The 7 Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back with Muriel Wilkins 8|2

Feb 11, 2026

Muriel Wilkins, executive coach and C-suite advisor who wrote Leadership Unblocked, helps leaders uncover limiting beliefs. She explores why action bias and the fix-it reflex keep leaders stuck. Muriel outlines seven hidden blockers like “I need it done now” and shows simple ways to notice and reframe internal cues. The conversation focuses on practical shifts to create lasting leadership change.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Action Without Alignment Fails

High performers default to action but that often fails to create lasting change.
Muriel Wilkins calls for aligning actions with the internal operating system to avoid short-lived results.

ANECDOTE

Year-End Panic Reframed

Muriel noticed her year-end anxiety and frantic emailing from the belief "I need it done now.".
She reframed time by reminding herself that January 1st is just the 366th day to reduce urgency.

ADVICE

Pause And Ask Before Fixing

Be curious before you act by asking, "What am I thinking about this situation?".
Build the noticing muscle in motion so you can respond instead of reflexively fixing.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Why do so many leaders work hard to change — only to end up in the same place months later? What if the problem isn’t effort, but the beliefs running in the background?

In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott and Amy Sandler are joined by Muriel Wilkins — executive coach, C-suite advisor, host of Coaching Real Leaders, and author of Leadership Unblocked. Together, they unpack why high performers default to action, how action bias can backfire when internal beliefs stay the same, and what it takes to create sustainable leadership growth.

Muriel introduces seven common “hidden blockers,” including I need it done now, I can’t say no, and I don’t belong here, and explains how these beliefs drive behavior that feels productive in the short term but creates dissonance over time. The conversation also explores how leaders can build the muscle of noticing what’s happening internally, ask better coaching questions without attachment, and reduce unnecessary suffering by changing how they respond to challenges.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I keep ending up here again?” this episode offers a grounded, practical way forward.

Connect:

Resources for show notes:

Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential book
The Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back Harvard Business Review article
Coaching Real Leaders podcast
Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence book
Muriel Wilkins website
Muriel Wilkins on Radical Candor podcast

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction + Muriel Returns

(01:20) Why Muriel Wrote Leadership Unblocked

(01:50) Action Bias: Why Change Doesn’t Stick

(03:00) Actions vs. Your Internal Operating System

(04:04) The Fix-It Reflex in Work and Life

(06:01) Discomfort, Control, and the Urge to Solve

(09:25) Hidden Blockers: What They Are and Why They’re Hidden

(10:57) The 7 Hidden Blockers (Overview)

(11:48) “I Need It Done Now” and Reframing Time

(17:03) Building the Noticing Muscle

(39:58) Coaching Yourself Before Coaching Others

(53:33) Conclusion

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices