The Leadership Line

Ever been handed “one more thing” and wondered whether pushing back would help you or haunt you? We dig into the real art of saying no at work—how to protect your bandwidth without damaging trust, and how to turn tense requests into clear decisions that move the right work forward. Along the way, we share the exact phrases that keep conversations calm, the questions that reveal hidden context, and the negotiation steps that map tradeoffs without sounding defensive. We start by separating core responsibilities from additive requests and unpack why that distinction changes your next move. If the work is core, we talk about ownership and execution; if it’s additive, we show you how to probe for intent—stretch assignment, urgent fire drill, or visibility play—so you can assess risk and reward. Then we dive into tone and power dynamics: with a boss, ask permission before offering alternatives; with peers, redirect or delay while still being helpful; with direct reports, be clear and candid so they can succeed. You’ll hear simple scripts like “Help me understand why this, why now, and why us,” “Where does this fit among A, B, and C?,” and “If we prioritize this, X slips two weeks—acceptable?” Expect practical tools you can use today: a fast mental checklist for on‑the‑spot decisions, ways to avoid over‑questioning that sounds like stonewalling, and a framework to document impacts so leaders can make informed calls. We also cover when a firm refusal is non‑negotiable—anything illegal, unethical, or harmful—and how to do that with professionalism. By the end, you’ll be able to choose among no, not yet, yes if, and yes—and know why each choice fits the moment.

Are we becoming workplace jerks in our quest for self-care? This provocative question frames our candid conversation about a troubling trend in modern self-help literature. When bestsellers like "The Courage to Be Disliked" and "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" encourage readers to prioritize themselves, set rigid boundaries, and worry less about others' opinions, something valuable yet dangerous emerges. We unpack Emma Goldberg's thoughtful New York Times piece questioning whether these well-intentioned guides are fostering workplace selfishness. The balance is delicate. There's tremendous value in speaking your truth and refusing to be a "Get-Along Gary" who sacrifices authenticity for harmony. Your perspective matters - both for your wellbeing and your organization's success. Yet there's a profound difference between healthy boundary-setting and dismissive self-centeredness that can destroy workplace relationships. Perhaps most importantly, we explore the myth of solo success. Every one of us eventually needs support - whether during personal challenges or professional hurdles. If you've consistently prioritized only yourself, who will be there when you need help? As Tammy wisely observes, "None of us succeed on our own. We succeed because we're in a tribe." Ready to navigate this complex terrain? Join us for an honest exploration of how to honor your needs without becoming the office jerk. Subscribe now and share your thoughts on finding that sweet spot between self-advocacy and genuine collaboration!

Have you ever wondered if you can truly be your authentic self at work? That question lies at the heart of our conversation, sparked by a hilarious meme: "I accidentally used my real personality at work today. I'll just take myself to HR." We dive deep into the tension between authenticity and professionalism, exploring whether self-management means betraying who you are or simply choosing which aspects of yourself to emphasize in different contexts. The truth is, everyone has amazing qualities and challenging ones - the key is learning when to bring each forward. Self-management isn't about changing your core values or beliefs. It's about recognizing that we all have moments when we want to react impulsively, but choosing responses that align with our long-term goals instead. As we share through personal stories (including a memorable shoe-in-the-ceiling incident and a table-slamming confrontation), those reactive moments can have significant professional consequences. Leaders face a particular challenge since their emotions ripple throughout the organization. When a leader panics, everyone panics. This doesn't mean suppressing your true self, but rather developing awareness about how your natural tendencies affect others. The higher you rise professionally, the more critical this skill becomes. Whether you're struggling with a reactive team member or examining your own workplace behavior, this episode offers valuable insights into balancing authenticity with effectiveness. Listen now to discover how you can be your real self at work while still creating the positive impact and relationships you desire.

Have you ever felt trapped in your career, wondering if the only way up is out? This candid conversation delves into the fascinating dynamics of succession planning and career advancement within organizations. We tackle the uncomfortable truth many professionals face: the perception that meaningful career advancement often requires leaving your current employer. Our discussion explores how different organizational structures impact growth opportunities – from learning-focused environments that nurture talent to rigid hierarchies that box employees into limited roles. You'll discover why some companies struggle with internal advancement, whether due to size constraints, leadership philosophies, or traditional career path requirements. The conversation introduces a practical framework for understanding talent management: the "buy, build, boost, or boot" approach. We examine the financial realities driving career decisions, including the uncomfortable fact that external hires typically command higher salaries than internally promoted employees. This salary disparity explains why strategic job-hopping often results in higher lifetime earnings than company loyalty. Beyond compensation, we explore what truly creates career satisfaction. While fair pay matters, meaningful work, mutual appreciation between employee and employer, and continuous skill development prove far more powerful for long-term fulfillment. For those feeling pigeonholed, we offer actionable strategies to break free – including proactively developing skills your organization will need before they ask for them. Whether you're considering your next career move or building a more effective talent development strategy for your team, this episode provides fresh perspectives on creating meaningful growth without necessarily changing employers. What steps will you take to ensure your career path reflects your true potential?

