Episode 37

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Published on:

17th Sep 2025

37. The Problem with Recognizing Everyone Equally

Episode 37: The Problem with Recognizing Everyone Equally

Episode 10 in the series, The Founder’s Blind Spot

Praising everyone equally sounds positive—but it erodes trust and damages culture.

In Episode 36, we explored how avoidance creates silence—leaders don’t address what needs to be said, and their best people stop speaking up.

This episode takes it deeper. Because sometimes avoidance doesn’t sound like silence at all. It sounds like applause. It sounds like thanking everyone for their effort when the truth is obvious: some gave everything, some coasted, and a few carried the weight for everyone else. When leaders avoid naming that reality, accountability slips, trust erodes, and culture drifts toward mediocrity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why praising everyone equally undermines your credibility
  • How generic recognition leaves your best people feeling invisible
  • Why avoiding the truth about effort creates cultural debt that compounds
  • What founders and leaders must do to balance recognition with accountability

Reflection Questions:

  • When was the last time you praised your team without naming the difference in effort?
  • Who deserves to hear directly that their contribution stood out?
  • Who needs a private conversation so the standard is clear moving forward?

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About the Podcast

Leadership in 5
Lead better in 5 minutes. Tactical insights for founders who want clarity, momentum, and a business that doesn’t break them.
Execution without excuses. Five minutes. One insight. No wasted words.

Leadership In 5 is the podcast for founders and executives who are done with vague advice and tired of hearing “just communicate better” like it’s a strategy.

I’m James Mayhew. I’ve served as Chief Culture Officer, coached hundreds of leaders, and made the thousand-plus execution mistakes so you don’t have to. I work with high-growth companies that are scaling fast — but who still want to lead with values, not ego.

Each episode delivers one sharp insight you can act on. You’ll hear practical guidance built on clarity, not charisma. No theory. No fluff. Just real leadership tools that work in real companies with real people.

This show exists to help you stop over-functioning, stop repeating yourself, and stop holding it all together just to keep the wheels turning. You deserve a business that works without breaking you.

The show is grounded in The IDP Way, a leadership system built on Integrity, Dignity, and Prosperity. If those words resonate, you’ll feel at home here. And if they challenge you? Even better. Growth starts with honesty.

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Thanks for listening... and for leading.

About your host

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James Mayhew

James R. Mayhew is a leadership coach and strategic advisor to founders and executives building fast-growth, values-driven companies. He created the IDP Way, a leadership system grounded in integrity, dignity, and prosperity. James helps leaders align people, purpose, and performance so their business can scale with clarity, not chaos.

He’s served as Chief Culture Officer, coached hundreds of leaders, and built execution systems that actually work.