In this episode, Peter and Dave talk with Jill Macauley, Chief Operating Officer at Behavioral Essentials, about the hidden blind spots that sabotage even talented leaders. They explore why self-awareness is the foundation of great leadership, how identity shifts create real grief when moving from contributor to manager to leader of leaders, and why the workplace demands more emotional intelligence than ever before.
Jill shares practical insights on recognizing when your gifts tip into gaps, why asking "why" beats any fluffy framework, and how small tweaks, not complete overhauls, create lasting change. Whether you're leading a team, coaching others, or navigating your own career transition, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at what it takes to lead well in a complex world.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:19 Meet Jill Macauley: Awareness as Catalyst
4:08 When Strengths Become Blind Spots
8:21 The Engineer-to-Leader Identity Crisis
12:34 Letting Go of Your Old Identity
16:47 Complexity and the New Leadership Demands
19:59 Generational Shifts in the Workplace
23:10 Asking "Why" Without the Woo-Woo
25:28 The Value of Healthy Conflict
28:10 Measuring Team Effectiveness
30:54 Small Tweaks, Big Impact
31:38 Three Key Takeaways
Key Topics:
How strengths become blind spots when overused
The grief process of changing professional identities
Why generational shifts are changing leadership expectations
Reframing emotion as data for technical leaders
Measuring team effectiveness beyond KPIs
The difference between productive reflection and complaining about people
About Jill Macauley:
Jill is the Chief Operating Officer at Behavioral Essentials, where she helps leaders identify blind spots and build stronger, more self-aware teams. With degrees in psychology and expertise in strategic planning and leadership development, Jill brings both rigor and energy to the work of organizational change. She's also an adjunct professor teaching nonprofit governance and leadership.
Connect with Jill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillwmacauley/
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