What if everything you thought about "good leadership" was missing one critical ingredient?

We tend to assume that great leaders are the most empathetic, the most honest, or the most ambitious. But new research tells a different story. A 2019 study of 218 U.S. Air Force officers found that self-control—not character alone—was the single most important factor in whether a leader was seen as ethical, effective, and trustworthy.

In this episode, Scott Liles breaks down:

🔹 The Air Force Study (2019) – Why high character + low self-control = failed leadership

🔹 The Stretch Goal Trap (UC San Diego, 2024) – How missing ambitious goals actually reduces your perceived power (even if your output is the same as everyone else's)

🔹 The Mindfulness Solution ( ...