Becoming the Kind of Leader People Want to Follow

What makes people truly want to follow a leader—not out of obligation, but out of trust and belief? In this episode, leadership coach and author Jim Brown, founder of OrgHealth, challenges the myth of perfect leadership and reveals why authenticity, humility, and real conversations are the foundation of lasting influence.

Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.

About This Episode:

Leadership is changing, and the old model of certainty, control, and having all the answers no longer builds trust. In this episode, Jim Brown—founding partner of Org Health and author of The Imperfect CEO—shares why today’s most effective leaders lead with vulnerability, humility, and curiosity. Drawing from decades of coaching leaders, Jim explains how trust grows when leaders stop pretending, invite real conversation, and prioritize people over image. This conversation offers practical wisdom for leaders who want to build cultures where people grow, trust deepens, and leadership becomes worth following.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 – Why perfect leadership is a myth and progress matters more than polish

• 08:10 – The shift from having answers to asking better questions

• 17:25 – How authenticity and vulnerability build trust

• 21:17 – Practical behaviors that strengthen leadership trust

• 32:36 – Why culture is a performance multiplier

Meet the Guest:

Jim Brown is a founding partner of Org Health, a leadership consulting and coaching firm helping organizations build high-performing, aligned, and healthy cultures. With over 30 years of experience coaching executives, boards, and leadership teams, Jim specializes in organizational health, leadership development, and culture transformation. He is the author of The Imperfect Board Member and the upcoming book The Imperfect CEO, focused on helping leaders embrace authentic, trust-building leadership that inspires people to follow.

Resources Mentioned:

• Visit ImperfectCEObook.com for leadership resources and special bulk book packages

• Connect with Jim on LinkedIn: Search Jim Brown (Org Health)

• Send Jim a message with the word “FAITH” to receive a free PDF booklet: Leading a Healthy Church

Episode Transcript:

A full, word-for-word transcript of this episode is available here.

Next Steps for Leaders:

If this episode challenged or encouraged you, share it with a fellow leader who cares deeply about building a healthy, Christ-centered culture.

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