Leadership Mindset 2.0

R. Michael Anderson | Leadership Coach & CEO
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Leadership Mindset 2.0 is the definitive playbook for executives and entrepreneurs ready to break free from the "Doer Trap" and scale their business using psychology and strategy. Host R. Michael Anderson has scaled multiple software companies to the Inc. 5000 list and was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Now, as a 2x Executive Coach of the Year, he uses that experience to help high-performers transform from Tactical Operators into Strategic Leaders. In this podcast, Michael blends cutting-edge neuroscience, emotional intelligence (EQ), and battle-tested business strategy to help you overcome burnout, imposter syndrome, and the "Leadership Incompetence Trap" so you can lead with clarity and confidence. Two New Episodes Every Week which include a mix of: • Strategy: Neuroscience frameworks & leadership tactics to start your week. • Mentorship: Live Q&A and specific answers to your leadership challenges. • Coaching: A fly-on-the-wall look at real, unscripted executive coaching sessions as Michael helps leaders break through their blind spots live. • Masterclasses: Listen in as Michael and guests teach valuable leadership and management skills to a real-life audience. Topics include: The Psychology of Scaling, Burnout Prevention, Strategic Planning, Executive Coaching, and Emotional Intelligence.

  1. Masterclass on Hiring (3/3): The Offer & Onboarding

    1 DAY AGO

    Masterclass on Hiring (3/3): The Offer & Onboarding

    "You can do everything right and still lose the candidate in the final week." The period between "Making the Offer" and "Day 1" is the danger zone. This is when candidates get cold feet, receive counter-offers from their current bosses, or simply ghost you. In Part 3 (The Finale) of our Hiring Masterclass, Michael Bailey and I wrap up with the critical final steps to lock in your A player and get them excited to start. In this episode, we cover: -Making the Offer: Why compensation alone isn't enough—personalize the offer based on what you learned matters to them during the interview. -Don't Get Cheap: The costly mistake leaders make by negotiating down at the finish line. A players deliver massive ROI—pay them fairly. -Trust Your Gut: Why you must listen to your intuition, even when a candidate looks perfect on paper. Michael shares cautionary tales of ignoring that inner voice. -The Anti-Ghosting Protocol: Specific pre-boarding steps to keep candidates excited between offer and Day 1—welcome gifts, early laptop delivery, first-week agenda, and desk setup. Plus, hear key takeaways from business leaders who realized their hiring process needed a complete overhaul. Michael Bailey is a Growth Consultant with over 20 years of experience helping SMEs scale successfully by building strong people strategies. As former CFO and People Director at MOMs Organic Market, he helped scale the business from 3 to 7 stores while maintaining its purpose-driven culture. He's also worked with Urban Leisure Group (named one of the Guardian's Best Places to Work in London) and The Better Food Company, where he prioritized people alongside profits. Contact Michael: Website: www.elzeard.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bailey3 Mentioned in this episode: C-Level Coaching Masterclass Join the upcoming masterclass "How to Confidently Coach C-Level Leaders (Even If You’ve New To It)" on Feb. 25th 4PM UK / 8 AM PST using the link below: 2026 Coach Masterclass

    15 min
  2. 5 Ways to LOSE the Respect of Your Team (And How to Earn It Back)

    3 DAYS AGO

    5 Ways to LOSE the Respect of Your Team (And How to Earn It Back)

    People are watching you through a magnifying glass. As a leader, everything you do is amplified. A casual comment about "opening an office in LA" can turn into a company-wide rumor within an hour. Being five minutes late to a meeting can undermine your entire speech about "integrity." It takes months to earn respect, but only a few bad habits to lose it. In this episode, we flip the script. Instead of telling you how to be a great leader, I am going to teach you the 5 Fastest Ways to Lose Respect. By identifying these traps, you can audit your own behavior and stop the leaks in your leadership. In this episode, you will learn: -The Hypocrisy Trap: Why asking your team to do things you don't model (like punctuality) makes them roll their eyes at your values . -The "Secondary Priority" Signal: Why bumping a 1:1 meeting or delaying a salary conversation tells your employee "You don't matter to me" . -The Authority Paradox: Why acting like you "know it all" (or conversely, knowing nothing) kills team confidence . -The "Firefighter" Mistake: Why getting stuck in the weeds and failing to be strategic makes your team see you as just another peer with a fancy title. -The Clarity Gap: How vague expectations force even your best employees to fail because they don't know the parameters of success . 💪 The Challenge for This Week: Audit yourself against the "Anti-Playbook." -Reflect: Look at the 5 ways to lose respect. Which one are you currently guilty of? -The Fix: -Are you canceling meetings? Stop moving them. -Are you inconsistent? Stick to one message. -Are you unclear? Sit down and define the expectations. Resources -Join the Conversation: Join our Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on LinkedIn or Facebook -Get Live Coaching: Move from listening to doing inside the Growth Leaders Collective. Start your $1 trial at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC Mentioned in this episode: C-Level Coaching Masterclass Join the upcoming masterclass "How to Confidently Coach C-Level Leaders (Even If You’ve New To It)" on Feb. 25th 4PM UK / 8 AM PST using the link below: 2026 Coach Masterclass

