How Leaders Accidentally Train Teams Not to Be Honest

The Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher

The Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher
How Leaders Accidentally Train Teams Not to Be Honest
Feb 12, 2026
Jeff Hancher

We want your feedback and questions. Text us here.

When was the last time someone at work told you something you genuinely did not want to hear? As uncomfortable as it can be, hearing uncomfortable truths is necessary if you want to be a successful leader. Silence is not a sign that everything is going well! The more positional authority you have, the more people feel like they should be cautious and deferential around you. Today’s episode is about why leaders struggle to get feedback, how it erodes leadership effectiveness, and what great leaders do differently to make sure they are not leading in an echo chamber.

Episode Artwork How Leaders Accidentally Train Teams Not to Be Honest 29:44 Episode Artwork Why you Need To Stop Saying "We're Family Here" 10:41 Episode Artwork Why Hardworking Salespeople Fail (And How to Fix Your Sales Process) 31:28 Episode Artwork Authentic Leadership at Work: Claude Silver on Leading with Heart as a Power Skill 56:59 Episode Artwork Learning to Let Go Without Losing Confidence 15:08 Episode Artwork Lessons From the Transfer Portal - Building Teams Without Destroying Culture 19:07 Episode Artwork How to Get What You Want (Without Drifting Through Another Year) 20:54 Episode Artwork Authentic Leadership That Amplifies Good | Chris Cooper on People-First Leadership 52:25 Episode Artwork Stop Being A Mascot: Why Accountability Matters More Than Inspiration in Leadership 16:24 Episode Artwork Three Common Leadership Blind Spots Every Leader Should Address 17:18 Episode Artwork AI Will Redefine Leadership: How to Stay Relevant in the AI Era 16:07 Episode Artwork Leadership Boredom: Why You Feel Burned Out and How to Reignite Your Drive 19:12 Episode Artwork Why Delegation Fails—and How Strong Leaders Make It Work 17:19 Episode Artwork How to Stop Starting Over: Break the Cycle and Build Momentum 27:21 Episode Artwork How to Lead Through Adversity and Find Purpose: Eric McElvenny’s Story of Grit and Growth 49:53 Episode Artwork The Future Begins with Z with Tim Elmore 48:13 Episode Artwork The Truth About Servant Leadership Most Leaders Miss 11:45 Episode Artwork How to Scale Your Business Without Losing Control: Rocco Cozza on the 4 Frames of Growth 35:43 Episode Artwork How to Protect Your Business from Legal Blind Spots Every Founder Misses with Rocco Cozza 44:44 Episode Artwork The Courage to Fire Peak Performers: Why Great Leaders Choose Culture Over Toxic High Performers 19:59 Episode Artwork Leading Through Loss: Practical Leadership Tips for Navigating Loss, Setbacks, and Challenges 20:10 Episode Artwork Leading at Home with Chris and Sara Goede | Applying the 5 Levels of Leadership 59:44 Episode Artwork What Bjorn Borg Taught Me About Composure 15:01 Episode Artwork Turning Feedback into Culture Change 25:00 Episode Artwork The Ghost of Leaders Past: How Past Leaders Haunt Present Teams 17:56