Most executives don’t fail because of politics or bad luck. They fail because of the lies they’ve been telling themselves for years—lies that feel smart, safe, even “realistic.” But they’re killing careers. Here are the five biggest ones and how to tear them out before they destroy yours.

People pleasing is leadership rot. It kills authority, drowns confidence, and convinces smart executives they’re being “collaborative” when they’re actually being controlled. Here are the five traps to spot and destroy before they destroy you.