Episode 9 : What Leaders Don’t See – Olivier Courtois

Do you ever stop and ask yourself: Am I exhausting my team without realising it? Are my decisions shaped more by habit than clarity? Author and ‘executive sparring partner’ Olivier Courtois thinks you need to do so.

As an executive coach and consultant Olivier has spent more than 35 years observing and helping leaders on all five continents explore why leadership challenges often aren’t just “out there” in the organisation but in here – within the way we think, respond and carry ourselves.

His work has led him to realise that leaders who aren’t aware of themselves can unwittingly undermine the very people and goals they are responsible for. So he works across industries, helping leaders and teams find their blind spots, unpack their assumptions, and recognise the habits that quietly derail performance.
In this conversation, Olivier draws on his work and his book, The Seven Dysfunctions of Leaders, which explores the patterns of behaviour — what he calls the “seven dysfunctions of leaders” — that emerge under pressure, in transitions, or when influence narrows. He shares how constant self-awareness, reflection, and practical daily habits are essential to help leaders make better decisions, inspire teams, and sustain performance.

Olivier’s approach is grounded, practical, and human. He guides you to ask the hard questions: what behaviours am I modelling? Where might my own assumptions limit performance? How can greater self-awareness reduce the risk of derailment and energise teams instead of draining them?

These questions are not always comfortable, but they are essential. Leadership, Olivier argues, requires the willingness to step back and examine the personal drivers behind our behaviour — especially the ones we rarely question.