The Leadership Cycle: Building Trust, Relationships, and Influence for Effective Leadership

Episode Summary

Discover how trust, relationships, and influence form a powerful cycle that drives leadership success. In this episode, Colby Morris unpacks John Maxwell’s quote, “Leadership is influence,” and introduces the leadership cycle: trust builds relationships, and relationships earn influence. With actionable tools and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to motivate your team and lead effectively.

What You’ll Learn

• Proven leadership strategies to spark team motivation.
• How to build trust and earn influence with team motivation techniques.
• Why generic leadership fails—and how to use custom leadership approaches.
• The leadership cycle: trust → relationships → influence.

Key Takeaways

1. Motivation is Personal: Use leadership tools like asking great questions to unlock your team’s drive.
2. Influence is Earned: Adapt to your team’s needs and explain the ‘why’ to gain trust.
3. Customize Your Leadership: Tailor your style for maximum impact on each team member.

Real Stories, Real Impact

• Jordan’s Turnaround: A drifting employee becomes a leader when Colby taps into his need for mastery.
• Sarah’s Data Win: A skeptical analyst buys into a system after a numbers-based pitch.
• Mike’s Comeback: A top performer rebounds when given room to own his process.

Leadership Moves (Try One This Week!)

• Tool #1: Ask a team member, “What drives you?”
• Tool #2: Tweak your approach to match someone’s style.
• Tool #3: Ask, “Does my leadership work for you?”

Why It Matters

Leadership isn’t a title—it’s action. This episode gives you practical leadership strategies to build trust, strengthen relationships, and earn influence for real results.

FAQ: Leadership Cycle Explained

• What is the leadership cycle?
  It’s the process where trust builds relationships, and relationships earn influence—the core of effective leadership.
• How does trust impact leadership?
  Trust is the foundation. Without it, relationships weaken, and influence disappears.

Connect with Colby

• LinkedIn: Colby Morris
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/
• Website: nxtstepadvisors.com (N-X-T, no E)
• Want Colby to speak or coach? Hit him up on LinkedIn or the website.

Challenge

Try one tool this week. Did it build trust or boost influence? Share your story in the comments or on LinkedIn with Colby.

Subscribe & Share

Loved this? Subscribe and share it with a leader who needs it. Let’s move leadership forward!

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• Things Leaders Do Instagram