“The Inner Game: Why Real Leadership Starts with Yourself”
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Title: The Journey of Leadership
Author: Dana Maor, Hans-Werner Kaas, Kurt Strovink, Ramesh Srinivasan
Category: Workplace & Company Culture, Career Growth, Motivation & Self-Improvement, Leadership & Team Building
What if the best leaders aren't the loudest or the smartest, but the ones who do the hard inner work? Sam and Sophie sit with that question, unpacking why the real work of leadership is internal—and why that's actually a relief.
They walk through the book's core framework: the 'outer game' versus the 'inner game,' and how your mindset and beliefs can make or break your strategy. They break down the 'shadow'—those limiting beliefs we all carry—and the 'hero leader' complex that turns you into a bottleneck. Then they explore the four practices: Leading from the Inside Out, Leading with Others, Leading the System, and Leading Yourself, with real examples like a CEO whose perfectionism created a culture of fear.
If you've ever felt like leadership is about having all the answers, this episode will free you. The takeaway: leadership isn't a title—it's a daily commitment to self-reflection, and the more you do it, the better you get at everything else.
The Journey of Leadership by Dana Maor, Hans-Werner Kaas, Kurt Strovink, and Ramesh Srinivasan. If you want the full written summary, the whole library is on 7minutebooks.com/app—over 6,000 titles, unlimited access from $2.99 a month, $9.99 a year, or $19.99 lifetime.
Chapters
00:00The Inner Game vs Outer Game01:05The Shadow and Hero Leader Complex01:43Leading from the Inside Out02:17Leading with Others and Psychological Safety02:54Leading the System and Leading Yourself04:15Takeaway: Leadership Is Becoming More Human
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