Most business owners don’t lead in life-or-death situations…but they feel like they do.

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, former police chief, SWAT commander, executive coach, and leadership trainer Tim Keck breaks down what crisis leadership teaches us about building engaged, reliable teams in everyday business.

Tim shares unbelievable real-world stories — including the moment he put his life in the hands of his team — to illustrate what trust really means. And more importantly, how business owners can build that level of confidence, discipline, and buy-in inside their own culture.

If you’re a leader who’s tired of carrying everything yourself, this conversation will help you breathe again. You’ll walk away with simple tools to lower stress, increase employee engagement, and create a culture that scales because people are aligned, accountable, and trusted.

👉 Want a team that can run the business without you? Learn more at https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 — The Rule of Responsibility: Why You Can’t Do Everyone’s Job

00:20 — Meet Tim Keck: Police Chief, SWAT Commander & Leadership Coach

01:49 — What Crisis Teaches About Leadership

03:07 — The Team-Building Exercise That Hit the New York Times

04:12 — Stress vs. Crisis: Why Leaders Misread Their Own Bodies

06:24 — How Stress Sabotages Decision-Making (and What to Do Instead)

07:55 — Tactical Breathing: A Tool Every Leader Should Learn

10:15 — Emotional Intelligence: The Four Skills Every Owner Needs

14:18 — Why Most Leaders Mislabel Their Emotions

17:12 — Managing Conflict Without Escalation

20:14 — The Hidden Cost of Wanting to “Win the Argument”

21:05 — How Your Emotions Affect Your Team (Read the Room)

25:11 — Why High-Performing Teams Need Someone “Watching Their Six”

26:44 — SWAT-Level Trust: Doing Your Job So Others Can Do Theirs

34:07 — What Business Owners Can Learn from Real-Life Training

37:41 — Purpose, Clarity, and Why Most Teams Row in Different Directions

41:30 — The Story: Putting His Life in His Team’s Hands

45:18 — Final Lessons on Trust, Vulnerability, and Leadership Freedom

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Connect with Tim

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/timkeck/

🌐 https://www.safehavensecuritygroup.com/

🌐 https://www.gobulletproof.com/