Why is it so much easier to know what to do than to actually do it?
Meet Sebastian. The team call ends and he’s staring at his reflection through a blank screen, frustrated because he did it again. A developer brought him a problem and rather than coach or delegate, Sebastian took it on himself. This week, he promised he’d stop being the bottleneck. But when the pressure hit, he fell back into the same pattern. He reads leadership books, listens to podcasts, and genuinely wants to grow, yet he keeps asking himself the same question: Why does knowing better never seem to turn into doing better?
Today, Jay sits down with Scott J. Allen, PhD, leadership educator, researcher, speaker, and host of the Practical Wisdom for Leaders podcast. Scott shares insights on self-awareness, behavior change, leadership development, and how to close the gap between what we know and how we actually show up.
Notable Quotes
“Leaders don’t have to have the answers. Sometimes they need to elevate the right questions.” — Scott J. Allen
“Self-awareness is ground zero.” — Scott J. Allen
“What people are raising their hands for out there in the world is incredibly difficult to do well.” — Scott J. Allen
About Our Guest
Scott J. Allen, PhD, is a leadership educator, researcher, speaker, and host of the Practical Wisdom for Leaders podcast. For more than two decades, he has studied leadership development, helping leaders strengthen self-awareness, navigate complexity, and build the habits that lead to long-term success.
Resources & Links
Scott J. Allen
Website – https://www.scottjallen.net/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-j-allen/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@PracticalWisdomForLeaders
Jay Abbasi
Website: https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
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Join Us Next Time
On Friday, Jay explores the difference between self-criticism, self-observation, and flow states. Drawing from a recent conversation with his book editor, he explains why self-observation is a critical skill for growth, how it differs from harsh self-judgment, and why flow states are essential for peak performance. If you want to improve your ability to take action, perform at a higher level, and create meaningful results, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.