These common beliefs are holding leaders back

"When leaders get stuck, their first instinct is to do more and push harder. But those actions don't create lasting results because they're focused on what they do and not on what they think. Sustainable leadership growth comes from examining the beliefs that drive our actions. Left unchecked, we risk stunting our leadership potential. Listen to the audio version of this Book Bite-read by Muriel herself-below, or in the Next Big Idea App."

"Despite their best efforts, they're still blocked. Usually, it's because they're focusing on what's happening around them instead of what's happening within them. Many high achievers try to hustle their way through whatever is holding them back. They double down on tactics and skills, thinking that if they just do more, they'll break through. But until you turn inward and uncover what's holding you back, you'll keep repeating the same struggle and leadership will feel harder, more draining, and less rewarding than necessary."

Leaders commonly respond to setbacks by doing more work and pushing harder, but increased effort without changing underlying beliefs yields limited, unsustainable results. Many high achievers focus on external circumstances instead of internal thought patterns, doubling down on tactics and skills that leave core blocks intact. Sustainable leadership growth requires examining and shifting the beliefs that drive actions. Without introspection to uncover limiting beliefs, leaders will repeat unproductive patterns, experience greater effort with diminishing returns, and find leadership more draining and less rewarding. Changing actions alone cannot create new results; beliefs must evolve.

Read at Fast Company