Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast REVERB 29: The Hidden Anxiety Shaping Your Leadership
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Jan 12, 2026 Anxiety often stems from false needs rather than real danger, shaping how leaders make decisions. Discussions highlight perfectionism and the struggle for approval, revealing how these triggers cause leaders to either dominate or withdraw. Practical advice includes lowering emotional tension and embracing uncertainty. The focus shifts from perfection to progress, encouraging leaders to identify their triggers and communicate clearly under pressure. These insights offer powerful tools for leading with confidence even in challenging times.
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False Needs Drive Leadership Anxiety
- False needs (control, perfectionism, having the answer, being needed, approval) trigger fight-or-flight reactions in leaders.
- These anxieties are often unrelated to real danger and distort decision-making and team dynamics.
Perfectionism Revealed As Personal Trigger
- Andy Stanley admits perfectionism is his false need and it creates anxiety over event execution that most people never notice.
- He explains that his anxiety transfers to others and amplifies within larger teams.
Approval-Seeking From Critics
- Susie Gray describes an unhealthy need for approval from critics and imagined conversations where she tries to win them over.
- She recognizes this pattern wastes time and creates needless anxiety.
