What happens when employees stop trusting leadership?

In Part 2 of this conversation on The H.I.T. Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna returns to discuss the real-world impact of trust on culture, leadership, performance, and retention.

Drawing from his research and book Whole Leaders, Wild Trust, Dr. McKenna explains why trust is one of the most powerful—and overlooked—drivers inside organizations.

What We Cover

• Why high-trust organizations outperform low-trust cultures
• The four trust environments: Stronghold, Jungle, Shell, and Islands
• Why nearly 48% of employees operate in “jungle” environments
• The role of sacrificial courage in leadership
• How low trust creates emotional exhaustion and “fake belonging”
• The three questions every employee is asking:
• Do I matter?
• Are you telling me the truth?
• Do I belong?

Leadership Takeaways

• Invest in people as whole humans—not just performers

• Build cultures where teams can “fight well” through healthy conflict

• Grow organizations only at the speed of trust

If you lead people, shape culture, or want to build stronger teams, this episode delivers practical insight backed by real research.

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