# TLP503: 7 Hidden Beliefs That Sabotage Leaders (And How to Break Them) – with Muriel M. Wilkins

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-leadership-podcast-743147/tlp503-7-hidden-beliefs-that-sabotage-leaders-and-how-to-break-them-with-muriel-m-wilkins
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-leadership-podcast-743147/tlp503-7-hidden-beliefs-that-sabotage-leaders-and-how-to-break-them-with-muriel-m-wilkins.md
Podcast: [The Leadership Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-leadership-podcast-743147)
Published: 2026-03-18T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://theleadershippodcast.libsyn.com/tlp503-7-hidden-beliefs-that-sabotage-leaders-and-how-to-break-them-with-muriel-m-wilkins
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theleadershippodcast/TLP-503.mp3?dest-id=381054
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-leadership-podcast-743147/episodes/tlp503-7-hidden-beliefs-that-sabotage-leaders-and-how-to-break-them-with-muriel-m-wilkins
Duration seconds: 2640

## Resource

Muriel M. Wilkins is the founder and CEO of Paravis Partners, host of the HBR podcast, Coaching Real Leaders, and author of "Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential." Muriel makes the case that lasting leadership change doesn't come from better tactics. It comes from changing the hidden assumptions driving those tactics in the first place. Drawing on research with over 300 coaching clients, Muriel introduces seven hidden blockers—simple, pervasive beliefs that quietly sabotage even the most capable leaders. She explains why high performers are especially vulnerable, why action bias becomes a liability at the top, and what "doing the inner work" actually looks like when you're in the thick of real pressure and expectations. This is one of the most practically grounded conversations we've had on self-awareness, sustainable change, and what it really takes to lead at the next level. Watch this Episode on YouTube | Muriel M. Wilkins on 7 Hidden Beliefs That Sabotage Leaders (And How to Break Them) https://bit.ly/TLP-503 Key Takeaways [03:07] Muriel explains why "is it them or is it me?" is the wrong question—and what to ask instead. [04:57] The assumptions layer of the VABES framework: why changing behavior without changing the belief beneath it never sticks. [07:09] The seven hidden blockers outlined: I need to be involved. I need it done now. I know I'm right. I can't make a mistake. If I can do it, so can you. I can't say no. I don't belong here. [09:09] Why "I need to be involved" is the #1 blocker for leaders trying to scale up—and how it keeps them stuck in the weeds at exactly the wrong moment. [11:26] How action-orientation—a strength that builds careers—becomes a liability when it skips the half of the equation that makes change s…

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-leadership-podcast-743147/episodes/tlp503-7-hidden-beliefs-that-sabotage-leaders-and-how-to-break-them-with-muriel-m-wilkins/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-leadership-podcast-743147/tlp503-7-hidden-beliefs-that-sabotage-leaders-and-how-to-break-them-with-muriel-m-wilkins.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.