What does it actually take to become a strong, authentic leader?

In this episode, Tyler talks with Dr. Matt Paden, president and managing partner of Great Days Leadership and co-author of The Core: Eight Principles for Building Strong Authentic Leadership, about why leadership development often falls short and what leaders need most if they want to keep growing.

Matt explains why so many people confuse leadership with power or position, and why that confusion creates weak leadership models across organizations, teams, and culture. Together, he and Tyler unpack the challenges leaders face when moving from individual contribution to leading others, and why ego, defensiveness, and a lack of coachability often keep leaders from embracing the truth about themselves.

This conversation also explores mentorship, vulnerability, emotional intelligence, purpose, self-awareness, and the importance of learning how to lead from who you are, not just what you do.

In this episode:

Why many leaders are not truly improving
The danger of confusing leadership with power
Why coachability is essential for growth
How ego gets in the way of strong leadership
Why truth and self-awareness matter so much
What sports and mentorship can teach us about leadership
How purpose helps leaders stay grounded
What authentic leadership looks like in practice

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