No Bullsh!t Leadership – Episode 388: The Invisible Gaps That Stall Leadership Growth

Podcast: No Bullsh!t Leadership
Host: Martin G Moore
Guest Co-Host: Em (from the Leadership Beyond the Theory team)
Date: February 3, 2026

Episode Overview

In this Q&A episode, Martin G Moore and co-host Em tackle a perennially tricky question for leaders: "How do I know what I don’t know?" Drawing from feedback collected through direct conversations with leaders around the world, they explore the invisible gaps that often hinder leadership growth—even for high performers. The discussion ranges from the limitations of learning by imitation, the dangers of “leadership drift,” how stability can mask mediocrity, and the practical steps leaders can take to unearth and address their blind spots.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. Why ‘I Don’t Know What I Don’t Know’ is So Widespread

Timestamps: 06:09 – 08:32

• Em presents a recurring theme she's heard in calls: capable leaders saying, "I don't know what I don't know".
• Martin explains that leadership is uniquely under-trained and under-mentored compared to other critical professions.
  • Quote:

    "We don’t get trained for Leadership, it’s the only critical job you can step into with zero formal training."
    — Martin (06:57)

• Leaders often base their approach on how they were led, which perpetuates mediocrity or even dysfunction.

II. The Illusion of 'Doing Fine' & Mistaking Stability for Excellence

Timestamps: 08:05 – 10:45

• Em notes that many leaders report their teams are 'doing fine,' yet feel they're missing something.
• Martin describes the risk of mistaking lack of visible problems for true high performance.
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Leaders confuse the absence of problems with the presence of excellence, and it’s simply not the case.”
    — Martin (09:12)

• Teams can adapt to weak systems and low standards; true excellence requires ongoing recalibration.

III. Examples of Hidden Leadership Gaps

Timestamps: 10:45 – 13:07

• Leaders often avoid confronting underperformance, rationalizing it if things aren’t “on fire.”
• The problem of “talented jerks”: highly capable individuals who damage team culture are often not checked.
• Leaders taking on too much work themselves can lead to being overworked and ineffective—even as they feel ‘noble’ for doing so.

IV. The Cost of Never Seeing Exceptional Leadership

Timestamps: 13:07 – 15:33

• Without great role models, leaders patch together styles, leading to inconsistency and guesswork.
  • Quote:

    “You can’t replicate what you’ve never seen, right?”
    — Martin (13:49)

• Most people feel uneasy in some leadership situations (conflict, decision-making), especially if they lack examples to follow.

V. How Leaders Can Start to Identify Their Gaps

Timestamps: 15:33 – 18:53

• Clarity on value: focus effort on what truly matters rather than busywork.
• Decision quality is key: over-consulting or hesitating is just as risky as not consulting enough.
• Accountability: Make sure roles and decision-making authority are crystal clear.
• Operating at the right level: leaders must avoid retreating into comfortable, lower-level work.
  • Quote:

    "You want to make yourself redundant instead of making yourself indispensable. The best leaders are the ones who build teams who can operate without them."
    — Martin (16:47)

VI. Tools and Systems for Self-Assessment

Timestamps: 19:01 – 19:54

• Em recommends the free "Leadership Blind Spot Tool" for leaders to gauge their gaps (details and link in show notes).

VII. Long-Term Consequences of Unaddressed Gaps

Timestamps: 19:54 – 22:18

• Leaders may plateau without knowing why, as few organizations provide clear, candid feedback.
  • Quote:

    “In the absence of really useful targeted feedback, you may not even know your gaps are there.”
    — Martin (20:56)

• Chronic underperformance, burnout, and a lack of career progression are typical symptoms.
• Most leadership failure is “slow, quiet, and invisible”—it erodes morale and impedes innovation.

VIII. How to Stay Curious and Close Gaps Over Time

Timestamps: 22:18 – 27:03

• Self-awareness and rigorous self-evaluation are critical, especially if your boss doesn't model or enforce high leadership standards.
• Leadership should be treated as a discipline worthy of lifelong study and improvement.
  • Quote:

    “There’s no shame in not knowing how to lead. There is shame in not trying to improve.”
    — Martin (23:28)

• Martin shares his career trajectory: confidence and competence in leadership come through years of conscious, focused effort, not overnight or through titles alone.

IX. Building a Lasting Leadership Operating System

Timestamps: 27:03 – 29:10

• Em and Martin discuss how their Leadership Beyond the Theory program consolidates decades of real-world practice and ongoing refinement into one actionable system.
• The goal: eliminate the ‘I don’t know what I don’t know’ feeling for good, replacing it with a proven framework that leaders at any level can use.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Leaders confuse the absence of problems with the presence of excellence, and it’s simply not the case.”
  — Martin (09:12)

• “You can’t replicate what you’ve never seen, right?”
  — Martin (13:49)

• “You want to make yourself redundant instead of making yourself indispensable. The best leaders are the ones who build teams who can operate without them.”
  — Martin (16:47)

• “There’s no shame in not knowing how to lead. There is shame in not trying to improve.”
  — Martin (23:28)

Key Timestamps

• 06:09: Why "I don't know what I don't know" is widespread
• 09:12: Absence of problems ≠ Excellence (memorable quote)
• 10:45: Hidden leadership gaps—examples from the trenches
• 13:49: The cost of never seeing exceptional leadership
• 16:47: How to operate at the right leadership level
• 19:01: Tools for identifying blind spots
• 20:56: The danger of never receiving targeted feedback
• 23:28: The imperative to continually improve as a leader

Final Thoughts

Martin Moore and Em drive home that leadership can’t rest on autopilot or the absence of disasters. Instead, the pursuit of excellence requires constant curiosity, measured self-awareness, and the courage to seek out and address blind spots. The greatest risk is not failure, but remaining comfortably mediocre—unaware and unchallenged.

Episode Call-to-Action:
Check out the Leadership Blind Spot Tool and consider the Leadership Beyond the Theory program to systematically close the gaps and elevate your leadership impact.