Missed our live session on “The Worthy Leader”? Watch the above replay and discover how to lead with trust, clarity, and heart. Your team deserves a leader who walks alongside them—here’s how to become one.Thank you to Elizabeth, Steve Cox , Joseph Zimontas , Dave Mbawa , Belonging & Beyond , and everyone else who joined us in our Substack live!

Join Khalil and I for our next live video on 5/8 at 1 PM EST.

As a special thank you to all who joined or viewed this message, we have a

The Worthy Mindset: What a True Leader Looks Like

The Spark: A Tale of Two LeadersI once saw a leader lose it over a missed deadline, his voice booming across the meeting room, pinning blame on a silent team. The project limped to completion, but the trust was gone—replaced by fear and quiet resignations. Then there was the CEO who faced a crisis differently. Short-staffed, he didn’t bark orders; he rolled up his sleeves, helped unload a delivery truck, and asked, “What do you need?” That team didn’t just hit the deadline—they became a tribe, fiercely loyal and unstoppable.

What separates these leaders? Connection over control. In our live session, Rich and I unpacked what makes a worthy leader. This replay, paired with actionable tools, will help you lead with trust and build a team that thrives.

Core InsightYour title doesn’t make you a leader—your impact does. A true leader walks alongside their team, guiding with clarity and humanity. As Rich put it, “You follow a leader because you want to, not because you have to.” Missed deadlines or team tension aren’t failures; they’re signals to reconnect, clarify, and lead from your worth.

Mindset Tool: The Trust-Building Communication CheckMiscommunication erodes trust faster than anything. In our session, Rich shared a YouTube video where a kid instructs their dad to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The dad follows vague directions literally—throwing the jar on bread—showing how unclear instructions lead to chaos.

Exact Instructions Challenge PB&J edition

Similarly, our HR director’s drawing exercise had everyone draw the same instructions differently. Try this system to align your team and build trust in three simple steps:

How To:

* Specify the Ask: Replace vague requests like “Do this ASAP” with “Complete this report by 5 p.m. tomorrow using the company template.”

* Confirm Alignment: Ask, “Can you share what you understood?” This catches gaps without micromanaging.

* Support, Don’t Demand: Check in mid-task with, “How’s it going? Need anything?” It shows you’re a partner, not a taskmaster.

Why It Helps: This system reduces stress, aligns expectations, and fosters psychological safety. Your team feels valued, not judged, driving loyalty and performance. Implement it today for immediate impact.

Why It MattersLeading with trust isn’t soft—it’s strategic. It’s the difference between a team that scatters under pressure and one that rallies. Rich nailed it: “Treat your team like humans, not tools, and they’ll do ten times more.” This approach retains talent, boosts productivity, and turns your leadership into a revenue engine. It’s a scalable system for culture and results.

Safety Grounding PromptTake three slow breaths. Feel your feet on the ground. Whisper to yourself: “I lead from worth, not fear.”

Journaling Prompts

* Where have I miscommunicated recently, and how can I clarify next time?

* When did I feel most trusted as a leader? What actions earned that trust?

* How can I guide my team with humanity in our next challenge?

ReflectionThe yelling leader got results but lost his team. The CEO who helped unload the truck? He built a legacy of trust. Every day, you choose: fear or connection. Questions for you: What’s one action you’ll take to walk alongside your team? How will you show them you’re real, relatable, and all in?

TL;DR: True leaders build trust with clear communication and humanity. Use the Trust-Building Communication Check to align your team and create a thriving tribe. Watch the replay and subscribe to The Worthy Mindset for tools and mentoring to scale your leadership.

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Rich Dornisch 🏳️‍🌈 & Khalil Sautchuk Jezini, The Worthy Mindset Team

Episode 001 - The Worthy Mindset Team (You Where Never Broken - You just forgot you were Worthy)

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking these thoughts, you’re definitely not alone. The loudest critic we ever face often lives inside our own head—holding us back just when we most need a shot of courage. But here’s the surprising truth: what if that inner critic could shift into something more helpful, like a supportive coach rather than a nay-saying antagonist? That’s what we’re diving into today: how to reframe negative self-talk so that, instead of sabotaging our confidence, we tap into true self-compassion.

Confidence isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about trusting your ability to learn. Just as Dora doesn’t need to know how water works to be fascinated by it, we don’t need to have all the answers to begin our journey.

Self-worth is built in a similar way. It doesn’t come from external validation or from reaching a distant goal. Instead, it arises from embracing the process and understanding that even when the road takes unexpected turns, you have the tools to navigate it.