Have you ever been bombarded with sales calls after showing the slightest interest in a product or service? That frustrating experience is exactly what we tackle in this candid conversation about marketing follow-up strategies that actually work—and the ones that drive potential customers away forever. Carmen shares her maddening experience with a lawn service that wouldn't stop calling despite clear boundaries, while another team member describes the overwhelming vendor calls following the SHRM conference—up to 20 daily contacts from people trying to "help" with hotel arrangements through aggressive tactics. At the heart of our discussion is a fundamental question: are you building a transactional business or a relationship-based one? The transactional approach relies on volume and frequency—bombarding prospects until someone eventually says yes. It might work occasionally, but at what cost to your reputation and the feelings of those on the receiving end? We contrast this with our preferred "three-touch method" that respects boundaries while still providing multiple opportunities for engagement. The most valuable takeaway might be learning to listen to what potential clients are communicating, both explicitly and implicitly. When someone ignores multiple outreach attempts, they're saying "not now" or "not ever." Respecting that message preserves dignity on both sides and leaves the door open for future connection when timing is right. Remember: business development isn't about trapping reluctant prospects; it's about finding the right matches at the right time. Curious about implementing a follow-up strategy that builds relationships instead of burning bridges? Listen now, and then share your own experiences with marketing outreach that either impressed or irritated you. We'd love to hear your perspective!

What if many of the HR "rules" you've always followed aren't actually rules at all? This eye-opening exploration of workplace urban legends challenges common misconceptions about human resources practices that have become deeply embedded in organizational cultures. We start by tackling perhaps the biggest myth of all: that HR exists primarily to ensure employee happiness. Tracing the evolution from the old "personnel department" hostess-like function to today's strategic partner role, we reveal how progressive organizations leverage HR to align human capital with business objectives. With people costs typically representing about 60% of organizational overhead, strategic HR focuses on future skill needs, resource optimization, and preparing for tomorrow's challenges rather than simply making people happy or ensuring compliance. Another persistent myth we debunk is the belief that companies must treat every employee identically. This misunderstanding of equity versus equality leads organizations to implement one-size-fits-all policies that frustrate high performers and fail to address underperformance. We discuss how organizations can legally establish different benefits, rules, and opportunities based on performance, hierarchical level, or other non-discriminatory factors. At the heart of these misconceptions lies an important question: what's your organization's risk tolerance? Much like financial advisors assess investment risk comfort, companies must determine their appetite for employment-related risk. Zero-risk approaches often create different kinds of problems, limiting flexibility and innovation. We explore how organizations can balance compliance with strategic flexibility, making decisions based on legitimate business needs rather than fear of potential litigation. Ready to free your organization from unnecessary HR constraints? Listen now to discover how questioning these urban legends could transform your workplace culture and unlock new potential in your team. Then share your experiences with HR myths that have affected your organization—we'd love to hear which misconceptions you've encountered!

Ever found yourself so mentally drained at the end of a workday that you can't even decide what to eat for dinner? That's decision fatigue in action – a leadership challenge that silently erodes effectiveness and energy. During our candid conversation, we dive deep into why so many leaders hit this mental wall and the surprising ways they often create their own exhaustion. When leaders make decisions that should rightfully belong to their team members, they not only overburden themselves but also stunt their team's growth. We unpack how "reverse delegation" happens when staff members push decisions upward, and how leaders unwittingly encourage this by second-guessing or overriding the decisions their people do make. The solution begins with a simple but powerful exercise: tracking every decision you make for a week. This decision inventory reveals which choices could easily be delegated and which team members might be consistently avoiding decision responsibility. We share practical strategies for setting proper boundaries, truly releasing control (not just pretending to), and distinguishing between decisions that genuinely require your attention versus those that don't. Leaders often misinterpret servant leadership as making all decisions for their team when true servant leadership means developing others' decision-making muscles. By properly analyzing what's driving your decision fatigue and taking specific actions to address it, you can reclaim your mental energy while simultaneously developing a more capable, confident team. Ready to break free from the exhaustion of making everyone else's decisions? Listen now to discover how to put decisions back where they belong and focus your leadership energy where it matters most.

