Episode 47: Why Your Team Isn’t Buying In — And What to Do About It

Episode 1 in the series Engaged Leaders

Every founder wants engaged employees — people who tell the truth, bring problems forward, and fight for what matters. But here’s the irony: many leaders expect buy-in as if it comes automatically with the role. The truth is, belief has to be earned.

In this episode, James shares the common blind spot leaders fall into — confusing being liked with being believed in — and the daily practices that actually build trust and respect.

This episode is for founders who feel frustration when employees nod along but don’t really follow their lead.

• Why authority doesn’t equal belief
• The difference between being liked and being believed in
• How approachability + availability create trust
• Tangible ways to prove you’re a leader worth believing in

Reflection Questions

• Where are you expecting people to believe in you when you haven’t actually earned it yet?
• What’s one step you can take this week to prove you’re the kind of leader others can actually believe in?

Links and Resources

• The Next Question Guide → NextQuestionGuide.com
• LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/jamesmayhew
• Website → JamesMayhew.com