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The “Better Than Average” Trap: The Leadership Bias That Creates Fatal Blind Spots
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Today, we uncover yet another dangerous leadership blind spot: overplacement. I’m referring to the notion that we and our teams are superior to the competition. Using Kodak’s tragic downfall as a case study, we’ll discover how leaders can become too proud of past wins, too dismissive of rising threats, and too slow to adapt.
We’ll also explore the science behind this bias and why it’s even more dangerous in high-performing leaders. I’ll share real-world examples and hard truths about what happens when we overestimate our strengths and underestimate our competition.
Ready to develop the self-awareness that separates great leaders from fallen giants? Check out my book "The Mammoth in the Room" and stay tuned for details of our upcoming online leadership academy launching this fall.
In this episode:
- Introduction to overconfidence in leadership
- The better-than-average trap
- How overconfidence led to Kodak's downfall
- The dangers of overplacement in leadership
- Key takeaways on overplacement and action points
Resources Used in the Episode:
Moore, D. A., & Healy, P. J. (2008). The Trouble with Overconfidence. Psychological Review, 115(2), 502–517: https://healy.econ.ohio-state.edu/papers/Moore_Healy-TroubleWithOverconfidence.pdf
Dunning, D., & Kruger, J. (1999). Unskilled and Unaware of It. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(6), 1121–1134: https://2024.sci-hub.se/1535/d892f06cdd326ef83a9ae29ed540647c/[email protected]
Belmi, P., Neale, M. A., Reiff, D., & Ulfe, R. (2020). The Social Advantage of Miscalibrated Individuals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 118(2), 254–282: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp-pspi0000187.pdf
Traphagan, J. W. (2015). Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes. Psychology Today.
Anthony, S. D., Johnson, M. W., Sinfield, J. V., & Altman, E. J. (2008). The Innovator’s Guide to Growth. Harvard Business Review Press: https://a.co/d/13ON2gE
Get in Touch:
Website: https://www.mammothleadershipscien ces.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences
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