What happens when you're responsible for leading a change you don't fully believe in? This question sits at the heart of modern leadership challenges, where changes arrive faster than ever and often from sources beyond our control. For leaders navigating this landscape, the critical skill isn't avoiding change but transforming how we process it. The most effective approach starts with recognizing our emotional reactions—the fear, resistance, or uncertainty—and deliberately shifting to analytical thinking. By asking structured questions about benefits, concerns, and potential solutions, leaders regain a sense of agency that emotional reactions steal away. This shift doesn't just benefit the leader; it prevents the "infection" of negative reactions throughout the organization. The timing of change acceptance follows predictable patterns. What takes an executive team months to decide will take directors a similar timeframe to accept, and staff members need equivalent time to process. Leaders often forget this "multiplier effect," expecting immediate buy-in from people who haven't participated in the decision-making conversations. People respond to change by freezing, fighting, fleeing, or appeasing—all natural reactions that require patient leadership to navigate successfully. Whether change comes from internal decisions or external forces, the leader's responsibility remains the same: to process your own reactions first, help others through their emotional journey, and create space for everyone to find their place within the new reality. When you do this well, even the changes you didn't choose can become opportunities for organizational growth and cohesion rather than sources of division and resistance.

Every strength has a shadow side. That confident communication style that makes you so persuasive? It might be shutting down the very conversations you're trying to create. Those brilliant ideas constantly flowing from your mind? They could be overwhelming your team instead of inspiring them. Your nurturing approach that makes people feel safe? It might make your necessary feedback feel unexpectedly harsh. In this refreshingly honest conversation, we dive into the paradox of leadership traits by examining our own double-edged qualities. Scott reveals how his abundant idea generation requires "ruthless discernment" to prevent overwhelming others. Tammy explores how her authoritative communication style can unintentionally close discussions rather than open them. Karman shares how her supportive "mother hen" approach sometimes makes it difficult to deliver direct feedback when needed. The conversation takes a fascinating turn when we explore how people respond to titles and authority regardless of how we see ourselves. Even leaders who reject hierarchical thinking must recognize that a simple "my boss wants it this way" changes dynamics in ways we can't control. But rather than feeling trapped by these realities, we discover how self-awareness offers freedom - the ability to consciously choose which aspects of ourselves to emphasize in different situations.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn." This simple yet profound statement encapsulates a crucial mindset for effective leadership and personal growth. Our conversation dives deep into the transformative power of embracing failure as a catalyst for development rather than a source of shame. We explore how our relationship with competition shapes our leadership style. Tammy shares insights from growing up with an ultra-competitive father who viewed drive and hustle as essential traits, while also witnessing the limitations that arise when someone refuses to learn from losses. The most powerful leaders understand that competitiveness isn't about crushing others but elevating ourselves—becoming more through continuous learning. The distinction between allowing productive failure versus preventing catastrophic mistakes emerges as a critical leadership skill. Just as parents must sometimes let children experience natural consequences to learn life lessons, leaders face similar choices with their teams. When is it appropriate to let someone "clean up aisle five" versus preventing them from "falling off a roof"? These judgment calls require wisdom, empathy, and a genuine commitment to others' growth. Perhaps most compelling is the research suggesting that what truly ages us isn't our chronology but our unwillingness to keep learning. Those who declare "I'm done" or "I know enough" accelerate their own decline, while those who embrace humility and curiosity continue evolving regardless of age. We discuss how spectacular failures often create the most significant opportunities for growth—if we're willing to get up, dust ourselves off, and try again rather than avoiding challenges altogether. Ready to transform your relationship with failure? Listen now to discover how embracing both victories and lessons can help you become not just a better leader, but a more fulfilled human being. Share your own learning journey with us and join the conversation about turning setbacks into stepping stones.

