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Leadership Trap
Why Smart Leaders Fall Into 3 Death Spirals and How to Break Free
Cambridge Leadership Expert Aravind Sakthivel Releases Groundbreaking Book
The Leadership Trap: Why Smart Leaders Fall Into 3 Death Spirals and How to Break Free
New Book Reveals Hidden Patterns That Cause Experienced Leaders to Self-Destruct—and Provides Proven Frameworks for Breaking Free
Research shows that nearly two-thirds of Fortune 500 CEO failures stem from predictable internal behaviors. This book exposes those traps.
Cambridge, United Kingdom – January 2026
Author, technologist, and Chief AI Officer Aravind Sakthivel will release his new book in January 2026 via Amazon.
Drawing on research showing that nearly two-thirds of Fortune 500 CEO failures stem from predictable internal behaviors, the book exposes hidden traps.
These traps turn intelligence into self-sabotage. They create death spirals that experienced leaders fail to recognize.
The book provides field-tested frameworks to break free before irreversible damage occurs.
Understanding the 3 Death Spirals
Aravind's signature framework reveals how smart leaders unknowingly fall into recurring patterns. These patterns organize into three destructive spirals.
Each spiral reinforces itself, pulling leaders deeper into dysfunction. Recognition is the first step toward escape.
The Blindness Spiral
Traps of silence and illusion that hide reality from view
The Sacrifice Spiral
Traps of culture and exhaustion that glorify pain over merit
The Illusion Spiral
Traps of transformation theatre that confuse optics with progress
The Blindness Spiral
When Silence Becomes Complicity
Traps of silence and illusion hide reality from leaders. Teams stop speaking truth to power.
  • Echo chamber effect amplifies comfortable narratives
  • Cost-cutting theatre creates illusion of progress
  • Leadership absence during crisis signals abandonment
  • Dissent gets suppressed instead of explored
Organizations drift into dysfunction while leaders remain confident. By the time reality breaks through, damage is irreversible.
The Sacrifice Spiral
When Pain Becomes the Badge
Fortress Cultures
Protecting non-performers becomes the norm. Loyalty trumps competence. Underperformance gets rationalized instead of addressed.
Burnout as Honor
Exhaustion becomes a badge of commitment. Working long hours signals dedication. Rest is seen as weakness, not wisdom.
Toxic Loyalty
Personal relationships override performance standards. Leaders defend failing team members to protect relationships. Merit takes a back seat.
These traps glorify suffering and loyalty over results. High performers leave. Mediocrity becomes acceptable. Culture erodes from within.
The Illusion Spiral
When Theatre Replaces Transformation
Revolving-Door Leadership
Frequent leadership changes create constant disruption. No strategy gets time to work. Teams experience whiplash.
Cosmetic Culture Campaigns
Surface-level initiatives replace real change. Posters and slogans substitute for behavior shifts. Nothing actually transforms.
Wrong Hires Defended
Ego prevents admitting hiring mistakes. Leaders double down on bad decisions. Teams suffer the consequences.
"Research shows that leadership failure rarely arrives as a single catastrophe. It builds quietly, through patterns of thought and action that feel rational in the moment. This book exposes those traps and provides field-tested frameworks for escape." — Aravind Sakthivel
What Readers Will Learn
The Leadership Trap is structured as both a diagnostic tool and a survival manual. It provides actionable frameworks grounded in research.
01
Identify Active Traps
Recognize patterns before they cause damage
02
Diagnose Organizational Health
Use proven assessment tools to measure risk
03
Apply Proven Frameworks
Implement field-tested strategies for escape
04
Prevent Future Failures
Build systems that resist trap patterns
The Leadership Trap Patterns
Real-World Evidence from Fortune 500 Failures
Boeing's 737 MAX Crisis
Engineering concerns silenced. Safety culture eroded. Tragic consequences followed.
Wells Fargo Fake Accounts
Pressure culture created fraud. Leaders ignored warning signs. Trust collapsed.
Nokia's Post-iPhone Collapse
Market signals dismissed. Competitors underestimated. Dominance evaporated.
