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Work is Not School: Surviving Institutional Stupidity
For 16+ years, we master the rules of school. Study hard, get good grades, follow the formula and ultimately merit…
Sheril Mathews
I am an executive/leadership coach. Before LS, I worked for 20 years in corporate America in various technical & leadership roles. Have feedback? You can reach me at sheril@leadingsapiens.com.
132 posts
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The Leadership Shadow: When Strengths Backfire
It's easy to assume that leaders derail due to obvious flaws—poor judgment, unchecked ego, toxic behavior. But…
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Open Quadrant of the Johari Window: Beyond Transparency in Leadership
"Radical transparency" is often touted as a leadership virtue. So why do leaders still struggle with openness? Using…
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Schrodinger’s Cat at Work II: Building the Box of Limitations
"I'm just not strategic enough for that role," Joe told me, shaking his head. With fifteen…
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Schrödinger’s Cat at Work: When Performance and Perception Collide
“You’ve lost your edge,” the new VP declared. Just eight months ago, the same contrarian thinking had earned my…
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Frustration Tolerance: An Essential for Surviving Large Orgs
In leadership and life, ambitions often outpace our ability to consistently execute on them. A hidden hurdle that trips up…
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Self Efficacy: A Better Construct than Confidence
Confidence is overrated. A more effective, scientifically-grounded approach to improve performance is self-efficacy.
We often hear about the importance of…
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Cognitive Flexibility: Rewiring How Leaders Respond
Why do some people thrive in complexity while others buckle under pressure? A key factor is the level of cognitive…
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Impression Management: How Effective Leaders Balance Perception and Reality
Is leadership about substance or perception? The truth is, it's both. You must not only be effective; you…
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Fundamental Attribution Error: Why It’s Always Someone Else’s Fault
Training in biases is standard fare these days. However, I see managers regularly fall for one particular bias: the fundamental…
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Psychological Safety vs. High Standards: A Misunderstood Dynamic
The term “psychological safety” is often misleading. When managers hear safety, many dismiss it as a soft style that implies…
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Mintzberg’s Managerial Roles: The Multifaceted Nature of Leadership
Henry Mintzberg was one of the first to identify a comprehensive set of managerial roles that captured the reality of…