Why High Performers Often Fail as Leaders (And What to Do About It)

Are your top individual contributors struggling in leadership roles? According to David Kitchen, founder of Edge Leadership Academy, there's a crucial reason: leadership requires a completely different skillset than individual excellence.

On this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, David Kitchen shares insights from his journey from Division I basketball coach to leadership development expert. In conversation with host Damon Lembi, David explains why high performers often struggle when promoted to leadership positions, outlines his framework for developing leadership skills, and reveals the four hard truths every aspiring leader needs to face.

This Episode Covers:

• Why promoting top performers to leadership roles often backfires and how to avoid this common mistake
• The four hard truths of leadership, including why it's lonely at the top and why leaders must chase love instead of likes
• The five C's of leadership: Character, Consistency, Commitment, Creativity, and Communication
• A practical three-step framework for learning agility: What, So What, Now What
• How to conduct regular leadership self-audits using specific questions that reveal blind spots
• Why the gap between stated culture and experienced culture drives away top talent

Episode Highlight:

00:01 – The Leadership Wake-Up Call – How a conversation with an athlete sparked David’s mission to build better leaders.

06:25 – The Four Hard Truths of Leadership – Why leadership is lonely, 24/7, uncertain, and never about you.

12:18 – Why High Performers Struggle as Leaders – How technical excellence doesn’t always translate into leadership success.

19:45 – The Five C’s of Leadership – The five qualities that separate great leaders from the rest.

28:30 – Self-Awareness & Leadership Audits – How to audit your own leadership skills and create a culture of honest feedback.

33:50 – The Importance of Learning Agility – Why leaders must adapt, evolve, and never stop learning.

46:06 – Why Retention is the #1 Business Challenge Today – How leaders can improve engagement, culture, and reduce turnover.

About David:

David Kitchen is the founder and CEO of Edge Leadership Academy, where he leverages his unique background in Division 1 athletics and psychology to transform organizational leadership. Notable for becoming the youngest NCAA head coach at age 24, Kitchen transitioned from collegiate basketball coaching to pioneering innovative leadership development programs.

He holds a Master's in Sport Psychology and is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology. Kitchen is a three-time author, including the best-selling "The Pyramid: A System for Building Tomorrow's Leaders Today," and hosts a globally top-ranked podcast. His methodology focuses on practical execution and measurable results, serving both athletic and corporate clients. Kitchen's approach was shaped by identifying a critical gap between leadership expectations and actual leadership training in high-performance environments.

Resources Referenced:

Edge Leadership Academy

Built Not Born Podcast