You can’t build trust with a checklist and you can’t fake safety with platitudes.
In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders, Adrian Cole shares what he’s learned about leadership, psychological safety, and inclusion across diverse roles, from operations and product management to DEI.
Drawing on real-life moments, Adrian opens up about the tension between good intentions and true impact, and what happens when leaders don’t do their inner work.
We unpack:
- Why tone, timing, and delivery matter more than the content of your feedback
- How psychological safety is built (and broken) in small moments
- The myth of “safe spaces” and what brave spaces require
- What Adrian learned from watching leaders lead poorly—and how it shaped his voice
- Practical tips for making your workplace inclusive without performative gestures
This episode invites every leader—especially those in transition—to pause, reflect, and ask: “Am I really leading in a way that builds trust?”
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