The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving 622: Leadership and Self-Deception with Arbinger Managing Partner, Mitch Warner (Strategy Skills classics)
30 snips
Jan 26, 2026 
Mitch Warner, Arbinger managing partner and author focused on mindset and culture change. He explores self-deception and self-betrayal and how they warp relationships and leadership. He describes signs of self-deception, collusion in groups, and practices to resist it. He also shares stories and concrete steps for rebuilding trust and staying curious in everyday leadership.
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Best Leaders Truly See People
- Great leaders see people as people: curious, humble, and invested in others' growth.
- That vulnerability and realness unlocks trust and brings out others' best performance.
Self-Deception Is Living A Lie
- Self-deception is living a lie: telling yourself false, self-serving narratives and believing them.
- These narratives feel convincing because you know they're untrue at a deep level and protect your self-image.
Self-Betrayal Creates Justifying Narratives
- Self-betrayal creates a need to justify avoiding what people deserve, producing distorted views of others.
- Blame, righteous feelings, and seeking allies are red flags that you adopted a self-serving narrative.
