#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
#0063 – Embracing Life Lessons with Marney Andes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:30
Today my guest is Marney Andes. Marney is an author, consultant, educator, and entrepreneur. She was a college basketball player and former Mrs. America. She credits her success from the lessons she learned from her fath…
#0061 – Getting to the C-Suite with Jawad Ahsan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:57
Today I’m joined by Jawad Ahsan. Jawad is the CFO of Axon, the global leader of connected public safety technologies like tasers and body cameras. He is the author of a new book called What They Didn’t Tell Me where he d…
#0060 - All in the Same Boat Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:15
This is the week my new book comes out. It’s called All in the Same Boat - Lead Your Organization Like a Nuclear Submariner and pre-orders open on March 15th. It will only be available on my website jonsrennie.com or all…
#0058 – The Smartest Person in the Room with Christian Espinosa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:57
Today I’m joined by Christian Espinosa. Christian is Founder and CEO of Alpine Security. He is an Air Force veteran turned entrepreneur, bestselling author, and high-performance coach. His latest book, The Smartest Perso…
#0057 – Unlocking your Creative Mind with Peter Himmelman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:39
Today I’m joined by Peter Himmelman. Peter is the founder & CEO of Big Muse, an organization that helps companies translate their vision into reality by allowing them to create more fearlessly. He is a Grammy & Emmy nomi…
#0056 – Using Hardships to Propel You Forward with Marie Cosgrove [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:52
Today I’m joined by Marie Cosgrove. Twelve years ago, she was a single mother of four children when she was fired from her company because she “made too much” in commissions. Instead of becoming bitter, vengeful, or angr…
#0054 – Building a Fraternity of Excellence with Zachary Small [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:09
Today I’m talking with Zachary Small. He is a Navy veteran turned entrepreneur and like my last guest, Jason Helmes, he has built a powerful online community. But, he has also built a tribe that gets together in real lif…