Summary3 min read

The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex

Episode: The Mind Reading Fallacy
Date: June 19, 2026
Host: Paul Alex Espinoza

Overview

In this episode, Paul Alex tackles “The Mind Reading Fallacy”—a widespread failure in business leadership where executives expect their teams to deliver without providing clear, actionable instructions. Drawing from his experiences as both a former law enforcement officer and an 8-figure entrepreneur, Paul breaks down why “common sense” is a myth in organizations and emphasizes the power of radical clarity, over-communication, and defined expectations for operational excellence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Mind Reading Fallacy & Its Dangers

Definition: Expecting your team to know exactly what you want without explaining it is not only unrealistic, but sets everyone up for failure.
Paul shares:

"If you are constantly angry at your team for failing to deliver what you wanted, but you never actually gave them clear instructions, the problem is entirely yours.” [01:01]
In his law enforcement background, Paul stresses that unclear instructions can be “completely catastrophic”—there is no room for ambiguity when success depends on details.

2. "Common Sense" Is a Myth in Business

Paul discusses the illusion of “common sense,” noting that assuming everyone “just knows” what to do leads to disaster:

"Common sense is a complete myth in business. … Assuming someone knew the protocol could be completely catastrophic. You have to vocalize the exact standard." [01:25]
Example: CEOs dropping major projects on an employee’s desk with only a sentence of instruction, expecting flawless outcomes.

3. The Need for Precision in Expectations

Paul urges leaders to:
- Clearly define the finish line for every project or task.
- Express explicitly what a successful outcome should “look, feel and function like.”
“Make your expectations so incredibly obvious that a total stranger could follow them.” [02:10]
He debunks the idea that under-performance is rooted in laziness or malice—it's usually due to unclear or poor instructions.

4. Over-Communication Builds Trust and Results

Over-communication isn’t excessive; it’s the pathway to certainty and speed in execution.

“When your team never has to second guess your vision, their speed and confidence explode.” [02:36]
Calls for radical clarity, documented SOPs, and patient leadership.
- “Radical clarity, documented standard operating procedures, and patient leadership create an unstoppable operation.” [02:45]

5. The Role of Leadership: Write the Script

Leaders must “write the script” instead of expecting the “actors” to guess their lines:

“Bottom line, you are the director of this movie. Stop expecting the actors to guess their lines. Write the script, clarify the vision and lead the team.” [03:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Leadership’s Responsibility:

“If the team has to guess what success looks like, they will inevitably guess wrong, whether it is a marketing campaign or a new client onboarding. Ambiguity breeds failure. If you assume they know, you kill the execution.” [01:45]
On Instructions & Outcomes:

“Instead of just telling an employee to handle a situation, tell them exactly what the final outcome must look, feel and function like.” [02:08]
On Over-Communication:

“Over communication creates absolute trust.” [02:30]
On Execution:

“When you stop hoping they read your mind, they start hitting your targets.” [02:50]
Closing Motivation:

“Communication is the foundation of scale. Speak clearly, set the standard, and as always, keep leveling up.” [03:15]

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:29 – 01:10: Introduction and framing the “Mind Reading Fallacy”
01:10 – 01:45: “Common sense is a myth” and examples from law enforcement
01:45 – 02:15: Consequences of ambiguity; necessity of clear benchmarks and finish lines
02:15 – 02:45: Over-communication, radical clarity, SOPs, and leadership
02:45 – 03:15: Metaphor: leader as director, and summary call-to-action for clear communication

Episode Takeaways

Don’t expect your team to be mind readers—communicate with precision.
“Common sense” shouldn’t be relied upon in executive or team settings; lay everything out explicitly.
Set crystal clear expectations and define success in tangible terms.
Over-communication is a virtue in leadership.
Document processes and be patient for sustained, scalable success.

Host: Paul Alex Espinoza
Connect: Instagram @PaulAlex | OfficialPaulAlex.com

Call to Action:
Paul encourages listeners to share the episode, leave a 5-star review, and visit his website for more resources.

Summary prepared for those who want practical, actionable insights from Level Up Podcast without listening to the full episode.

Loading summary

Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
So good, so good, so good.
[00:03]
B
New markdowns up to 70% off are at Nordstrom Rack stores. Now stock up and save big on shoes, tops, dresses, accessories and more must haves for summer. Join the NordicLub to unlock exclusive discounts. Shop new arrivals first and more. Plus buy online and pick up at your favorite Rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack welcome to the Level up podcast.
[00:29]
A
I'm your host, Paul Alex. I went from being a cop to an eight figure entrepreneur that helps average people like you and me make money every single day. I created this podcast to help you get motivated and to crush your goals. Let's win together. Remember, I have your six. Get ready to level up right now. What's up everyone? Welcome back to the Level Up Podcast. I'm Paul Alex and today we are tackling a massive failure in executive leadership. The mind reading fallacy. Because, let's be real. If you are constantly angry at your team for failing to deliver what you wanted, but you never actually gave them clear instructions, the problem is entirely yours. Let's break down how to communicate with absolute precision. First, understand that common sense is a complete myth in business. In my past life in law enforcement, assuming someone knew the protocol could be completely catastrophic. You have to vocalize the exact Standard. Too many CEOs drop a massive project on a manager's desk with a one sentence email and expect a flawless result. If the team has to guess what success looks like, they will inevitably guess wrong, whether it is a marketing campaign or a new client. Onboarding ambiguity breeds failure. If you assume they know, you kill the execution. Second, you have to clearly define the finish line. People do not underperform because they want to annoy you. They underperform because the instructions were terrible. So instead of just telling an employee to handle a situation, tell them exactly what the final outcome must look, feel and function like. Make your expectations so incredibly obvious that a total stranger could follow them. Lastly, over communication creates absolute trust. When your team never has to second guess your vision, their speed and confidence explode. Radical clarity, documented standard operating procedures, and patient leadership create an unstoppable operation. When you stop hoping they read your mind, they start hitting your targets. Bottom line, you are the director of this movie. Stop expecting the actors to guess their lines. Write the script, clarify the vision and lead the team. Because when you do, you will operate smoother than ever. Thanks for tuning in to the Level up podcast. I'm Paul Alex reminding you, communication is the foundation of scale. Speak clearly, set the standard, and as always, keep Leveling Up. Thanks for listening up to the Level up podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to share with a family, friend and everyone you know who's ready to level up. Leave a five star review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you tune in. It really helps spreading the word. And forget to check out officialpaulalex.com for more episodes and resources to kickstart your journey. Let's level up together.