Seeing Yourself Clearly: The Trait Every Great Leader Has in Common

Most leaders think they know themselves. But research says otherwise.

In this episode, Chris and Steve unpack a Cornell and Green Peak Partners study that reveals the single strongest predictor of leadership success — and it’s not strategy, charisma, or intelligence. It’s self-awareness.

Together, they explore why this trait matters more than ever, how blind spots quietly destroy culture and performance, and what it looks like to lead with both strength and softness.

You’ll hear:

• The surprising data on why most businesses don’t survive ten years — and how leadership plays a bigger role than we think.
• What separates leaders who last from those who burn out.
• The difference between clarity and compassion — and why you need both.
• How to balance being liked and being respected.
• Practical ways to grow your own self-awareness (and why it’s slow but transformational work).

Whether you lead a team of five or a company of fifty, this episode will challenge how you see yourself — and remind you that the most powerful leadership tool you have is already within you.