In today’s episode, I’m unpacking one of the most overlooked dynamics in leadership: how trust erodes. It rarely collapses in one dramatic scandal. More often, it fades through small cracks—a shift in direction left unexplained, a promise quietly broken, or a rumor left unaddressed.

In Buddhist ethics, these subtle forces are called “near enemies”—things that look like virtues but hollow them out from within. In leadership, one of the most dangerous near enemies of trust is inconsistency. It’s often disguised as flexibility, agility, or boldness, but behind the scenes it creates confusion, doubt, and disconnection.

So how do leaders build trust that lasts? Not through charisma, but through clarity, alignment, and consistency.

Join me as I explore:
✅ Why inconsistency is the silent killer of trust
✅ The three ways credibility quietly erodes inside organizations
✅ How leaders mistake ambiguity for adaptability—and why it backfires
✅ Why clarity creates more freedom, not less
✅ Four trust-building practices you can put into action today

🔑 Key Takeaways:
✔ Trust erodes quietly through near enemies, not obvious failures
✔ What leaders don’t say can matter as much as what they do
✔ Inconsistency feels nimble at the top but chaotic to the team
✔ Consistency builds credibility, alignment, and resilience
✔ Charisma can spark attention, but only consistency sustains belief

🔎 Resources & References:
📊 Enemies of Trust – Harvard Business Review
📖 The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu – Insights on near enemies and virtues
📚 Amy Edmondson – Research on psychological safety as a foundation for trust
📌 Harvard Business Review – Studies on leadership credibility and alignment

📩 Subscribe & Share:
If this episode reshapes how you think about trust in leadership, share it with a colleague or mentor. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss another deep dive into the future of leadership and organizational culture.

#TrustInLeadership #ConsistentLeadership #OrganizationalCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #LeadWithIntegrity #ResilientLeadership

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.

In today’s episode, I’m exploring a powerful shift in how we think about organizations. For over a century, we’ve treated them like machines—efficient, optimized, predictable. But systems don’t breathe, empathize, or imagine. People do.

Efficiency has its place, but when it becomes the only priority, resilience is lost. The model looks sleek—until disruption exposes its fragility. Nature offers another way forward: ecosystems. Forests don’t chase quarterly goals. They adapt, regenerate, and grow stronger because of difference, not in spite of it.

So, what if leaders thought less like engineers and more like gardeners—tending roots, caring for soil, and making space for diversity to thrive?

Join me as I explore:
✅ Why efficiency alone is too brittle to sustain resilience
✅ How ecological thinking can transform organizational design
✅ The role of diversity as a source of vitality, not a threat to control
✅ What it means to lead with cultivation, interconnection, and renewal
✅ How to create organizations that not only endure, but evolve

🔑 Key Takeaways:
✔ Systems don’t innovate—people do
✔ Efficiency is valuable, but it cannot replace resilience
✔ Nature models adaptability through diversity and interdependence
✔ Leaders who tend culture like a living system unlock renewal and creativity
✔ The future of leadership is about making room for soul to breathe

🔎 Resources & References:
📖 Let Your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer – Reflections on vocation, leadership, and authenticity
📚 The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben – Lessons from ecology on interconnection and resilience
📊 Harvard Business Review – Research on resilience and adaptive leadership
🌱 Systems Thinking & Ecology in Leadership – A growing field of organizational design that draws from living systems

📩 Subscribe & Share:
If this episode shifts the way you think about leadership and resilience, share it with a colleague who’s shaping culture in their organization. And don’t forget to subscribe for more deep dives into the future of work and leadership.

#LivingSystems #ResilientLeadership #EcosystemThinking #BeyondEfficiency #HumanCenteredLeadership #FutureOfWork

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.

In today’s episode, I’m unpacking one of the most counterintuitive truths about leadership: the more effective you are, the less visible you become.

While popular culture glorifies charismatic leaders and loud voices, real impact happens when leaders step back—and their teams step forward. Rooted in ancient wisdom and backed by modern psychology, this episode explores why disappearing might just be the most powerful move a leader can make.

Join me as I explore:
✅ Why great leadership is felt—not flaunted
✅ How psychological safety transforms teams from compliant to creative
✅ What Google’s research says about trust and high performance
✅ How to lead with presence, not control
✅ The paradox of power—why clinging to authority makes you lose it

This conversation is for anyone who’s ready to shift from managing from the front to empowering from within. If you're a founder, manager, or team lead looking to build a culture of shared ownership and trust, this one's for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways:
✔ The best leaders leave the light and let their teams shine
✔ Psychological safety isn’t softness—it’s the foundation of innovation
✔ Real authority comes from trust, not control
✔ Strong leaders listen longer, trust first, and own their mistakes
✔ When the work is done, the best teams say, “We did it,” not “They did it”

🔎 Resources & References:
📖 Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (translated by Ursula K. LeGuin) – A timeless guide to leadership through humility and presence
📚 Amy Edmondson – Psychological safety as a key to learning and performance
📊 Google’s Project Aristotle – Trust and safety are the top predictors of team success
📌 Harvard Business Review – The quiet power of servant leadership and trust-building

📩 Subscribe & Share:
If this episode inspired a shift in how you think about leadership, share it with a colleague or mentor who leads with heart. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a deep dive like this.

#InvisibleLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #QuietPower #LeadWithoutEgo #EmpoweredTeams #LeadershipParadox #TaoOfLeadership

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.

In today’s episode, I'm challenging the long-held belief that success requires relentless hustle. Burnout has become an unspoken status symbol in many workplaces, but what if true peak performance and long-term success aren’t about grinding harder—but leading smarter?

Radical self-care isn’t indulgence—it’s strategy. When leaders and organizations prioritize well-being, they don’t just prevent burnout—they create cultures of innovation, trust, and sustainable success.

