Leadership BS: Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time

Let me take you on a gentle journey through the world of leadership—a world where, despite our best intentions, things often don’t turn out as we hope. Imagine a bustling conference center, filled with eager professionals, all listening to a parade of speakers promising the secrets to better leadership. The screens flash with impressive numbers: billions spent on training, thousands of books published, and a thriving industry dedicated to making leaders more effective. Yet, if you step outside the seminar room and into the real workplace, you’ll find a different story. Despite the enormous investment in leadership development, most employees remain disengaged, dissatisfied, and skeptical of their leaders.

It’s not just a matter of a few bad apples. The problem is systemic. Surveys from respected organizations show that less than half of employees feel satisfied with their jobs. Engagement rates hover at historic lows, and the number of people who wish their boss would be replaced is astonishingly high. Meanwhile, the people at the top—those who are supposed to inspire and guide us—are losing their jobs at a faster rate than ever before. CEO tenures are shrinking, and even the most credentialed leaders find themselves unprepared for the messy realities of organizational life.

Why is this happening? The answer lies not in a lack of effort or good intentions, but in a fundamental disconnect between what is taught and what actually works. The leadership industry, for all its size and sophistication, is failing to deliver real, lasting change. The advice given is often based on hope rather than evidence, on stories rather than data.

As we begin our exploration, let’s pause to reflect: how can so much effort yield so little progress? What are we missing? In the next section, we’ll delve into the seductive power of inspirational stories and why, despite their appeal, they may be doing more harm than good. Together, we’ll uncover the myths that keep us from seeing the truth—and find new ways to build workplaces that truly thrive.