The job market is tighter than ever, and standing still is no longer an option. When companies are shrinking teams and competition for every opportunity is fierce, the people who stand out are the ones who keep moving forward. The good news? You don’t need luck or politics to get ahead, you need a strategy.

In this episode, we break down 5 practical ways you can rise above the rest at work: making your goals and intentions clear to your manager, stepping up and getting involved, making your manager’s life easier, staying calm under pressure, and paying it forward by mentoring and coaching others.

What’s in it for you:

• Learn the things most people don't do, leaving an opening for you.
• Discover the things most managers are looking for.
• Why being a calming presence is so important.
• One of the most important things you can do to prepare for a senior role.

Tune in to sharpen your workplace edge and set yourself apart, because in today’s market, average won’t cut it.

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Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick start guides, self-assessments, and other resources that you can use to turn your new knowledge into practice.

We live in a world overflowing with experts—on every podcast, every article, every LinkedIn post. But here’s the problem: experts aren’t always right. In fact, history is filled with examples of experts being wrong, weaponized, or even bought and sold to push an agenda. In this episode of The Leadership Gambit, we dive into the uncomfortable truth about the expert problem. From politicized health advice to consultants selling recycled theories, to “experts” minted after a week-long course, we’ll unpack why credentials don’t always equal credibility and how you can sharpen your ability to see through the noise.

🎯 What’s in it for you:

• Learn how to spot when “experts” are being used as cover for bad corporate or political decisions.
• Understand the difference between real expertise and theory-only credentials.
• Discover how to protect yourself from biased, politicized, or for-sale expertise.
• Get practical ways to build your own filter so you know who (and what) to trust.

At the end of the day, you don’t need fewer experts, you need better tools to separate truth from noise. Tune in now and take back control of who gets to influence your decisions.

Additional References:

No More Tears by Gardiner Harris | Penguin Random House Canada

When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm: Bogdanich, Walt, Forsythe, Michael: 9780385546232: Amazon.com: Books

The harsh reality of ultra processed food - with Chris Van Tulleken

The Problem With Experts: Deciding Who to Trust - Financial Poise

Support the show

Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick start guides, self-assessments, and other resources that you can use to turn your new knowledge into practice.

We’ve all been told stories about confidence, that some people are just born with it, that it comes from high self-esteem, or that once you “find it,” it sticks forever. The problem is, none of that is true. These myths are what keep so many of us second-guessing ourselves, staying quiet when we should speak up, or holding back from going after what we want.

In this episode, we dig into five of the most common lies about confidence and reveal the truth about what actually builds it. From separating self-esteem from self-trust, to understanding why confidence has to be maintained like any habit, to challenging the idea that confidence has to be loud, you’ll get a completely new perspective on what confidence really means.

What’s in it for you:

• Learn why confidence is a skill you can practice, not a trait you’re born with.
• Discover how building self-trust creates lasting confidence, even when self-esteem dips.
• Get practical habits to maintain your confidence so it doesn’t disappear when life gets tough.
• Understand why quiet confidence often carries more weight than being the loudest in the room.
• Explore how growing confidence can mean outgrowing roles, companies, or even people who no longer fit your journey.

Confidence isn’t about faking it till you make it, it’s about building trust in yourself and proving, through action, that you can handle what comes next. Listen in and start rewriting your own confidence story today.

Support the show

Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick start guides, self-assessments, and other resources that you can use to turn your new knowledge into practice.

Ever feel like you don’t deserve your success, like you’re just waiting for someone to “find you out”? You’re not alone. Imposter syndrome affects up to 80% of us, including global superstars, CEOs, and maybe even you.

In this episode, we break down what imposter syndrome really is (spoiler: it’s not a clinical diagnosis, and it doesn’t mean you’re broken), why it shows up even in the most accomplished people, and the five personality traps that trigger it. More importantly, you’ll walk away with three science-backed tactics to quiet the “I’m a fraud” voice, reframe negative thoughts, and calm your nervous system when doubt spikes.

What’s in it for you?

• Relief: You’ll realize you’re not the only one who feels this way.
• Clarity: You’ll learn why your brain plays this trick on you.
• Tools: You’ll get practical strategies you can start using immediately to shift from self-doubt to self-trust.

Imposter syndrome isn’t a sign you’re failing, it’s proof you’re growing. Tune in and take the next step toward owning your success with confidence.

Support the show

Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick start guides, self-assessments, and other resources that you can use to turn your new knowledge into practice.

The manager–employee social contract is broken. For decades, trust has eroded as workplaces shifted from caretaking managers and stable career paths to layoffs, cost-cutting, and “at-will” employment. Employees expect fair pay, growth, support, and respect, while managers and companies demand results, reliability, and alignment. When those expectations aren’t clear or met, both sides feel betrayed.