What happens when you take a leap from conferences with 2,000 people to 22,700 attendees at a national event? The BecomeMore team discovered both the power of preparation and the humbling reality that what you think is mastery may only be the beginning. This honest leadership conversation takes us behind the scenes of the SHRM 2025 National Conference, where Tammy and Scott's team faced their biggest challenge yet. Through meticulous planning, clear role assignments, and deliberate preparation, the team created a system that allowed everyone to focus on what they did best. "All of that weight that I would normally carry on my shoulders, I was not involved at all, not because I didn't have work to do, but because then I could concentrate on the work I needed to do," Tammy shares, revealing how proper delegation transformed the experience. Perhaps the most powerful realization came when the team discovered they weren't as advanced as they thought. "I thought we had conferences down... I thought we were like, yes, we own conferences on a scale of one to 10. We are a 10," admits Tammy. "And then you go to this national conference and you go... we're still not done." This humbling discovery wasn't deflating but energizing – showing the vast potential for growth that still remained. The conversation also explores breakthrough successes (like finally seeing ROI on social media after years of struggle) and candid discussions about what they'd do differently next time. Whether you're scaling your business, leading a team, or simply trying to improve at your craft, this episode offers valuable perspective on how to prepare for growth, trust your team, and embrace the reality that mastery is always a moving target. Join us as we unpack these leadership lessons that apply far beyond conference halls.

What happens when our pursuit of excellence crosses the line into wasted effort? We dive into the psychology behind "wasted excellence" – that tendency to overcomplicate, overthink, and overdeliver when it doesn't actually serve anyone. We unpack the telling signs you might be trapped in this pattern: delivering products far beyond what clients request, documenting and re-documenting unnecessarily, doing your employees' work for them, or being unable to let decisions stand. This isn't about lowering standards; it's about aligning your efforts with realistic expectations. What feels like "C work" to a perfectionist might still register as exceptional to everyone else. The revelation that might sting most? Your reputation often suffers rather than improves from perfectionism. When you're consumed with making one thing flawless, you miss opportunities to add value elsewhere. Excellence should be measured not just in quality but in impact across multiple initiatives. We challenge you to consider who truly sets the standard for acceptable work – is it you, or is it your stakeholders? Breaking free starts with admitting the pattern, making incremental changes, and embracing iteration as a faster path to quality than isolated perfection. How might redefining excellence change your productivity and satisfaction?

Ever wondered why you rush to judgment, follow trends without thinking, or believe you're always right? You're not alone. In this enlightening conversation, the entire Become More team gathers to unpack the cognitive bias personas introduced in their new book "Think" and confess which bias they most identify with. Scott humorously embraces being "All-knowing Albert," while Tammy identifies as "Jumping Julia," explaining how quickly jumping to conclusions has been both her superpower and weakness. Karman and Josh connect with "Running Rodney," the bias that manifests as rushing to complete tasks without sufficient thought. The team explores how these mental shortcuts evolved for our survival but can be problematic in modern contexts. What makes this discussion particularly valuable is the vulnerability shown by each team member. Susan admits that imposter syndrome once made her "Soundbite Steve," adopting others' phrases rather than developing her own thoughts. Marcella shares how making snap judgments gives her comfort when feeling out of control. Michael discusses navigating between industry standards and original thinking as a designer. The conversation takes a turn when connecting these biases to our relationship with artificial intelligence. In an age where AI can handle routine thinking, our ability to recognize when to use mental shortcuts versus when to engage deeper analysis becomes our competitive advantage. Your brain developed these shortcuts for good reason, but knowing when they serve you and when they limit you is key to leveling up your thinking. Listen now to discover which cognitive bias persona might be running your thought patterns without you even realizing it.

Diving beneath surface-level leadership advice, our conversation explores how to truly foster environments where thinking flourishes. We unpack two pivotal tactics from our new book that transform organizational culture: the power of reading and the counterintuitive approach of "staying stupid longer." Reading isn't just about information acquisition—it's about making connections between ideas that spark innovation. When leaders read deeply and encourage teams to do the same, they create neural networks of knowledge that drive breakthrough thinking. The magic happens not just in solitary reading but in the collective discussion of ideas, where different perspectives illuminate blind spots and challenge assumptions. As we share, reading approximately fifty books yearly provides a substantial foundation for leadership thinking, but it's the active engagement—highlighting passages, making connections between concepts—that transforms passive information into actionable insight. Perhaps more surprising is our second favorite tactic: "Stay Stupid Longer" (SSL). This approach challenges leaders to resist providing immediate solutions when team members raise questions. When experienced leaders with organizational authority quickly offer answers, they inadvertently shut down thinking throughout their team. People learn to wait for direction rather than developing analytical abilities. By intentionally holding back expertise—"staying stupid longer"—leaders create space for others to develop and articulate their thinking. This builds problem-solving capacity throughout the organization rather than centralizing it with leadership. Ready to transform your leadership approach? These two tactics represent just a third of our complete framework for building cultures where thinking thrives. Discover all six tactics and practical implementation strategies in our new book—because organizations that think together succeed together.

