What happens when you think you’re crushing it as a leader… but you’re actually just setting up camp on Mount Stupid?
That’s precisely the question Phil Wilson, President and General Counsel of LRI Consulting Services, tackled on this week’s episode of Connect and Convert with Dennis Collins and Leah Bumphrey. And spoiler alert: it’s not just a leadership myth; it’s a trap many fall into. Thankfully, Phil brought the tools (and a whole playbook) to climb out.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here
With his signature blend of honesty, humor, and decades of real-world consulting experience, Phil dropped gems from his new book, The Leader-Shift Playbook, launching on April 1, 2025. It’s part personal journey, part leadership field guide—and 100% what every people manager needs right now.
Highlights from the Pod:
The Dunning-Kruger Effect and “Mount Stupid”
Phil kicks things off with a humbling truth: just because you think you’re good at leading doesn’t mean you are. That confidence-over-competence trap? It’s real. Phil shares his own wake-up call—and how recognizing what you don’t know is the first step toward real growth.
Spotting the Signs of Stalled Leadership
How do you know if your leadership approach is quietly crashing and burning? Phil offers real-talk indicators and explains how intentional connection and communication can steer things back on course.
The “Hero Assumption”
Phil’s hot take? Believe in your team like they’re the next Avengers. Why? Because psychological research shows that when people know you believe they’re capable, they’re more likely to live up to it. No cape is required—just trust, feedback, and clarity.
Embracing Vulnerability
This might be the boldest shift of all. Phil shares how confronting his leadership blind spots wasn’t a weakness—it was the turning point. Vulnerability builds trust, and trust fuels performance. It’s not soft; it’s strategy.
The Leadership Toolkit
Alongside the book, Phil unveils a powerhouse set of tools designed to make these leadership shifts stick. Think: exercises, prompts, and repeatable strategies your managers can actually use—because theory without action is just… noise.
Why it matters:
In a world where employees crave connection and transparency more than ever, The Leader-Shift Playbook gives leaders the roadmap they didn’t know they needed. This isn’t about flashy titles or feel-good slogans. It’s about practical, sometimes uncomfortable, always honest growth.
If you’re ready to ditch Mount Stupid and start leading with clarity, empathy, and effectiveness, Phil’s episode is your starting point. And trust us, the book’s just the beginning.