In this episode, we dig into:

• The history of the old manager–employee social contract and why it no longer works
• How trust has been eroded by decades of layoffs, outsourcing, and shareholder-first practices
• Why transparency, flexibility, and psychological safety must be part of the new deal
• What a rewritten social contract could look like for today’s workforce
• The shift from command-and-control management to leaders who inspire people and manage work

👉 What’s in it for you: If you’re a manager, leader, or emerging leader, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you show up for your people, and why rewriting the social contract isn’t optional if you want to build trust, engagement, and long-term success.

Support the show

Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick start guides, self-assessments, and other resources that you can use to turn your new knowledge into practice.

Your reputation at work is a form of political capital, and you’re either investing in it or quietly draining it away. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on five common workplace behaviors that silently damage your personal brand and limit your career growth. From passive-aggressive habits to over-apologizing, these are patterns managers notice even if you think they don’t.

You’ll learn:

• How these behaviors erode trust, credibility, and influence over time.
• Why they’re career killers even if you’re competent, skilled, or well-liked.
• Real-world examples and research-backed insights that reveal the hidden costs.
• Practical, easy-to-apply strategies to replace bad habits with reputation-building ones.

Whether you’re aiming for your next promotion, want to become a go-to team member, or simply want to avoid being first on the layoff list, this conversation will give you a candid look at what really matters to managers—and how to make sure you’re on the right side of it.

🎯 If you think your work speaks for itself, think again. The way you show up every day speaks louder—make sure it’s saying the right things.

References:

Porath, C.L., & Erez, A. (2012). "How Rudeness Takes Its Toll: The Effects of Incivility on Task Performance and Helpfulness." Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(1), 93–107.

Hess, U., Blairy, S., & Kleck, R.E. (2016). "The Social Consequences of Emotional Suppression." Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

Lam, C.F., Walter, F., & Huang, X. (2020). "Supervisors' Emotional Exhaustion and Team Members' Passive–Aggressive Behavior: The Role of Ethical Leadership." The Leadership Quarterly, 31(4).

Foster et al. (2018), Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Okimoto, T. G., & Wenzel, M. (2015). “The Downside of Saying Sorry: Overapologizing in the Workplace.” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

Support the show

Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick start guides, self-assessments, and other resources that you can use to turn your new knowledge into practice.

In this episode, we’re back to call BS on even more business myths that sound good in theory but fall apart in the real world.

Last time, we tackled the so-called talent war, high-performing teams, and the search for “real leaders.” Today, we’re taking aim at three more corporate narratives that get repeated endlessly but rarely hold up under scrutiny:

“People don’t leave bad companies, they leave bad managers.”
“Everyone is replaceable.”
“Automation is always a good thing.”

If you've worked in the system long enough, you’ve probably seen the cracks in these ideas too. We’re pulling from years of lived experience, honest conversations, and a mountain of reading to unpack why these talking points persist, and why they’re often used to deflect responsibility or justify bad decisions.

Are these just oversimplified slogans? Wishful thinking? Or something more intentional?

Let’s dig into the nuance, challenge the narratives, and keep pushing for a more honest conversation about how work really works.

Additional resources:

• Discover The Top 5 Reasons Workers Want To Quit Their Jobs
• It’s Time To Stop Behaving As If Everyone Is Replaceable
• The Negative Effect of Automation - Easy Sociology

Support the show

Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick start guides, self-assessments, and other resources that you can use to turn your new knowledge into practice.

Welcome to the episode that strips away the buzzwords, the motivational posters, and the ego-driven nonsense. We're diving into the real truth about leadership, the kind no one warns you about until you’re in it. If you’re a Millennial or Gen Z professional stepping into leadership (or thinking about it), this episode is your backstage pass. We’re talking about the mess, the loneliness, the lack of appreciation, and the fact that leadership isn’t a title, it’s a responsibility you earn.

This is about real leadership, the uncomfortable, human, often unglamorous stuff that actually makes a difference.

What’s In It For You?

• Real-life stories from someone who led teams, programs, and people before their 30s — no theory, just truth.
• Hard-earned lessons about navigating messy team dynamics, emotional weight, and leadership without a playbook.
• Clarity on what leadership really looks like vs. what your company, your job title, or social media might sell you.
• A mindset shift that will help you grow your career on your terms — without selling your soul.
• Purpose and perspective: Learn why the hard parts of leadership are actually what make it deeply fulfilling.

If you’re tired of being managed and ready to start actually leading — this is the episode that might just shift your path.

Support the show

Ready to take your personal development to the next level? Visit www.theleadershipmovement.net to request access to our FREE quick start guides, self-assessments, and other resources that you can use to turn your new knowledge into practice.