Join me as I unpack:
✅ The hidden costs of overwork and burnout
✅ Why stress isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a warning sign
✅ The data-backed case for self-care as a leadership strategy
✅ Four powerful ways to integrate radical self-care into your leadership
✅ The ROI of well-being—how companies that prioritize health and balance outperform their competition

This conversation is for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to redefine what success really looks like. Let’s build workplaces where thriving—not just surviving—is the norm.

🔑 Key Takeaways:
✔ Burnout is a business liability. Overworked teams don’t innovate or collaborate effectively—they survive.
✔ Sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s a leadership tool. Rested minds make sharper decisions and drive better results.
✔ Great leaders don’t just manage—they show up. Presence, mindfulness, and self-awareness create resilient teams.
✔ Psychological safety fuels high performance. When employees feel safe to share, innovate, and take risks, businesses thrive.
✔ Radical self-care is the new competitive advantage. Teams that prioritize well-being are 31% more productive and three times more creative.

🔎 Resources & References:
📊 World Health Organization Study – Long working hours increase the risk of stroke by 35% and heart disease by 17%.
📚 Matthew Walker, Neuroscientist – Sleep deprivation weakens decision-making, creativity, and emotional regulation.
📖 Harvard Business Review – Leaders who project calm under stress build trust and resilience in teams.
📌 Google’s Project Aristotle – Psychological safety is the #1 factor in high-performing teams.

📩 Subscribe & Share:
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a colleague or leader who needs to hear it. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

#RadicalSelfCare #BurnoutPrevention #MindfulLeadership #WorkSmarter #PsychologicalSafety #LeadWithCare

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.

Introduction to Micro-Cultures

• Your thriving garden with standout crops represents micro-cultures in organizations.
• Definition and significance of micro-cultures as high-performing teams with unique energy and effectiveness.

Impact of Micro-Cultures

• Deloitte study: 71% of leaders see micro-cultures as crucial, but only 12% take action.
• Micro-cultures lead to 1.8x better employee outcomes and 1.6x higher likelihood of exceeding business goals.

How to Foster Micro-Cultures

• Focus on What Works: Tailor development to the specific tasks and needs of micro-teams.
• Tailor Talent Care: Align hiring, development, and reward systems with each micro-culture’s needs.
• Empower Leaders: Enable leaders to cultivate micro-cultures that align with broader organizational goals.
• Real-Time Measurement: Use tools and feedback mechanisms to monitor and support micro-cultures effectively.

Signals That Micro-Cultures Need Empowerment

• Cultural Drift: Leadership sees a misalignment in organizational culture.
• Grassroots Innovation: Teams develop their own effective work practices.
• Stifled Agility: Rigid processes hinder innovation.
• Talent Disconnect: A one-size-fits-all culture impedes attracting and retaining talent.
• Outdated Norms: Traditional work norms no longer meet evolving needs.

Conclusion

• Importance of “thinking small” to strengthen overall organizational culture.
• Benefits of fostering micro-cultures: enhanced collaboration, improved outcomes, and greater agility.
• Encouragement to embrace and nurture micro-cultures as a path to organizational success and future readiness.

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.

In this episode, Steven Morris, Lori Schwanbeck, and Scott Shute discuss:

• The three components of self-compassion
• Mindfulness is observation without judgment
• Expanding your view of your circumstances
• Practicing empathy and kindness in your self-care

Key Takeaways:

• Practice self-compassion. The three components of self-compassion are these: mindfulness, common humanity, and kindness.
• Mindfulness is observing inner experiences without identification or judgment. Use the concept of “what else is true” to challenge negative thoughts. Ask your inner voice if it has the full story.
• When we go through something difficult, we tend to adopt a narrow view of ourselves and of the world. Remember the concept of “common humanity” when you go through hardships. Always remind yourself that you are not alone in your struggles.
• Once you have practiced mindfulness and have made yourself aware of common humanity, the next step is to bring in kindness to yourself. Ask yourself, “What do I need most right now?” and “How do I want to meet this moment?”

"Gratitude primes us. It's an attentional strategy, like noticing what it is that we're usually taking for granted. It's a self expanding emotion. " — Lori Schwanbeck

“It starts with us… so what's the light that we can cultivate from within and be the lighthouse for others?” — Scott Shute

Lori Schwanbeck and Scott Shute’s book recommendations:

Connect With Lori Schwanbeck:

Website: https://www.lorischwanbeck.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-schwanbeck-43187a7/

Scott Shute:

Website: https://www.scottshute.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottshute/

Get "The Beautiful Business" book by clicking on this link: https://the-beautiful-business.com/

Connect With Steven Morris

Website: https://matterco.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmorris111/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matter_smorris/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenMMorris

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.

Show Notes:

1. Brand as Olympic Torch Metaphor: A brand embodies its core values and vision like the Olympic torch represents the Games.
2. Role of the Torchbearer: Initially lit by a leader or founder, the torch’s flame should be carried and shared by the entire organization.
3. Sustaining the Flame: Successful brands like Apple and Nike keep their flame vibrant through continuous innovation and adaptation.
4. Consequences of Neglect: A brand that fails to adapt risks becoming irrelevant, similar to how Blockbuster's flame dimmed.
5. Shared Responsibility: Every member of an organization plays a role in maintaining and passing on the brand’s flame.
6. Power of Connection: A strong brand creates a shared experience and connects with customers on a deeper level.
7. Rekindling the Flame: Regularly assess and renew the brand’s purpose, values, and promises to keep the flame burning bright.
8. Impact Beyond Origin: Like the Olympic torch carried globally, a well-managed brand’s influence can reach and inspire beyond its immediate scope.

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.