Ever wondered why that technically brilliant hire turned out to be your biggest management headache? In our fascinating conversation Scott and Tammy reveal the critical blind spot in most hiring processes that leads organizations to repeatedly bring on problematic employees. The shocking truth? Skills and experience account for just 10-12% of what determines someone's success in your organization. Yet most companies stubbornly focus their entire hiring process on these technical qualifications while neglecting the behavioral aspects that truly determine workplace fit. This fundamental disconnect explains why organizations routinely find themselves terminating employees not for skill deficiencies but for being "jerks at work." Through a practical exercise exploring the HR Director role, Scott and Tammy demonstrate how organizations readily address skill gaps through development or termination, but frequently tolerate destructive behaviors that damage team dynamics and organizational culture. They also debunk a pervasive HR urban legend – that legally compliant interviews must use identical questions for every candidate – which prevents interviewers from truly understanding potential hires. The solution? A more dynamic, human-centered approach to interviewing that explores not just what candidates can do, but who they are, what they value, and how they'll behave in your unique environment. When you align behaviors and values with technical qualifications, retention and performance dramatically improve. Ready to transform your hiring success rate from 12% to 80%? Listen now to discover exactly how to interview for the whole human, not just their resume.

Leadership transitions demand fundamental shifts in how we create value. Moving from frontline supervisor to executive means evolving from performing tasks to developing others who can multiply your impact exponentially. Yet this critical transformation trips up countless leaders who remain stuck in comfortable patterns of doing rather than teaching. During our conversations with executives across industries, we repeatedly encounter the same challenge: leaders clinging to the technical expertise that propelled them upward instead of embracing the new capabilities their position demands. One executive recently realized his struggling management team needed permission to think, not just follow orders. His revelation came after inheriting a family business where the previous leader's mantra had been "I didn't hire you to think, I hired you to do." This leadership approach created order-takers rather than problem-solvers, limiting organizational growth and exhausting the executive who became the bottleneck for every decision. The solution involves both mindset and methodology changes. Rather than viewing delegation as abandoning responsibility, successful leaders implement calibrated transition processes. This means investing small amounts of time (often just 10-15 minutes) reviewing work, providing feedback, and gradually increasing autonomy as team members develop. The process moves people from C-level to A-level performance through deliberate practice, not massive time commitments. Organizations can accelerate this transformation by examining how their systems, approval processes, and hiring practices either foster dependency or cultivate independent thinking. Are you struggling with this leadership evolution? Consider what activities you should start, stop, or continue as you move through your leadership pipeline. Assess whether organizational policies inadvertently create bottlenecks. Most importantly, recognize that your value increasingly comes not from what you personally produce, but from what you enable others to accomplish. This shift might feel uncomfortable, even "lazy" at first, but it's the key to multiplying your impact and creating sustainable organizational growth.

Fear lies at the heart of resistance to organizational change. This revealing conversation explores how leaders can navigate the complex emotional landscape that emerges when teams face significant transitions. What makes change feel so threatening to many people? We unpack the psychology behind those fight-flight-freeze-appease responses that emerge during times of uncertainty. Rather than dismissing these reactions, effective leaders acknowledge them while maintaining forward momentum – embracing the wisdom of "yes, it's scary, and we're going to do it anyway." The discussion reveals a critical insight: creating safety during change doesn't mean eliminating discomfort. Instead, it requires validating emotional responses while preventing teams from wallowing in fear. As Tammy notes, "If you're walking through hell, keep walking" – because standing still only prolongs the pain. We challenge the perfectionism that paralyzes many organizations, revealing how our educational conditioning makes us seek singular "right answers" when multiple effective solutions often exist. By reframing change as an iterative process of trying, learning, and adjusting, leaders free their teams from the paralysis of perfectionism. The most powerful tool in a leader's arsenal? Reminding teams of their past successes. By highlighting how they've successfully navigated previous challenges, you build collective confidence for the journey ahead. While the path forward may not be perfectly clear, your shared history of overcoming obstacles creates the psychological safety needed to move forward together. Ready to transform how your organization approaches change? Listen now and discover practical strategies for creating psychological safety that drives meaningful transformation rather than resistance.

