Episode 56

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Published on:

5th Aug 2026

Three Leadership Mistakes That Undermine Your Authority

Leadership isn't just about making the right decisions. It's about having the difficult conversations, earning trust, and showing up with confidence when it matters most.

In this episode, Michael answers questions from leaders who are facing challenges many of us eventually run into.

-What do you do when someone on your team isn't improving?

-How do you lead people who used to be your peers?

-And how do you walk into a room with confidence when everyone seems to be judging you before you've even spoken?

If you've ever struggled with any of those situations, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put to work right away.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- When it's time to put someone on a Performance Improvement Plan and why avoiding the conversation usually makes things worse.

- How to earn the respect of former peers after stepping into a leadership role.

- A simple routine you can use before any meeting or presentation to feel calmer, more confident, and more present.

- Why the first few moments of your presentation matter more than you think and how to make them count.

Leadership Challenge

Before your next meeting or presentation, don't jump straight into your content. Pause, get grounded, and think about what your audience needs from you. Then start with an opening that grabs their attention and sets the tone for the conversation.

Questions on this episode?

Ask me in the Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8944058/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadershipmindsetgroup

Join the Growth Leaders Collective

http://rmichaelanderson.com/glc-join

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bravest Room in Montreal

Find out more:

2026 Intensive

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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.