#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
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Today I’m joined by Grant Morgan. While most of us were busy hoarding toilet paper at the beginning of the pandemic, Grant was working on a plan to change the world. As CEO and co-founder of R-Zero, he set his sights on…
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#0121 – Leadership in the Wild with Kim Troy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:03
Today my guest is Kim Troy. Kim is the Founder & CEO of Civilis Consulting which advises leaders in fast-growth businesses. A lot of what she learned about teams and leadership was through her work with wildlife conserva…
#0120 – Leading with Stories with Paul Glover [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:55
Today I’m joined by Paul Glover. Paul is an Executive Performance Coach, Speaker, and Author. He spent 20 years as a Federal Court Trial Lawyer before making the transition to helping leaders. He is a passionate storytel…
#0119 – Growing an International Business with Cesar Hasselmann [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:26
Today I’m joined by Cesar Hasselmann. Cesar is CEO of AMH Consultancy. He is an author, mentor, coach, and business consultant. He has spent more than 20 years growing international businesses and I was excited to sit do…
#0118 – Building Trust with Darryl Stickel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:54
Today I’m joined by Darryl Stickel. Darryl has devoted his career to understanding trust, what it is, how it functions, and how to increase it. He holds a Ph.D. in Business from Duke University and wrote his doctoral the…
#0117 – Finding Clarity & Getting Results with Michael King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:57
Today I’m joined by Michael King. Michael is the founder and CEO of TEAMS.COACH and is a highly sought-after Executive and Business Leadership Coach. He helps business leaders clarify and execute at high levels through h…
#0116 – Low-Ego, High-Drive Leadership with Dr. Amer Kaissi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:52
Today I’m joined by Dr. Amer Kaissi. Amer is an award-winning Professor of Healthcare Administration at Trinity University. He is also an author, a professional speaker, and a certified executive coach. In his most recen…
#0115 – Performance Acceleration with Wylie McGraw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:32
Today I’m joined by Wylie McGraw. Wylie is a former star baseball pitcher, competitive bull rider, and 3-tour combat veteran. He’s the founder of Radical Performance Acceleration. For more than a decade, Wylie has been w…
#0114 – The Supporting Spouse with Samantha Brown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:54
Today I’m joined by Samantha Brown. Sam is an author, educator, editor, and military spouse – specifically a submarine spouse. She is the author of a brand-new book called Sub Wife: A Memoir From The Homefront. I wanted…