Ep. 103: Candles, QWERTY Keyboards, and Lessons in Leader Selection

Why are we still promoting the wrong people into leadership roles? In this episode, Ryan introduces his latest concept: QWERTY Management—a powerful metaphor for how outdated systems keep ineffective managers in place. Just like the QWERTY keyboard was designed to slow us down, QWERTY-style management slows down engagement, innovation, and team performance.

We unpack why top performers get promoted even if they can’t lead, why ineffective managers linger in roles they’ve outgrown, and how incumbency and path dependency keep companies stuck in a leadership rut. You’ll hear real-world stories, a breakdown of what better leadership could look like, and a call to action for choosing managers on purpose—not by default.

Whether you're an executive, HR leader, or someone tired of watching bad managers thrive while great people leave, this episode will give you a whole new lens on leadership.

Keywords:
QWERTY Management, bad managers, outdated leadership, path dependency, incumbency bias, leadership pipeline, promoting top performers, employee engagement, manager development, workplace culture, Love Monday