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In this episode, Ron and Kristin expose one of leadership’s oldest power games — loyalty and betrayal. From ancient betrayals like Judas and Caesar to modern corporate sabotage, they reveal how leaders can spot a hidden opportunist before it’s too late. This episode blends psychology, real-world examples, and neuroscience to explain why betrayal usually comes from inside the circle — and how to test loyalty without breeding paranoia.
“Betrayal doesn’t just reveal the traitor — it reveals you.” — Ron Ward
Segment 1 — The Psychology of Loyalty
- Loyalty = Shared Risk. People stand beside success, not struggle.
- The three archetypes of loyalty:
- The Loyalist — values mission and leader
- The Opportunist — values self and proximity to power
- The Pretender — performs loyalty to gain access
- Nearly 70% of workplace betrayals come from high-trust relationships (source: Harvard Business Review, “The Hidden Costs of Betrayal,” 2020).
- Betrayal requires access — if they don’t know your playbook, they can’t weaponize it.
- Jealousy = Loyalty’s Silent Assassin. Rooted in Social Comparison Theory (Festinger, 1954).
- Corporate Example — Kohl’s CEO Loyalty Swap (2023):
A modern corporate betrayal case where a CEO allegedly redirected contracts for personal connections. - Source: [Wall Street Journal, 2023 — “Kohl’s Board Ousts CEO Following Ethics Concerns”]
Segment 2 — A Modern-Day Judas:
- Story of Evan and Marcus: the rise, the manipulation, and the quiet betrayal.
- Psych Insight: People believe negative info 2.5x faster than positive info (source: Fessler & Holbrook, Evolution and Human Behavior, 2014).
- “Betrayal rarely starts with lies — it starts with believable half-truths."
- “Pretend to protect you while auditioning to replace you.”
- The real test: your response. Leaders can get bitter or get better.
Segment 3 — How to Test Loyalty Without Losing Trust:
- Three Field Tests for Leaders:
- Truth over Flattery — Loyal people tell you what you need to hear.
- Absent Defense Test — Watch how they speak when you’re not in the room.
- Crisis Character Check — Adversity exposes priorities.
Closing:
“Leadership will always test loyalty — and loyalty will always test leadership.”
“Your job isn’t to eliminate betrayal — you can’t. Your job is to build a culture where disloyalty feels uncomfortable and loyalty feels rewarded.”
Sources & References:
Festinger, L. (1954). A Theory of Social Comparison Processes. Human Relations.
Fessler, D. M. T., & Holbrook, C. (2014). Negativity Bias and the Speed of Belief. Evolution and Human Behavior.
Harvard Business Review. (2020). The Hidden Costs of Betrayal: Why We Trust the Wrong People at Work.
Wall Street Journal (2023). Kohl’s Board Ousts CEO Following Ethics Concerns.
Anderson, C., & Brion, S. (2014). Perspectives on Power: How People Gain, Maintain, and Lose Influence. Current Opinion in Psychology.
Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff
Sponsor: 4Ward Operations
Producer: Stephen Ridley
Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop
Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron's best selling book, "The Dirty Side of Leadership".
Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com
Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com
54 mins