Episode Details
Back to EpisodesHow Honest Leaders Build Trust That Lasts
Description
How Honest Leaders Build Trust That Lasts
The most dangerous leadership moments rarely announce themselves. They show up in quiet rooms, with incomplete facts, time pressure, and someone offering an easy shortcut. In this episode, we explore telling the truth as a daily leadership discipline and why trust erodes quickly when words, actions, and values fall out of alignment.
Drawing from What You’re Made For by George Raveling and Ryan Holiday, we focus on the chapter “To Tell the Truth.” Buzz shares a leadership story from 9/11 during the Looking Glass mission, where a simple inventory error created a defining moment: document the truth or cover it up.
You’ll walk away with a simple framework: think about it ahead of time, talk about it often, and act on it when it counts.
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Key Topics
- Truth telling in leadership
- Building trust through honesty
- George Raveling insights
- 9/11 Looking Glass leadership story
- Over-talking vs. withholding
Coaching Questions
- Where am I holding back the truth?
- How do I respond to hard truth?
- What does alignment look like for me?
The Leadership Buzz is hosted by Lloyd “Buzz” Buzzell, an ICF-ACC executive coach, DISC practitioner, and retired U.S. Air Force officer with 37 years of leadership experience. Each episode focuses on one book, one idea, and one practical leadership concept to help you align your behavior with your values and lead with greater clarity, trust, and impact.
If you’re a leader who wants to build stronger teams, improve communication, and create real ownership, subscribe and share this episode with someone on your team.
Connect with Buzz on LinkedIn or visit workhardtellthetruth.com for coaching and leadership development resources.
Work hard. Tell the truth.