GE's Failed Programs
Transformation theatre replaced substance. Cosmetic changes failed. Legacy eroded.
Each case study reveals how intelligent leaders fell into predictable traps. The book provides detailed examination of failure patterns with early warning signs.
Practical Diagnostic Tools
Assess Your Organization's Health
The book includes powerful self-assessment instruments. These tools help leaders identify active traps before damage occurs.
12-Question Leadership Trap Diagnostic
Comprehensive organizational health assessment
End-of-Chapter Leadership Checklists
Quick identification of specific trap patterns
Scoring System with Action Thresholds
Clear guidance from "Healthy" to "Crisis Zone"
0-3
Healthy Zone
Strong organizational foundation
4-7
Warning Zone
Intervention recommended
8-12
Crisis Zone
Urgent action required
Who Should Read This Book?
The Leadership Trap is essential reading for leaders at every level. It provides frameworks to avoid predictable executive failure patterns.
C-Suite Executives
Board directors navigating organizational complexity and high-stakes decisions
Senior Managers
Leaders experiencing team performance issues or cultural erosion
HR Professionals
Executive coaches working with struggling leaders and derailed careers
Business Owners
Founders building sustainable, high-trust cultures from the ground up
Aspiring Leaders
Anyone seeking to avoid predictable patterns that derail executive careers
Launch Date: January 14, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a leadership trap?
Leadership traps are invisible behavioral and cognitive patterns that even experienced, intelligent leaders fall into without realizing it.
The book identifies specific traps organized into three "death spirals." These are self-reinforcing patterns that gradually erode judgment, trust, and effectiveness.
Damage occurs before leaders recognize the problem.
What are the 3 death spirals?
The three death spirals are: (1) The Blindness Spiral—traps of silence and illusion that hide reality.
(2) The Sacrifice Spiral—traps of culture and exhaustion that glorify pain over merit.
(3) The Illusion Spiral—traps of transformation theatre and churn that confuse optics with progress.
Why do smart leaders fall into these traps?
Leadership traps exploit universal human tendencies around ego, pressure, and decision-making.
Success makes leaders more vulnerable. Confidence becomes overconfidence. Proven strategies stop working when environments change.
Each trap feels rational in the moment but builds quietly into systemic failure.
Where can I buy it?
Pre-order is available now on Amazon. The book launches January 14, 2026.
For review copies, interviews, or speaking engagements, connect with Aravind Sakthivel on LinkedIn.
Connect with the Author
For review copies, interviews, or speaking engagements, connect with Aravind Sakthivel on LinkedIn.
Pre-order is available now on Amazon. Launch date: January 14, 2026.
Media Inquiries
Available for interviews, podcasts, and speaking engagements on leadership and organizational behavior
Review Copies
Advanced review copies available for media, thought leaders, and executive coaches
Speaking Engagements
Keynotes on leadership traps, executive derailment, and organizational transformation
About the Author
Aravind Sakthivel
Author, Technologist, Chief AI Officer
Aravind Sakthivel writes about the intersection of AI and leadership. With 22+ years of technology leadership experience, he has served as CIO at major companies.
He operates as a Fractional CIO and Chief AI Officer through London AI Studio and Value Astra Ltd. Based in Cambridge, UK.
His research focuses on why intelligent, experienced leaders fall into leadership traps. He applies behavioral science to prevent executive derailment.
Education & Leadership
MBA from Nyenrode Business Universiteit. Executive education at Harvard Business School.
His signature framework, "The Leadership Traps and the 3 Death Spirals," reveals self-reinforcing patterns that pull leaders off course.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Actively involved in coaching refugees in Europe. Mentoring through Women in Tech initiatives.
Committed to developing next-generation leaders and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in technology.
Get in Touch
Questions or media inquiries? Reach out anytime. We'd love to hear from you.
Contact Information
WhatsApp: +44 7557 315287
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About.me - Complete profile
Official Website - Portfolio and services

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The Leadership Trap launches January 14, 2026. Secure your copy today on Amazon.
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