Echoes In The Dark: Processing Our Inner Voice for Leadership (S2.Ep49)

How can self-doubt be transformed into a tool for growth and curiosity in leadership?

We'll explore critical decision-making frameworks that balance financial expectations with mission, vision, and values—providing the two essential guardrails for making sound choices.

We'll also discuss how leaders often grapple with restlessness and self-doubt, undermining their confidence and clarity. Drawing inspiration from renowned thinkers like Jack Kornfield, Brene' Brown, and the authors of "The Gap and The Gain," Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy, we'll uncover how mindfulness, self-compassion, and focusing on progress can transform your internal critic from a hindrance to a source of growth.

Empathy vs. Sympathy: "The interesting part is...you have sympathy from a position of power, which I thought was fascinating. And empathy is when you realize when you're when you get down and you look at that person eye to eye, that could be you if it weren't for luck."

We'll talk about the importance of continuous self-discovery, aligning actions with intrinsic motivations, and effectively handling ambiguity through collaboration, empathy, and value-based leadership.

This conversation is rich with strategies for emotional regulation, proactive decision-making, and transforming adversities into opportunities for growth.

We can't emphasize enough the importance of self-awareness, emotional regulation, and collaborative leadership.

Whether you're leading a team or striving to lead yourself, this episode offers practical insights and actionable advice to enhance your leadership journey.

Key Moments

00:00 Discussing head trash using "Hymn Song" lyrics.

06:16 Unresolved emotions harm decision-making and relationships.

09:45 Self-awareness enhances performance, relationships, communication, leadership.

14:39 Empathy involves understanding, acknowledging luck's role.

18:28 Write, evaluate beliefs, question fear, find clarity.

20:37 Embrace growth, mindfulness; thoughts aren't identity.

24:40 Use frameworks for informed decisions; encourage discussions.

27:17 Change the world by becoming, not doing.

30:20 Find meaning in challenges, connect to larger purpose.

36:03 Trust your inner voice; treat it cautiously.

37:57 Recognizing achievements fosters confidence and continuous improvement.

42:15 Leadership is recognizing and acting on potential.

Perry Maughmer believes the world deserves better leadership; that in every human interaction there is the opportunity to either build others up or tear them down; and that leadership is the choice we make in those moments.

These beliefs led Perry to create the Potential Leader Lab. He wanted to offer those who share his beliefs the space and safety to explore transformative ideas, experiment with new behaviors, and evolve into the leaders they were meant to be and that the world needs.

This is a framework he has used again and again with his Vistage peer advisory groups and companies like Turn-Key Tunneling, Convergint, Haughn &  Associates, I Am Boundless, Ketchum & Walton, LSP Technologies, and Ahlum & Arbor.

Perry lives and works on the shores of Buckeye Lake in Ohio, in the mountains of northwest Georgia, and on the beach in Anna Maria, Florida with his amazingly creative wife Lisa. They have 2 rescue dogs and are intermittently visited by their 3 wonderful children throughout the year. Perry & Lisa are living life in crescendo and focused on exploring, experimenting, and evolving their vision of a life they have no desire to retire from.

Copyright 2025 Perry Maughmer