in the past that you are still doing today - but need to let go of.

It might be closing sales deals yourself, reviewing every line of code, or proofreading marketing emails.

-Identify the Task: What is the one "Doer" activity you are holding onto for comfort?

-The Decision: Make the conscious decision to let it go this week so you can make space for strategic leadership.

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

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About the Podcast

Leadership Mindset 2.0
Transform From Tactical Doer to Strategic Leader: The Psychology of Scaling for Executives & Entrepreneurs
Leadership Mindset 2.0 is the definitive playbook for executives and entrepreneurs ready to break free from the "Doer Trap" and scale their business using psychology and strategy.

Host R. Michael Anderson has scaled multiple software companies to the Inc. 5000 list and was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Now, as a 2x Executive Coach of the Year, he uses that experience to help high-performers transform from Tactical Operators into Strategic Leaders.

In this podcast, Michael blends cutting-edge neuroscience, emotional intelligence (EQ), and battle-tested business strategy to help you overcome burnout, imposter syndrome, and the "Leadership Incompetence Trap" so you can lead with clarity and confidence.

Two New Episodes Every Week which include a mix of:
• Strategy: Neuroscience frameworks & leadership tactics to start your week.
• Mentorship: Live Q&A and specific answers to your leadership challenges.
• Coaching: A fly-on-the-wall look at real, unscripted executive coaching sessions as Michael helps leaders break through their blind spots live.
• Masterclasses: Listen in as Michael and guests teach valuable leadership and management skills to a real-life audience.

Topics include: The Psychology of Scaling, Burnout Prevention, Strategic Planning, Executive Coaching, and Emotional Intelligence.

About your host

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R. Michael Anderson

R. Michael Anderson, MBA, MA has a striking combination that creates truly impactful transformation in leaders – he has the real-life business success of founding, scaling and exiting three software companies, plus the educational background of a Masters Degree in Psychology.



This combination gives him the unique ability to connect to other leaders as a peer, then teaches evidence-based leadership skills that genuinely drive behaviour and performance.