Susan DrummCEO Advisor & Executive Coach | Leadership Change Agent

The Fast Way to Lose Trust as a Leader

11 Sept 2025 · 1 min

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This is a short transcript excerpt from Susan Drumm's YouTube video "The Fast Way to Lose Trust as a Leader." The speaker warns leaders against ego-driven behaviors (pulling rank, demanding compliance) and advises reframing requests around a shared, meaningful mission — for example, reminding employees that a product launch will help customers rather than invoking authority. Effective leadership is presented as enabling team success rather than enforcing compliance.

Chapters

Shift away from traditional egoic drives such as being right or looking good and look into a meaningful mission outside of your ego based needs. Nobody appreciates when someone pulls rank or plays the because I'm your boss card. Instead, reference the intention behind your ask if you need someone to work late on a new product launch, remind them of all the customers whose lives will be improved by this new product rather than saying because I told you so. Leaders are successful when their teams are successful, but it's hard for a team to be successful when they're brow beaten by an executive with a my way or the highway approach.