What happens when a leader wants to be liked more than trusted?

In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, John Little shares a pivotal leadership UH-OH from his early career at CNN. This mistake cost him credibility, confidence, and a leadership role.

At just 27 years old, John stepped into leadership with good intentions and the wrong strategy: trying to be everyone’s friend. What followed was a lesson in accountability, trust, and the difference between being nice and being kind.

John unpacks how avoiding tough conversations, playing favorites unintentionally, and prioritizing approval over clarity eroded trust, and how discovering emotional intelligence and self-awareness helped him rebuild his leadership foundation.

This conversation is a must-listen for emerging leaders who want to lead with empathy and backbone, build trust without losing authenticity, and avoid one of the most common leadership traps.

You don’t have to know everything. You just need to be teachable.

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