4 Leadership Assumptions that Limit Your Team’s Productivity

Episode 310: Which leadership assumptions are quietly sabotaging your team—and what if you don’t even know you’re making them?

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your role—spending too much time on the wrong problems, struggling to connect with your team, or unsure how to level up your influence—this episode is a must. You’ll learn how the stories you tell yourself shape your leadership and how to rewrite them for better results. In this conversation with coach and author Sean Glaze, you’ll discover:

• The four most common leadership assumptions and how they silently hold you back.

• A clear, relatable model for moving from confusion to clarity—from unaware to solutions.

• How to build a culture that values feedback, clarity, and courageous conversations (without becoming the “nice but ineffective” boss).

Tune in now to learn how questioning your assumptions can unlock greater confidence, impact, and performance in your leadership journey.

The Leadership Assumptions Holding You Back

[03:24] – The Awareness Ladder

Sean introduces the four-tier ladder leaders must climb: from being unaware of a problem to identifying symptoms, diagnosing the real issue, and finally reaching actionable solutions.

[07:26] – Four Leadership Assumptions That Derail Success

Sean lays out the four key leadership assumptions that leaders must examine: purpose, principles, people, and politeness, and how these unconscious beliefs can sabotage results if left unchallenged.

[08:37] – Redefining Your Role: The Purpose Trap

Many leaders make the dangerous assumption that their job is still about individual performance. Sean explains how redefining “success” as working through others can dramatically shift your impact.

[12:53] – Principal Assumptions and Culture Clarity

Assuming your team shares your values is a leadership blind spot. Sean shows how defining and demonstrating values behaviorally—not just listing them—creates trust and accountability.

[19:29] – What Story Are You Telling Yourself About Your People?

Leaders often create false narratives based on limited behavior. Sean encourages curiosity over criticism, turning unhelpful assumptions into opportunities for deeper understanding.

Practical Shifts to Strengthen Leadership

[23:34] – Niceness vs. Politeness: The Truth About Conflict

Politeness isn’t about avoiding tension—it’s about having hard conversations with care. Sean challenges the assumption that “no conflict” means “healthy culture.”

[26:50] – Stretching the Team (Literally): A Story of Accountability

Sean and David discuss a powerful example from the Denver Nuggets that illustrates how respectful accountability can transform team habits.

[29:42] – Why the Best Teams Have More Conflict

Research shows high-performing teams don’t avoid conflict—they embrace it. Discover how honest conversations foster alignment and drive performance.

[30:55] – Leadership Assumptions Recap: Your 4-Part Checklist

David recaps the four leadership assumptions every leader must challenge to lead more effectively—purpose, principles, people, and politeness—and how to start examining them today.

[31:57] – Reflection or Feedback: Two Ways to Grow Awareness

Sean closes with a simple truth: leadership growth comes from either reflection or feedback. When in doubt, ask better questions and listen more.

About Sean Glaze

As a workplace culture and leadership speaker for over 15 years, Sean has been customizing event experiences to help leaders build “Sticky Cultures”. As a team-building facilitator and teamwork speaker, he has found that most organizations struggle with one of four areas of culture:

1 – Do You Wish Your Employees Were More Like Winning Teammates?

2 – Are You Frustrated by People Who Are Just Not Staying Coachable?

3 – Would Your Managers Benefit From Becoming More Effective Leaders?

4 – Have You Struggled to Discover What Really Drives GREAT Teamwork?

Those areas are the four areas he focuses on to build STICKY CULTURES!