Leadership: Beyond the Facade with Phillip Stenger of Ascent

Are you tired of trying to win everyone's approval and losing your authenticity in the process? In this episode, Phillip Stenger drops truth bombs about leadership, fear, conflict, and the courage it takes to be real. Get ready to challenge everything you thought leadership should be — because real change begins when you embrace the uncomfortable.

In this episode:

• The difference between respect and likeability, and why it matters

• How fear of not being liked can sabotage your leadership

• Building trust through honesty — even in tough decisions

• The power of embracing mistakes and vulnerability

• Practical tools for courageous leadership on your toughest days

• The role of meditation and mental health routines in resilient leadership

• Why you should own your wrongs — and celebrate your failures

• How to lead with confidence without losing yourself

• The concept of "confidence humility" rooted in self-awareness

• Moving beyond superficial niceness to real, tough conversations

Timestamps

00:00 - Authenticity over approval in leadership

02:05 - First lesson on being liked in finance

06:14 - Respect vs. likeability: what leaders can actually control

08:23 - Building a company while managing external approval

10:42 - Fear, uncertainty, and how experience builds confidence

12:18 - Meditation, mental health, and leadership presence

14:37 - Making unpopular decisions with honesty

19:47 - The danger of “nice” cultures that avoid hard conversations

22:26 - What courageous leadership looks like in the moment

24:39 - Confident humility: strong opinions, open mind

25:10 - Advice for early-career professionals afraid of being disliked

28:35 - The permission slip: leaders can be wrong

30:24 - Building a culture that learns from mistakes

Resources & Links:

- Radical Candor by Kim Scott

- The Courageous Leadership Series

- “Confidence Humility” book

- Meditation for Leaders - Headspace

- Own Your Mistakes - Harvard Business Review

Connect with Phillip Stenger:

LinkedIn

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For more information, visit gigtalentagency.com or email us at podcast@gigtalentagency.com if you have any questions.