64. Why Leaders Misread High Performers Early
SYNOPSIS
This episode opens Chapter 1: What Leaders Think They’re Seeing in the High Performers lens. Leaders often feel confident they know who a high performer is early on. But that early certainty can quietly shape opportunity, trust, and interpretation long before performance ever becomes an issue. Episode 64 explores how misrecognition forms — and why some capable people disappear not because they lack ability, but because they were understood too quickly.
SHOW NOTES
Most leaders trust their instincts for a reason.
They’ve learned to move fast, decide quickly, and rely on what feels clear.
But what if some of the most important performance decisions get made before anyone realizes a decision was made at all?
In this episode of Leadership in 5, James Mayhew slows down the moment where confidence turns into certainty — and how that moment quietly shapes who gets seen, trusted, and developed over time.
This episode opens Chapter 1 of the High Performers lens: What Leaders Think They’re Seeing.
In this episode, James explores:
- Why confidence often gets mistaken for performance
- How early certainty limits what leaders continue to notice
- Where misrecognition quietly begins
- Why disappointment later often traces back to decisions made too early
REFLECTION QUESTION
Who did you feel certain about early — and what might that certainty have caused you to stop noticing?
LINKS & RESOURCES
Founder's Growth Newsletter: jamesmayhew.com/newsletter-opt-in
LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/jamesmayhew
Website → JamesMayhew.com
