The Tim Castle Show

Hi I'm Tim Castle, Author, Coach and Entrepreneur, this is my podcast where I sit down with courageous people doing inspirational things around the world. There is so much good in the world, so many amazing stories, each with their own valuable lessons and I want to use this platform as a vehicle for change so help you find your true voice and live life to its fullest. Whether you are facing challenges right now, going through a tough time or on top of the world we can all improve by sharing our story. My mission is to help others go after their really BIG goals and become their fullest potential. It takes persistence, willingness to learn and an open mind but together we will make it happen. I live by my motto "believe it is possible". Course https://believeitispossible.thinkific.com/ Website: www.timjscastle.com Email: tim@timjscastle.com Social: @timjscastle Amazon https://amzn.to/3eoLEn4 Audible https://adbl.co/34edPmT

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The Tim Castle Show

Episode 134: Why Do Some Top Performers Make Terrible Leaders? Thomas Erikson | The Tim Castle Show

December 23, 2025

In this powerful and insightful episode of The Tim Castle Show, Tim sits down with bestselling author and behavioral expert Thomas Erikson to explore one of the most counterintuitive truths in leadership: high achievers don’t always make great leaders.

We’ve all seen it — the rock-star salesperson, the brilliant engineer, the top-performing executive who suddenly struggles once they step into a leadership role. Why does excellence in execution so often fail to translate into excellence in leadership?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why the skills that make someone a top performer can actually hinder their success as a leader
How behavioral styles — the way we communicate, make decisions, and relate to others — shape leadership impact
The subtle but critical differences between individual competence and team influence
Why self-awareness and emotional intelligence are more important than IQ or technical mastery
Practical strategies top performers can use to become confident, inspiring leaders

Thomas brings his signature framework of human behavior — grounded in psychology, real-world examples, and storytelling — to help you understand leadership through a new lens. Whether you’re a founder, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode will challenge your assumptions about performance, people, and power.

Tune in if you want to:
✔️ Flip the “top performer → leader” myth on its head
✔️ Decode the leadership gaps that derail fast-rising talent
✔️ Build teams that follow you not because of what you do — but because of who you are as a leader

Get ready to rethink performance, leadership, and what it really takes to lead at the highest level.

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Tim is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals of 2025, an award winning best selling Author of 5 books and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 100 companies and prestigious startups as playbooks to influence, persuasion, sales and negotiation.

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