    15 min
  3. Masterclass on Hiring (2/3): Sourcing & Interviewing

    11 FEB

    Masterclass on Hiring (2/3): Sourcing & Interviewing

    "Past performance is the best predictor of future performance." Most interviews are flawed because they rely on hypothetical questions ("What would you do if...?"). A skilled candidate can fake a hypothetical answer. They cannot fake a chronological track record. In Part 2 of our Hiring Masterclass, Michael Bailey and I move from preparation to execution. We tackle the two hardest parts of the funnel: finding A-Players who aren't looking for jobs, and conducting an interview that acts as a "truth serum." In this episode, you will learn: -The Virtual Bench: Why you must constantly recruit at trade shows and dinners before you have an opening, so you never start from scratch . -The "Entrepreneurial CPA" Strategy: How Michael wrote a job ad so unique it was featured in the business book Scaling Up, and how you can use "low hurdles" to filter out B-Players immediately . -The Phone Screen: The 30-minute filter that saves you hours of wasted interview time. -The "Threat of Reference Check" (TORC): A psychological tactic used early in the interview that compels candidates to tell you the unvarnished truth about their weaknesses . -The Chronological Interview: The deep-dive format (1.5 to 3 hours) where you walk through their last 5 jobs in order. We explain why candidates let their guard down after minute 40 and give you full candour. Resources: -Get the Templates: Download the Job Scorecard and Interview Templates mentioned in this episode inside the Growth Leaders Collective at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC Michael Bailey is a Growth Consultant with over 20 years of experience helping SMEs scale successfully by building strong people strategies. As former CFO and People Director at MOMs Organic Market, he helped scale the business from 3 to 7 stores while maintaining its purpose-driven culture. He's also worked with Urban Leisure Group (named one of the Guardian's Best Places to Work in London) and The Better Food Company, where he prioritized people alongside profits. Contact Michael: Website: www.elzeard.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bailey3 Mentioned in this episode: C-Level Coaching Masterclass Join the upcoming masterclass "How to Confidently Coach C-Level Leaders (Even If You’ve New To It)" on Feb. 25th 4PM UK / 8 AM PST using the link below: 2026 Coach Masterclass

    42 min
  4. Mastering Uncomfortable Conversations: The Real Job of a Leader

    9 FEB

    Mastering Uncomfortable Conversations: The Real Job of a Leader

    "The real job of a CEO is to go from one uncomfortable conversation to another." If you are procrastinating a phone call, letting a deadline slide, or avoiding an underperforming employee because you don't want to "rock the boat," you are not protecting the team—you are hurting them. Many leaders suffer from "Nice Guy Syndrome." We think that by avoiding conflict, we are keeping the peace. But in reality, we are losing respect. In this episode, we break down why your brain is neurologically wired to avoid these conversations and how to overcome it every time. In this episode, you will learn: The "Nice Guy" Trap: Why trying to be liked usually results in being disrespected, and why your team actually caves accountability .The Psychology of Avoidance: How "Conditional Parenting" and the ego's need for safety cause us to procrastinate on high-value conversations .The ARC Framework: A 3-step process (Awareness, Response, Compassion) to navigate conflict without blowing up.Curiosity vs. Blame: How to start a difficult conversation so the other person doesn't get defensive (hint: be specific, not general) .The "Silence" Trick: Why you must stop talking after asking a hard question and let the silence do the heavy lifting . 💪 The Challenge for This Week: -Identify: Who is the one person you have been avoiding? (A peer, an underperformer, or even a boss). -Compose: How do you want your energy to be? (Curious, not accusing). -Schedule: Put it on the calendar today. Do not wait for the "right time." . Resources: -Join the Conversation: Join our Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on LinkedIn or Facebook -Get Live Coaching: Move from listening to doing inside the Growth Leaders Collective. Start your $1 trial at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC Mentioned in this episode: C-Level Coaching Masterclass Join the upcoming masterclass "How to Confidently Coach C-Level Leaders (Even If You’ve New To It)" on Feb. 25th 4PM UK / 8 AM PST using the link below: 2026 Coach Masterclass

