#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
#0273 – Mastering Positive Influence with Dr. Brian Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:14
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Brian Smith, and we're talking about Mastering Positive Influence. Brian is the founder and senior managing partner of IA Business Advisors, a management consulting firm that has worked with more…
#0272 – The Power of Self-Leadership with Bobby Harrington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:01
Today, I’m joined by Bobby Harrington, and we're talking about The Power of Self-Leadership. Bobby is the founder of the Rubicon Course of Action (COA), which specializes in performance coaching programs and immersive le…
#0271  – Becoming Unflappable with Josselyne Herman-Saccio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:10
Today, I’m joined by Josselyne Herman-Saccio, and we're talking about Becoming Unflappable. Josselyne is a master coach in the Art Of Being Unmessable-with no matter what life throws at you. She has spent over 30 years a…
#0270 – How to Overcome Obstacles with Bob Pearce [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:44
Today, I’m joined by Bob Pearce, and we're talking about How to Overcome Obstacles. Bob joined the British Army as a 16-year-old apprentice, was commissioned before his 20th birthday, and left 37 years later as a Colonel…
#0269 – How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome with Michele Molitor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:08
Today, I’m joined by Michele Molitor, and we're talking about How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome. Michele is a speaker, author, executive coach, and hypnotherapist. She is the founder and CEO of Nectar Consulting and co-a…
#0267 – Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso with John Brubaker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:43
Today, I’m joined by a long-time friend of the show, John Brubaker, aka Coach Bru, and we're talking about the Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso. Coach Bru is a former college lacrosse coach, keynote speaker, award-winni…
#0266 – How to Be a Results-Driven Leader with Vaughn Sigmon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:36
Today, I’m joined by Vaughn Sigmon, and we're talking about How to Be a Results-Driven Leader. Vaughn is the co-founder of Results-Driven Leadership. He is a leadership development expert, podcaster, and author. He has w…
#0265 – The Leadership of Admiral Rickover with Dr. Claude Berube [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:31
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Claude Berube, and we're discussing the Leadership of Admiral Rickover. Claude wrote his doctoral dissertation on the Navy during Andrew Jackson’s presidency, which became the book On Wide Seas.…
#0264  –  How to Tame Toxicity at Work with Kimberly Benoit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:57
Today, I’m joined by Kimberly Benoit, and we're talking about How to Tame Toxicity at Work. Kimberly is a leadership & workplace toxicity expert who coaches, consults, and speaks for organizations needing fresh strategie…