Scott and Tammy return from hiatus with exciting news—they've published a book called "Think" that addresses a pervasive modern problem: our collective habit of shallow thinking. Rather than suggesting people don't think at all, they observe that many of us operate with thinking "as deep as a parking lot puddle," functioning on autopilot and habitually hitting the easy button when faced with challenges. The conversation explores several revealing examples of this phenomenon. Tammy shares a three-year gardening saga where repeatedly purchasing "low-light" bushes ended in failure until someone finally asked about nearby pine trees, revealing that soil pH—not just light conditions—was crucial to plant survival. This perfectly illustrates how having knowledge without context leads to poor outcomes. Similarly, Scott reflects on workplace scenarios where employees rush to complete tasks without ensuring they truly understand requirements, creating inefficiencies and frustration. Technology has accelerated this tendency toward superficial thinking. With Google, Siri, and now AI tools like ChatGPT readily available, we've grown accustomed to outsourcing our thinking. While these tools provide valuable information, they offer no competitive advantage when everyone has access to the same answers. The true edge comes from what you do with that information—how you apply it within specific contexts, how you question assumptions, and how you validate understanding before taking action. The book's central message is transformative: successful organizations need "an army of thinkers," not just executives making decisions while others execute without question. When people at all levels engage in thoughtful problem-solving, considering both short and long-term implications, the organization's collective intelligence expands exponentially. Beyond organizational success, deeper thinking also fulfills our human desire to contribute meaningfully and make a difference. Ready to move beyond autopilot? Scott and Tammy's insights offer a practical roadmap for individuals and organizations ready to tap into their full thinking potential.

Ever wondered why we sometimes make snap judgments, nod along without understanding, or rush into action without thinking? It's not because we're incompetent—it's because our brains love shortcuts. Cognitive biases are the brain's methodology for simplifying decision-making. They're not inherently bad—they evolved to keep us safe and help us process information quickly. But in today's complex workplace, these mental shortcuts can lead us astray when thoughtful consideration is what's actually needed. In this enlightening conversation, we unpack several cognitive biases through memorable character personas that make these abstract concepts both accessible and actionable. Meet "Soundbite Steve," who forms opinions based on fragments of information, casting judgment without understanding the full context. There's "Get Along Gary," who nods enthusiastically while claiming to understand, but never asks clarifying questions out of fear of appearing incompetent. We explore the damaging leadership archetype of "All-Knowing Alberto," whose inability to show vulnerability creates a culture where employees stop thinking for themselves. And don't forget "Running Rodney," always eager to execute without seeking clarity on expectations. The most powerful realization? These aren't just "other people" problems—we all slip into these patterns. When leaders exhibit these biases, they actually induce corresponding biases in their staff, creating organizational cultures that diminish collective brainpower rather than expanding it. The antidote begins with awareness and asking ourselves: "Do I need to think deeply about this, or is skimming the surface appropriate right now?" Drawing from our upcoming book "Think," we offer not just recognition of these patterns but practical strategies for breaking free from unhelpful cognitive shortcuts. By understanding when to slow down and engage our logical brain instead of letting our "lizard brain" run on autopilot, we can make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and create environments where everyone's thinking potential is maximized rather than constrained.

Thinking patterns can make or break your career trajectory, and nowhere is this more evident than in how people approach new information. Our conversation today dives into the fascinating case of "Sal," a recent graduate whose dismissive attitude toward required reading reveals deeper issues with professional thinking. When Sal told their manager that important job documentation was "boring" and only deserved skimming, they unknowingly demonstrated one of the most career-limiting mindsets possible. We explore why the rejection of reading and learning isn't merely a personal preference but a subtle form of workplace defiance. Whether you prefer physical books with margin notes, e-readers for convenience, or audiobooks during commutes, the willingness to deeply engage with new information remains non-negotiable for professional success. The discussion moves beyond reading preferences to examine how early workplace behaviors reveal fundamental thinking patterns. What initially appears as simple disinterest often masks arrogance and resistance to organizational norms. We challenge the notion that completing formal education means learning is finished, highlighting how even CEOs must regularly do things they don't particularly enjoy for the greater good of their organizations. The conversation provides valuable insights for both leaders evaluating new team members and professionals seeking to advance their careers through improved thinking. Have you encountered someone who proudly proclaims "I don't read"? Or perhaps you've worked with someone who believes their prior education makes ongoing learning optional? Share your experiences with these thinking patterns and how they've impacted workplace success in your organization.