GA 645 | Why Leadership Is Failing with Keith Wyche

Trust in leadership has been declining for decades, and Keith Wyche has the research to prove it. A 40-year veteran of AT&T, IBM, and Walmart, Keith opened up to us about a few mistakes he’s made in his career. The real conversation here is what changed him, and what he thinks it will take to reverse the broader collapse.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How a career spanning AT&T, IBM, and Walmart shapes a leadership philosophy (2:26)
• Why a 15-year-old’s question became the catalyst for serious research (4:05)
• How the thirst for power quietly replaced the calling to serve (6:08)
• What happens when results become the only measure that matters (7:27)
• Why vulnerability is harder for leaders than it looks (10:42)
• How admitting a mistake in front of 30,000 employees built more trust than any win (11:08)
• How to rebuild trust one promise at a time (16:48)
• The difference between listening to defend and listening to understand (18:53)
• Why people never forget how a leader made them feel (20:42)

“My successes may have inspired me, but my failures taught me.” – Keith Wyche

Keep Learning

If Keith’s point about creating followership through trust, listening, and character resonated with you, the School of Leadership is a practical place to build those same skills in yourself and your team.
Learn More About School of Leadership at https://www.gembaacademy.com/leadership

Podcast Resources

• Keith on LinkedIn
• Uncommon Leadership

Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy

Stay current on new courses, podcast episodes, and continuous improvement resources. Sign up for the Gemba Academy newsletter at gembaacademy.com/news

What Do You Think?

When you listen in a conversation, are you listening to understand the other person, or are you already forming your response?

---