#0424  –  Broken Trust: How Great Leaders Fix It with Dr. Darryl Stickel

#0424 – Broken Trust: How Great Leaders Fix It with Dr. Darryl Stickel

Author: Jon S. Rennie April 11, 2026 Duration: 40:08
Broken Trust: How Great Leaders Fix It Trust is at some of the lowest levels we’ve ever seen—and leaders are paying the price. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Darryl Stickel to unpack what trust really is, why it’s collapsing in today’s uncertain world, and how great leaders rebuild it inside their teams. We talk about the real definition of trust (it’s not what you think), why confidence without certainty destroys credibility, and how leaders can create “pockets of excellence” even in broken organizations. If you’re leading in a time of uncertainty—and let’s be honest, we all are—this conversation will give you practical tools to build trust, strengthen your team, and become a leader worth following. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why trust is the foundation of every high-performing team The hidden reason trust is breaking down in organizations today How uncertainty and vulnerability shape every leadership decision The three drivers of trust: benevolence, integrity, and ability How to build trust even if your organization is struggling Simple ways to show your team you “have their back” About Dr. Darryl Stickel: Dr. Darryl Stickel is a leading expert on trust and the author of Building Trust: Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World. He helps leaders and organizations understand how trust works—and how to build it when it matters most. Resources & Links: 🌐 Website: https://trustunlimited.com 📘 Book: Building Trust https://amzn.to/3OgMzhe 🎧 Previous episode with Darryl: (Episode 118) https://jonsrennie.com/2022/05/12/deep-leadership-episode-118-building-trust-with-darryl-stickel/ If you want to become a leader worth following, start by building trust. 👍 Like, subscribe, and share this episode to help us build a world with better bosses. Sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cadre of Men⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Farrow Skin Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Salty Sailor Coffee Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leader Connect⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Qualified Leadership Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For anyone who’s ever felt that leadership advice can be too theoretical or disconnected from reality, Deep Leadership offers a grounded alternative. Host Jon S. Rennie operates from a simple, powerful belief: “Leadership is a People Business.” This isn’t about abstract concepts; it’s about the tangible, often messy work of guiding teams and organizations. Jon brings a unique perspective shaped by his time as a Cold War Submarine Officer and over two decades leading within Corporate America before founding his own manufacturing company. In each episode, he translates that extensive experience into practical, actionable insights you can apply immediately. The conversations here delve into the core of what makes leadership work-or fail-across business, culture, and society. You’ll hear from Jon and a variety of expert guests as they explore the philosophical and practical dimensions of guiding people, discussing everything from daily management challenges to broader cultural forces that shape how we work. This podcast is built on the conviction that leadership matters profoundly, and that getting it right requires depth, reflection, and a relentless focus on the human element. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that cut through the noise and get to the heart of leading well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 424

Deep Leadership
Podcast Episodes
#0333  –  Earn, Own, and Grow with Susan Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:36
Today, I’m joined by Susan Ireland, and we're talking about how to Earn, Own, and Grow as a leader. Susan is a leadership powerhouse with over 30 years at Boeing and contributions to entrepreneurial ventures like HyTech…
#0332  –  How to Avoid Leader Burnout with Ryan Renteria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:54
Today, I’m joined by Ryan Renteria, and we're talking about How to Avoid Leader Burnout. Ryan is a CEO coach at Stretch Five. He is a diverse board director and speaker who helps leaders optimize professional and persona…
#0331  –  Lead with Integrity with Jeffrey Klubeck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:40
Today, I’m joined by Jeffrey Klubeck, and we're talking about how to Lead with Integrity. Jeffrey is an Unretired Professor of Communication and author of The Integrity Game®, which is evolving into a comprehensive soft…
#0330  –  Breakthrough Leadership with Brian Biro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:27
Today, I’m joined by Brian Biro, and we're talking about Breakthrough Leadership. Brian is America’s Breakthrough Speaker! He has delivered nearly 1,900 presentations around the world over the last 34 years. He is the au…
#0329  –  Finding Leadership Balance with Paul Thornton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:30
Today, I’m joined by a returning guest to the show, Paul Thornton, and we're talking about Finding Leadership Balance. For the past 40 years, Paul has been a student and teacher of leadership concepts. He has been a coll…
#0328  –  Big Bet Leadership with John Rossman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:09
Today, I’m joined by John Rossman, and we're talking about Big Bet Leadership. John is the founder of Rossman Partners, a strategy & leadership solutions firm. He is the author of four books on leadership and business in…
#0327  –  Deploying AI with Garik Tate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:30
Today, I’m joined by Garik Tate, and we're talking about Deploying AI. Garik is an AI Futurist, Investor, and Strategy Consultant. His expertise lies at the intersection of AI, IQ, and EQ. He helps businesses increase th…
#0326  –  Building a Remarkable Culture with Dr. Randy Ross [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:47
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Randy Ross, and we're talking about Building a Remarkable Culture. Randy is a compelling communicator, craftsman of culture, and bestselling author of multiple books, including “Remarkable!,” “Ro…
#0325  –  How to Prevent Bad Bosses with Sean Lemson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
Today, I’m joined by Sean Lemson, and we're talking about How to Prevent Bad Bosses. Sean is a leadership expert and an executive and team performance coach. He is the founder of Motivated Outcomes, an organization devot…
#0324  –  Middle Management Leadership with Patrick McGuire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:32
Today, I’m joined by Patrick McGuire, and we're talking about Middle Management Leadership. Patrick is an IT Director, Life Coach, Martial Artist, and Yoga Instructor. In his leadership roles, he has successfully navigat…