Have you ever noticed your team hesitating before sharing bad news? That pause often reveals the power distance leaders unintentionally create. In this conversation with Phillip B. Wilson, author of The Approachability Playbook and The Leadershift Playbook, we explore how unapproachable leadership sabotages effectiveness and silences truth.
Phil explains how our brains default to the “villain assumption”—attributing negative intent to others while excusing our own actions with context. When paired with confirmation bias, this creates cultures where honesty is stifled. His antidote is the “hero assumption”: believing people fundamentally want to do great work and succeed. He shares his own humbling leadership lessons, including the moment a key team member refused to work for him despite his reputation.
We also unpack Phil’s Connection Model of approachability: creating the right space (being available), generating the right feeling (listening to understand), and taking the right action (following through). These simple but powerful practices shrink power gaps, build trust, and transform leadership impact. The most successful leaders aren’t those with all the answers—they’re the ones who create environments where people feel safe to bring forward problems, questions, and ideas.
🌐 Connect with Phillip:
• Website: https://yourleadershift.com/, https://lrionline.com/ and https://approachableleadership.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbwilson/
📚 You can purchase Phillip's books on Amazon:
• The Leader-Shift Playbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1639081178/
• The Approachability Playbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733147063
• Left of Boom: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0963855425/
✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!
📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below.
🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here: https://linktr.ee/mickspiers
📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV
If you would like a signed copy, please reach out to sei@mickspiers.com and we can arrange it for you too.
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