Great leadership is not about sounding the most confident. It is about having the courage to be honest, stay curious, and make better decisions.
In this thought-provoking episode of Leadership with Sonia, Sonia McDonald explores why confidence is often mistaken for competence, and how this misunderstanding can lead organisations to promote the wrong people.
Drawing on the research of Dr. Leanne ten Brinke, Director of the Truth and Trust Lab at the University of British Columbia and author of Poisonous People, Sonia explains why our brains naturally associate certainty with capability, even when confidence isn’t backed by evidence.
She also discusses why some toxic personalities rise into leadership positions and how organizations can avoid rewarding overconfidence while overlooking thoughtful, capable, and authentic leaders.
This episode offers practical leadership insights for anyone responsible for hiring, promoting, or developing people, as well as anyone who has experienced working with a toxic leader or colleague.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why confidence is often mistaken for competence.
- How toxic leadership behaviors can be rewarded.
- What the research says about psychopathy and leadership.
- Practical ways to identify genuine leadership potential.
- How to reward curiosity, honesty, and sound decision-making.
- Strategies for creating healthier, more trustworthy workplace cultures.
Leadership is not about always having the answers. Sometimes the strongest leaders are those who are willing to say, “I’m not sure yet, let me find out.”
Have you ever seen confidence beat competence in the workplace? Share your experience in the comments, we’d love to hear your perspective.
Learn more:
🌐 Website:
🎧 Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/033UOd38a2S05vQO2nZcau?si=8492e89de06948ad
🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/leadership-with-sonia/id6794179566
Follow Sonia on Socials:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniamcdonald/
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Stay kind. Stay courageous.
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