Beyond the Best: Why Chasing Greatness Might Be Limiting Your Leadership
(Leadership Explored – Episode 6 Recap + Reflection)
It’s one of the most common traps in leadership—and one of the hardest to see in ourselves:
The belief that we need to be like the best in order to succeed.
In Episode 6 of Leadership Explored, we tackle the comparison trap head-on. From copying Google’s deployment practices to idolizing individual rockstars, we explore why chasing “the best” often leads leaders away from what actually works.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here
What We Talked About:
In this episode, we explored how comparison shows up in the workplace—and why it can quietly undermine leadership, culture, and innovation. Topics include:
Why leaders feel pressure to mimic companies like Amazon, Google, or Apple
How “best practices” can backfire without the right context
The myth of hiring “top talent” over building great teams
How to shift from imitation to intentional improvement
What to do instead: leading from clarity, not comparison
“Only one company can be the best in the world—so if you're constantly comparing yourself to them, you're already limiting yourself.”
—Ed Schaefer
Key Takeaways:
✅ Context is everything. Just because something worked for a tech giant doesn’t mean it will work for you.
✅ Top talent isn’t one-size-fits-all. Hiring for prestige over fit is a costly mistake.
✅ Great leadership starts with knowing your own goals, values, and constraints.
✅ Teams—not individuals—create sustainable success.
✅ The goal isn’t to copy success. The goal is to create it—your way.
A Personal Reflection:
We’ve both seen how easily comparison sneaks into leadership—especially during moments of uncertainty or growth. It’s seductive to believe that someone else’s strategy, someone else’s success, is the path forward.
But more often than not, the leaders who thrive are the ones who ask better questions:
What are our unique challenges?
What does success mean for our team, not just our competitors?
How can we build something that works—for us?
When we stop comparing and start listening—to our people, our mission, and our context—we unlock a different kind of leadership. One rooted in purpose, not pressure.
Your Turn:
Where have you seen the comparison trap show up in your career or company?
Have you ever let “best practices” distract you from what actually matters?
We’d love to hear from you—leave a comment or reply with your story.
🎧 Listen to Episode 6 now:
Beyond the Best – Why Comparison Can Hold You Back