Leading Yourself First: How Self-Leadership Shapes Stronger Teams with Dr. Kevin Mays

Leadership doesn’t fail because of a lack of strategy — it fails when leaders lose clarity, ownership, and focus.

In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Dr. Kevin Mays, a transformative leadership coach, speaker, and author whose work centres on one core belief: true leadership begins with self-leadership.

Dr. Mays shares what he sees behind the scenes when business owners and leaders feel stuck, overwhelmed, or stretched too thin — and why the real problems are often internal before they’re organisational. Drawing from his 5-Step Business Ascent process and personal leadership journey, Dr. Mays breaks down what effective leadership actually looks like in day-to-day life, not just in theory.

This conversation challenges leaders to stop managing symptoms and start leading with intention — building clarity, accountability, and healthier team cultures from the inside out.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

The most common leadership problem holding organizations back today
Why feeling “overwhelmed” is often a symptom — not the root cause
Which step of the 5-Step Business Ascent process leaders struggle with most
What self-leadership looks like in real, everyday decisions
A pivotal lesson from Dr. Mays’ own leadership journey
How leaders can regain focus when pulled in too many directions
A common mistake leaders make when trying to grow their business or team
What separates coachable leaders from those who stay stuck
One small change that can have an immediate impact on your leadership
Where leaders often go wrong when building team culture — and how to fix it
Key Takeaway

Leadership isn’t about doing more — it’s about leading better.
When leaders take responsibility for their own clarity, behavior, and growth, teams and organizations follow.

About the Guest: Dr. Kevin Mays

Dr. Kevin Mays is a leadership coach, speaker, and author dedicated to helping leaders and organisations move beyond survival and into sustainable growth. Through his coaching and frameworks, including the 5-Step Business Ascent process, Dr. Mays helps leaders strengthen self-leadership, build clarity, and create environments where people and businesses can thrive.

About the Podcast

The Change Agent is a podcast for leaders who refuse to stay comfortable.
Each episode challenges how leadership is practiced — focusing on accountability, motivation, professional growth, and leading when it actually matters.



Links

https://www.upgradeyourleadership.com

https://www.maysleadership.com

https://www.kalyna-vision.com

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