    21 min
  5. Q&A: Dealing with Overwhelmed Teams & Departments That Don't Deliver

    6 FEB

    Q&A: Dealing with Overwhelmed Teams & Departments That Don't Deliver

    "I can't give my team any more work—they are already drowning." If you have ever said that, you are likely falling into the Martyr Trap. You try to protect your team by taking on the extra work yourself, but all you are doing is becoming the bottleneck and burning yourself out. In this Live Q&A Session, we tackle two of the most common stressors in leadership: Influence and Overwhelm. I answer real questions from the Growth Leaders Collective about how to get other departments (who don't report to you) to actually do their job, and how to dig your team out of a hole when everyone is stretched thin. In this episode, you will learn: -Expectations vs. Agreements: Why "pretty much" having an agreement is the same as having no agreement at all, and how to lock in commitments with peers . -The "Martyr" Trap: Why "saving" your team from work actually hurts their growth and turns you into their personal assistant. -The "Strategic No": How to ruthlessly audit your calendar and help your overwhelmed team do the same (hint: you can usually delete 20-40% of the tasks) . 💪 The Challenge for This Week: The Calendar Audit. -For You: Go through your task list and ruthlessly delete or renegotiate everything that isn't strategic. -For Your Team: Find one overwhelmed employee. Schedule 45 minutes with them and help them find3 things they can stop doing or hand off immediately . Resources -Join the Conversation: Join our Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on LinkedIn or Facebook -Get Live Coaching: Move from listening to doing inside the Growth Leaders Collective. Start your $1 trial at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC Mentioned in this episode: C-Level Coaching Masterclass Join the upcoming masterclass "How to Confidently Coach C-Level Leaders (Even If You’ve New To It)" on Feb. 25th 4PM UK / 8 AM PST using the link below: 2026 Coach Masterclass

    26 min
  6. Masterclass on Hiring (1/3): Mindset & Preparation

    4 FEB

    Masterclass on Hiring (1/3): Mindset & Preparation

    Hiring is the most expensive gamble you make as a leader - and when you get it right, it makes everything else easier. The problem is that research shows that 46% of new hires fail within 18 months. The cost isn't just the salary—it's the lost momentum, the cultural damage, and the months it takes to fix the mistake. In this special 3-part Masterclass Series, I am joined by Michael Bailey—an expert in scaling SMEs and building high-performance cultures—to break down the "5 Steps to Hiring Right." In Part 1, we tear down the traditional "Post and Pray" method and teach you the Preparation Phase. You will learn why "Job Descriptions" are useless and how to replace them with a "Scorecard" that defines exactly what winning looks like. In this episode, you will learn: -The 50/50 Gamble: Why traditional hiring has a failure rate of nearly 50% and how to stack the odds in your favor . -Defining "A-Players": Why you don't just want a superstar (who might be a jerk)—you want the right superstar who aligns with your values . -The Scorecard Method: The exact framework to define the Mission, Outcomes, and Competencies for a role before you ever speak to a candidate . -The Hiring Hierarchy: Why you must prioritize Values > Wills > Skills (in that order). -The Speed Trap: How to map your timeline so you don't lose top talent to faster competitors. Resources: -Get the Templates: Download the Job Scorecard and Interview Templates mentioned in this episode inside the Growth Leaders Collective at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC Michael Bailey is a Growth Consultant with over 20 years of experience helping SMEs scale successfully by building strong people strategies. As former CFO and People Director at MOMs Organic Market, he helped scale the business from 3 to 7 stores while maintaining its purpose-driven culture. He's also worked with Urban Leisure Group (named one of the Guardian's Best Places to Work in London) and The Better Food Company, where he prioritized people alongside profits. Contact Michael: Website: www.elzeard.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bailey3 Mentioned in this episode: C-Level Coaching Masterclass Join the upcoming masterclass "How to Confidently Coach C-Level Leaders (Even If You’ve New To It)" on Feb. 25th 4PM UK / 8 AM PST using the link below: 2026 Coach Masterclass

    41 min
  7. Live Q&A: Dealing with Insubordinate Employees & Instilling an Ownership Mindset

