Leadership Isn’t Algebra: Skill, Evidence & Why Formulas Fail with Ernest O’Boyle

Tired of leadership formulas and quick fixes that fall flat in the real world? In this episode of Momentum: The Kelley School Management & Entrepreneurship Podcast, host Torlando Hakes sits down with Professor Ernest O'Boyle, Dale Coleman Chair of Management at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

They dive deep into the complexities of effective leadership and management, exploring why popular advice often fails. Discover the critical difference between leadership knowledge and practiced leadership skill, and why many teams might be “over-led but under-managed.”

Professor O'Boyle sheds light on the “dark side” of leadership, discussing traits like narcissism and Machiavellianism, and how understanding these aspects is crucial. Learn about the power of evidence-based management for diagnosing employee performance issues (moving beyond labels like “need machine”) and strategies for navigating workplace conflict effectively.

Explore the impact of System 1 (instinctive) vs. System 2 (deliberate) thinking in high-pressure leadership moments and why true leadership development involves adaptability and continuous learning, not just mimicry. Professor O'Boyle explains why leadership is less about guaranteed success and more about improving your odds – aiming for the “52/48 edge.”

This conversation is essential listening for current and aspiring leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to improve their management effectiveness and decision-making skills based on research and real-world application from the Kelley School of Business.

Keywords: Leadership, Management, Entrepreneurship, Ernest O'Boyle, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Leadership Skills, Leadership Knowledge, Evidence-Based Leadership, Evidence-Based Management, Dark Side of Leadership, Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Managing Employees, Employee Performance, Conflict Resolution, System 1 Thinking, System 2 Thinking, Decision Making, Leadership Development, Over-Led Under-Managed, Torlando Hakes, Momentum Podcast.