Give a Damn | Justin Ricklefs #candor #authenticity #leadership leadership

Is your leadership style "plastic" or personal?In this episode of Leadership Disrupted, host Dan Rust sits down with Justin Ricklefs, founder and CEO of Guild Collective and author of the provocative new book, Give A Damn. Together, they strip away the corporate jargon to discuss why the traditional "command and control" model is failing and why modern employees are hungering for leaders who actually see them.Justin challenges the common misconception that being a "nice" leader is the same as being a "kind" one. He explains how avoidant niceness is often a self-protective move that leaves high performers guessing, while true kindness requires the courage to tell the truth.Justin's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinricklefs/Order "Give a Damn" - https://www.amazon.com/Give-Damn-Catalyst-Caring-Companies/dp/B0GN7XX9GW/Key topics explored in this episode:The "Give A Damn" Framework: How the two fuel sources—Effort and Attitude—can be used to build a fire through Curiosity, Clarity, Compassion, and Consistency.Niceness vs. Kindness: Why "ruinous empathy" damages teams and why the highest performers actually crave direct feedback.Care and Commerce: Challenging the cynical view that business is just about "using people," and proof that human-centric leadership leads to "dwarfing the competition."The Power of Small Actions: From the GE elevator story to a production plant where knowing an employee's first name changed everything.Combatting Workplace Cynicism: How leaders can earn back the trust of a generation that no longer gives it by default.Whether you're leading a small team or a global corporation, this episode is a call to action to stop presiding and start connecting. It’s time to decide what kind of flame you’re going to hold for your team.Book: Give A Damn: A collection of stories showing how modern leadership is at its best.Enjoyed the show? Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Leadership Disrupted on your favorite podcast platform!