Radical Candor: Communication at Work

Episode: Leadership Unblocked: The 7 Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back with Muriel Wilkins
Hosts: Kim Scott, Amy Sandler
Guest: Muriel Wilkins
Release Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Kim Scott and Amy Sandler welcome back acclaimed executive coach and author Muriel Wilkins to discuss her latest book, Leadership Unblocked: Breakthrough the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential. The trio dive deep into the development of sustainable leadership habits, focusing on the seven hidden beliefs—often subconscious—that prevent leaders from reaching their full potential. Listeners are invited into an honest and practical conversation about shifting mindsets, building self-awareness, and unlocking leadership growth by challenging internal blockers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Motivation Behind “Leadership Unblocked” (01:16 – 03:20)

• Muriel Wilkins shares that after her first book, she didn’t intend to write another, but ongoing observations of cyclical challenges among both her clients and herself drove her curiosity. She noticed leaders, including herself, were “very action biased...yet six months later, we’d be right back where we were.” Her research led her to uncover underlying, often hidden, beliefs hampering sustainable change.

2. The Benefit—and Risk—of Bias to Action (03:21 – 06:56)

• The hosts and Muriel dissect the “bias to action” common in high achievers. While it propels careers, it can sabotage growth if it eclipses self-reflection.
• Kim Scott: “Somebody comes to me with a problem and I want to immediately—‘here are the three things you should do’... And I’ve had to learn to listen and try to understand: does this person want me to listen... or do they want my advice?” (05:00)
• Muriel Wilkins: Action isn’t bad; it becomes a blocker when it’s the only focus. “What the research has shown is it’s just as important, if not more, to recalibrate how you think about what you do, rather than just what you do.” (03:56)
• The act of “fixing” is often about soothing our own discomfort with uncertainty, not solving someone else’s problem.

3. Hidden Blockers: What Are They & Why Do They Matter (10:20 – 12:44)

• Belief as an Operating System: We all operate under “assumptions, informed guesses about what the future holds” that drive our actions.
• Muriel studied 300 clients and discovered seven recurring, deeply-rooted beliefs she terms “hidden blockers.” They're “so key to our success that they have become habits we’re not even conscious of.” (12:44)
• These beliefs elude detection and persist, even as our definition of success evolves.

4. Seven Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back (12:44 – 29:46)

The Blockers:

1. I need to be involved
2. I need it done now
3. I know I’m right
4. I can’t make a mistake
5. If I can do it, so can you
6. I can’t say no
7. I don’t belong here

• Memorable moment: Muriel admits (13:05) that “I need it done now” is alive and well for her, particularly at year’s end, and unpacks the associated anxiety and inherited beliefs.

Notable Quote:

• Amy Sandler: “Part of that bias to action is also, I think...it gives us almost a sense of more comfort with the uncertainty and the uncomfortableness of a conversation where we don’t know where it’s going.” (07:09)
• Muriel Wilkins: “What we’re trying to control is to make sure we get one, if not all three fundamental human needs met: to feel worthy, to feel like we belong, and to feel safe.” (08:16)

5. Recognizing, Reframing, and Working Through Blockers (18:51 – 30:32)

• Awareness as Step One: Muriel describes the necessity of being “curious” about moments of inner or outer dissonance. Noticing discomfort—internal or external—is a clue that a belief might need to be examined.
• Kim Scott's Story: She used the mantra “You have two legs and a butt. You can walk out of the office,” to counter her limiting belief, “I can’t say no.” (22:39)
• Muriel: The reframe is personal and context-dependent—what releases one person might not work for another.

Notable Quote:

• Muriel Wilkins: “You don’t need to change who you are... It’s about expanding what you bring.” (46:16)

6. Working With and Not Against Your Beliefs (26:17 – 27:39)

• Old beliefs aren’t “bad”—they served you once. The goal is not to “let go” but expand and integrate beliefs to match present needs.
• Agency arises from making “the choice of belief that can then energize and move you forward 100%.” (27:39)

7. Real-Life Application: Examples of Transformation (40:54 – 43:16)

• Case study: Muriel recounts a client’s arc with the belief “I don’t belong here.” By simply naming the fact that he was, in fact, present in the room, he unlocked his capacity to contribute and overcame hesitancy at work (42:55–43:16).

8. The Power of Simple Questions (43:16 – 46:04)

• Effective coaching (whether with self or others) means meeting the moment and asking “the simplest questions” without attachment to the answer. Real transformation comes from gentle, curious inquiry.

9. Readiness and Coachability (31:34 – 38:16)

• Not everyone is ready or willing to question limiting beliefs. Muriel notes, “You have to decide if there’s dissonance… There is a level of readiness, of wanting to address whatever is off, whether it’s the feedback, the outcomes, etc.—and that is where, you know, coachability comes into play.” (31:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Muriel Wilkins (13:44): “January 1st is just the 366th day. It’s a reframing around time and what all this means.”
• Kim Scott (15:17): “If you don’t drop a few balls, you’re not working on the most important things.”
• Muriel Wilkins (26:59): “It is more around expanding your set of beliefs so you can meet the complexity of your life and leadership...”
• Kim Scott (29:04): “I can think of different stories for each of those... I have fallen prey to each of those so many times.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Motivation for the book / beginning of hidden beliefs discussion: 01:16 – 12:44
• Seven Hidden Blockers outlined: 12:44 – 29:46
• Recognizing and reframing beliefs, practical stories: 18:51 – 30:32
• Advice for uncovering personal blockers and coaching others: 30:46 – 46:04
• Importance of readiness and self-coaching: 31:34 – 38:16
• Story on “I don’t belong here” and shifting behavior: 40:54 – 43:16
• How to ask better, simpler questions: 43:16 – 46:04
• Community, intention, and closing reflections: 49:28 – 53:56

Actionable Takeaways

• Start with Curiosity: When something feels “off,” pause to ask, “What am I thinking about this situation?” before jumping to action.
• Name the Blocker: Identify if you’re operating from any of the 7 hidden beliefs.
• Reframe, Don’t Shame: Beliefs served you once; now expand your mindset to match your current context and challenges.
• Build Self and Mutual Awareness: Invite trusted colleagues or friends to gently call attention to your patterns.
• Coaching Begins Within: Developing your own self-awareness muscles makes you a better leader and coach to others.

Resources and Connections

• Muriel Wilkins’s book: Leadership Unblocked
• Find Muriel Wilkins: murielwilkins.com, LinkedIn, Instagram @coachmurielwilkins (54:15)
• Podcast notes and community: radicalcandor.com/podcast

End Note:
Kim Scott wraps up: “I think you’re very wise, and I love that you made the intention and then the world filled it up.” (52:03)
Amy Sandler signs off: “May you continue defying gravity, Muriel, and may we do this in community.” (54:29)

For listeners: This episode is a must-hear for anyone wanting to break free from invisible leadership barriers, develop greater self-agency, and lead with authenticity and courage.