Modern Leaders Build Trust By Managing Themselves with Russell Robinson

Episode notes

The fastest way to lose trust as a leader is to pretend you’re fine when you’re not. Bill Bannham sits down with leadership strategist and emotional intelligence practitioner Russell Robinson to unpack a deceptively simple idea: leadership has to be “selfish” first. Not selfish in the ego sense, but selfish in the disciplined sense of knowing your values, naming your non-negotiables, protecting your well-being, and building the self-awareness needed to show up consistently for other people. We talk about what’s changing across generations and what isn’t. No matter your age, people want meaningful work, to feel heard, and to operate in a psychologically safe culture where they can take smart risks. But Russell explains why Gen Z and younger Millennials are bringing more of the outside world into the workplace, and why emotionally intelligent leaders have to meet that reality with curiosity, not control. The conversation also gets practical for HR pros and talent leaders: hiring emotionally intelligent people early, building leadership development programs that strengthen self-awareness, and treating relationship-building as “personal currency,” not a soft extra.