    30 JAN

    Live Q&A: Dealing with Insubordinate Employees & Instilling an Ownership Mindset

    "They clearly want my job." It is one of the most uncomfortable situations in leadership: A direct report who is talented but insubordinate, networking with your boss, and actively trying to bypass you. Most leaders shrink back because they feel threatened. But the truth is, if they are walking all over you, it is because they tested your power and you failed the test. In thisLive Q&A Session, we tackle the "sharp edges" of leadership—from handling political saboteurs to fixing a team that refuses to make decisions without you. In this episode, you will learn: -The "Usurper" Strategy:How to handle an employee who oversteps boundaries (hint: you have to challenge them back to earn their respect) . -The Ownership Framework:How to stop your team from checking in with you for confirmation on everything. -The "Microsoft" Story:A personal confession of how I was accidentally poisoning my own company culture by complaining about a vendor—and how I fixed it . -Saying the Unsaid:Why you must confront false allegations and sabotage head-on, even if it feels "unprofessional" to bring it up . 💪 The Challenge for This Week:The "Victim" Audit. -Reflect:Where is your team currently showing up as a victim? -The Shift:Bring this up to your team. Communicate it, come up with a plan. -The Agreement:Get a clear commitment from them on showing up in ownership, then hold them accountable. Resources -Join the Conversation: Join our Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on LinkedIn or Facebook -Get Live Coaching: Move from listening to doing inside the Growth Leaders Collective. Start your $1 trial at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC Mentioned in this episode: C-Level Coaching Masterclass Join the upcoming masterclass "How to Confidently Coach C-Level Leaders (Even If You’ve New To It)" on Feb. 25th 4PM UK / 8 AM PST using the link below: 2026 Coach Masterclass

    17 min
  8. Interview with Michael part 2: The ARC Model & The "Curse of Experience"

    28 JAN

    Interview with Michael part 2: The ARC Model & The "Curse of Experience"

    We often think that experience makes us bolder. But psychologically, the opposite is often true. As leaders get older and more successful, they stop taking risks because they are terrified of damaging their identity as a "winner." We call this The Curse of Experience. In Part 2 of this interview series, Michael breaks down the internal psychology of the leader. We move from the tactics of Part 1 into the deep mental frameworks needed to handle high-stakes pressure without burning out. In this episode, you will learn: -The Curse of Experience: Why successful leaders become risk-averse to protect their ego, and how to fight it. -The ARC Model: A 3-step psychological framework (Awareness, Response, Compassion) to stop reacting and start leading during a crisis. -Imposter Syndrome Reframe: Why feeling like a fraud is actually a good sign that you are pushing your leadership range. -Defining Stress: The realization that stress is simply "trying to control what is out of your control". The Challenge The Stress Audit: Next time you feel your chest tighten, stop and ask yourself: "What am I trying to control right now that is actually out of my control?" (e.g., a customer's reaction, the economy). Remind yourself that you can only control your own thoughts, behaviors, and actions. Resources -Join the Conversation: Join our Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on LinkedIn or Facebook -Get Live Coaching: Move from listening to doing inside the Growth Leaders Collective. Start your $1 trial at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC Mentioned in this episode: C-Level Coaching Masterclass Join the upcoming masterclass "How to Confidently Coach C-Level Leaders (Even If You’ve New To It)" on Feb. 25th 4PM UK / 8 AM PST using the link below: 2026 Coach Masterclass

    24 min
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Trailer

About

Leadership Mindset 2.0 is the definitive playbook for executives and entrepreneurs ready to break free from the "Doer Trap" and scale their business using psychology and strategy. Host R. Michael Anderson has scaled multiple software companies to the Inc. 5000 list and was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Now, as a 2x Executive Coach of the Year, he uses that experience to help high-performers transform from Tactical Operators into Strategic Leaders. In this podcast, Michael blends cutting-edge neuroscience, emotional intelligence (EQ), and battle-tested business strategy to help you overcome burnout, imposter syndrome, and the "Leadership Incompetence Trap" so you can lead with clarity and confidence. Two New Episodes Every Week which include a mix of: • Strategy: Neuroscience frameworks & leadership tactics to start your week. • Mentorship: Live Q&A and specific answers to your leadership challenges. • Coaching: A fly-on-the-wall look at real, unscripted executive coaching sessions as Michael helps leaders break through their blind spots live. • Masterclasses: Listen in as Michael and guests teach valuable leadership and management skills to a real-life audience. Topics include: The Psychology of Scaling, Burnout Prevention, Strategic Planning, Executive Coaching, and Emotional Intelligence.

Information

  • Creator
    R. Michael Anderson | Leadership Coach & CEO
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 R. Michael Anderson | Leadership Coach & CEO
  • Show Website
    Leadership Mindset 2.0

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