What happens to us when we gain power—and how does that power change what we see, hear, and understand about the people we lead?

In this episode of the Business Impact Lab Podcast, Angela Jackson and LynnAnn Erickson sit down with psychologist, leadership expert, and author Nik Kinley to explore the hidden psychology of leadership and the ideas behind his latest book, The Power Trap.

Nik challenges some familiar assumptions about leadership development, including just how much of ourselves we can actually change. He explains why stress and pressure cause leaders to fall back on deeply ingrained patterns, how power can distance leaders from the people and information they need most, and why even well-intentioned employees may filter what reaches the top.

The conversation also takes an unexpected turn into AI—and why Nik believes AI may amplify some of the very same information problems created by power.

From psychological safety and overconfidence to narcissism, information flow, and the small leadership decisions that quietly accumulate over time, Nik offers a provocative way of thinking about what makes leadership effective—and what leaders can do to avoid falling into the power trap.

Nic Kinley Bio:

Nik has spent more than 35 years working with leaders and organizations. He previously served as Global Head of Leadership Development and Employee Engagement at Barclays and Global Head of Assessment and Coaching at BP, and he has assessed more than 1,200 senior executives for C-suite positions.

His latest book, The Power Trap, examines a fascinating leadership paradox: as leaders gain authority, the information they most need can become harder to access. Employees may filter what they say, bad news can travel more slowly, and at the same time leaders themselves can become more susceptible to overconfidence.

https://nikkinley.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkinley/