The Leadership Trap: Why 60% of New Leaders Fail in 18 Months(And How to Avoid It)

Most people think a promotion is a reward. It's not. It's a test, and most leaders fail it. I know because I almost did. In a moment of "leadership" I'm not proud of, I told a colleague to do their damn job and hung up the phone. In this episode, I'm joined by my friend and "people and culture" rock star, Maggie Snow, to name the tension nobody wants to say out loud: Confidence vs. Competence, and why 60% of leaders don't survive their first 18 months. ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Highlights [02:12] – The "Gap" Reality: Why the average leader doesn't receive their first real training until age 42, and the damage done in the meantime. [03:16] – Poor Judgment: The humbling reality of having a business degree but Googling "What does a manager do?" on day one. [05:22] – The Montgomery Disaster: How I managed to put Pepsi on a Coca-Cola scoreboard, and the "gangster whisper" from my VP that changed my career trajectory. [12:48] – Standing Up to the CEO: Maggie shares the story of a 90-minute argument that nearly cost her her job, but saved the company's culture. [17:56] – The "Last Company" Trap: Why "this is how we did it at my old job" is often a fast track to leadership failure. [20:49] – The Monday Morning Gap: How to stop leaving your faith at the door on Sunday and start bringing "heavenly wisdom" into your team's toughest moments. [24:10] – The Faith Anchor: Lessons from King David on why the wilderness, not the crown, is what actually makes a leader. ⸻ Links & Resources Mentioned • The Discipled Leader Apprenticeship — prestonpoore.com ______ Connect With Me LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/prestonpoore/ Facebook: facebook.com/PoorePreston Instagram: instagram.com/prestonpoore1/ ⸻ Closing Thoughts If this episode hit a little too close to home, that's exactly the point: share it with one other leader who needs to know they're not alone. And if you're enjoying the show, take a second to leave a review; it helps more people find us and means more than you know. Peace out. Be a rock star.