Oct. 12, 2026

The Lies We Tell Ourselves About Leadership

In this episode, James Robbins shares his journey from a shy kid to a leadership expert, emphasizing the importance of authentic leadership, overcoming limiting beliefs, and practical strategies for growth. Discover how to move people, handle rejection, and lead with purpose in both corporate and nonprofit sectors.

Get to know James

Website - https://www.jamesrobbins.com/

Nine Minutes to Monday - https://amzn.to/4AYAT6h

The Call to Climb - https://amzn.to/4yiMkU7

Key Topics

James Robbins' leadership journey from ranch to boardroom

The universal principles of effective leadership

Challenges of short-term thinking in corporate environments

The importance of authenticity and self-awareness in leadership

Strategies to overcome fear of rejection and limiting beliefs

The role of daily habits and rituals in personal development

The significance of being present with others at work and at home

The impact of modeling behavior and leading by example

The power of exposure therapy to conquer fears

The importance of purpose and intrinsic motivation in leadership

Sound Bites

"Stories we tell ourselves hold us back"

"The fastest way to overcome rejection is exposure"

"The best leader is an authentic version of you"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to James Robbins and his leadership journey

04:08 Short-term thinking in corporate leadership

08:45 The Call to Climb: the metaphor and the book

09:40 Internal work and limiting beliefs

12:03 Encouragement for those feeling low or rejected

14:16 Reframing fear and rejection through stories

17:27 Exposure therapy and overcoming fears

19:16 The importance of the authentic self in leadership

22:01 Fear of being seen and the courage to be vulnerable

24:11 The impact of confidence and belief in leadership

26:11 The role of leadership frameworks and models

28:01 Motivating others through purpose and autonomy

32:22 The power of being present with others

37:01 End-of-day rituals for leadership and life balance

42:45 Lessons from successful and unsuccessful leaders

James Robbins

Bestselling Author & Leadership Speaker

James Robbins is a bestselling author, leadership speaker, and founder of The James Robbins Company. He has delivered close to 2,500 keynotes and helps organizations develop leaders who build stronger, more engaged teams. He is the author of Nine Minutes on Monday and The Call to Climb (Wiley), and his work focuses on practical leadership, employee engagement, and helping managers become more intentional about the people they lead.