Liked vs. Trusted: The Leadership Distinction That Changes Everything with Jeff Conroy
No More Leadership BS
Liked vs. Trusted: The Leadership Distinction That Changes Everything with Jeff Conroy
February 11, 2026
Trust Issues: The Leadership Problem You're Probably Pretending You Don't Have Somebody once said trust is the glue of life. Which begs the question — is your leadership sticky, or are things falling apart faster than a bargain-bin bumper sticker in a carwash? This week, the crew pulls no punches on the topic that makes or breaks every team, every culture, and every career: relationships and the trust (or lack thereof) holding them together. Spoiler alert: if you think you can lead without building real relationships, this episode is about to ruin your day. In the best possible way.

Trust Issues: The Leadership Problem You're Probably Pretending You Don't Have

Somebody once said trust is the glue of life. Which begs the question — is your leadership sticky, or are things falling apart faster than a bargain-bin bumper sticker in a carwash? This week, the crew pulls no punches on the topic that makes or breaks every team, every culture, and every career: relationships and the trust (or lack thereof) holding them together.

Spoiler alert: if you think you can lead without building real relationships, this episode is about to ruin your day. In the best possible way.


You're Not Ice Cream — And That's Okay
Not everyone is going to like you. That's fine. Leadership isn't a popularity contest, and the hosts make it crystal clear that being liked and being trusted are two very different things. The real currency of leadership? Respect. Because here's the uncomfortable truth — people will work harder for someone they respect than for someone who just has a corner office and a title.


Proximity Is a Lie You've Been Telling Yourself
Think you need to be in the same building to build real relationships? Think again. COVID ripped the band-aid off a dirty little secret: a lot of leaders were coasting on proximity, not connection. If your relationships fell apart the moment everyone went remote, they were already on life support before the laptop bags hit the home office floor.


Can a Great Relationship Survive the Tough Stuff?
Here's where it gets really interesting. Can genuine working relationships hold up under accountability, hard feedback, and tough decisions? The answer the hosts land on might surprise the leaders who've been avoiding difficult conversations like a buffet sneeze guard — because the relationship isn't what makes those conversations hard. It's actually what makes them possible.


One Thing. This Week. Just Do It.
The episode wraps with a rapid-fire round that's as entertaining as it is insightful, and a deceptively simple challenge: what's one practical thing a leader can do this week to strengthen a relationship? The answers are so straightforward they're almost offensive — and yet most leaders still won't do them.


The Bottom Line
Trust doesn't fall from the sky and land on your org chart. It's built — intentionally, consistently, and sometimes uncomfortably. Leaders who skip this step aren't just missing out on better morale; they're building on sand and wondering why nothing sticks.


🎧 Tune In For:
Think your leadership relationships are solid? This episode will either confirm it — or make you reconsider. Either way, you'll want to hear it.

Have questions,  suggestions or just a great story to tell about some Leadership BS you have experienced? Let us know by emailing us Today's Featured Coach - 

  • Jeff Conroy - Organizational and Non-profit Expert, Motivational Speaker, Coach -  Executive Leader | Difference Maker for nonprofits in strategic planning, operations, and fundraising and development. Owner/Founder of Conroy Leadership Consulting, LLC. Reach Jeff at [email protected] or  208-215-6285

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