Why You’re Leading Wrong—Brian Brault’s High-Performance Wake-Up Call

What if everything you thought you knew about leadership was dead wrong—and it's quietly costing you growth, trust, and your best team members?

The host of The Deep Wealth Podcast and post-exit entrepreneur Jeffrey Feldberg speaks with Brian Brault.

The Leadership Lie No One Tells You

Brian Brault knows what most founders are afraid to admit: leading a business is one thing, but leading yourself—and others—authentically is something entirely different.

He’s not here to sell you another framework. He’s here to dismantle the outdated idea that leadership means perfection, control, and being the smartest one in the room.

“Great leadership,” Brian says, “starts the moment you admit you don’t have all the answers.”

As a successful entrepreneur and past global chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Brian has coached business leaders in over 60 countries. He built a multimillion-dollar company without a formal sales team—and did it by leading with humility, trust, and purpose.

Vulnerability Isn’t Weakness—It’s Your Superpower

Most entrepreneurs think showing vulnerability makes them look weak. Brian couldn’t disagree more.

He shares a powerful moment where his company faced losing 30% of its business overnight. With his entire team gathered, Brian stood up and said the five words most leaders avoid:

“I don’t have the answer.”

And what happened next? His team leaned in. They stepped up. And together, they created a plan that saved the business.

Brian calls this “leading with vulnerability,” and it’s a core principle of high-performing teams. It’s also what separates leaders who scale from those who stall.

“Your team doesn’t need a superhero. They need a human they can trust.”

Why High-Performing Teams Are Built, Not Bought

Brian reveals that high-performance isn’t about hiring top talent—it’s about creating a culture where people want to perform.

And the secret? It’s trust.

Not surface-level trust like “I trust you won’t steal office supplies.” Real, deep, vulnerability-based trust.

When team members feel safe enough to admit mistakes, challenge ideas, and own their outcomes, everything changes. Productivity goes up. Loyalty skyrockets. Innovation thrives.

And yes—profits follow.

Brian breaks it down into three questions every team member should be able to answer at any time:

1. Where are we going?

2. What do we need to do to get there?

3. What’s my role?

If your team can’t answer those on the spot, you’ve got a leadership gap.

Ditch Control. Embrace Collaboration.

Leadership isn’t about barking orders from the top down. It’s about co-creating a vision—and letting your team help build it.

Brian’s approach flips the old leadership model on its head. He doesn’t dictate strategy. He invites collaboration. His team helps build the vision. And because they helped create it, they own it.

There’s no need to micromanage when your people are deeply invested.

“When your team feels heard, they’ll move mountains for you,” Brian says. “But if they feel ignored or controlled, they’ll quietly disengage—and your culture will erode from the inside out.”

Culture Is the Competitive Edge You Can’t Fake

Here’s the harsh truth: your competitors can copy your product. They can mimic your marketing. But they can’t duplicate your culture.

Brian explains why culture—true culture—is the ultimate moat.

And the best part? It doesn’t require more perks or ping-pong tables. It requires consistency, clarity, and care.

Brian shares how leaders who take time to know their people—not just as employees but as humans—build cultures that attract and retain A-players.

Want to scale? Start with trust. Want loyalty? Start with empathy. Want innovation? Start with psychological safety.

The Fastest Way to Build Trust in Any Team

So how do you actually build this kind of trust?

Brian gives a simple but powerful exercise he uses with leadership teams:

1. Go first. As the leader, share a story from your life—your childhood, a defining moment, a failure.

2. Invite others. Ask each team member to share something about themselves that shaped who they are.

3. Listen, don’t fix. You’re not there to problem-solve. You’re there to understand.

This 15-minute exercise can shift your entire team dynamic.

Because once someone shares their story, they’re no longer just “the CFO” or “head of sales.” They’re a human being. And humans rally around people they understand and respect.

Leadership Myths That Are Killing Your Culture

Brian isn’t shy about calling out what doesn’t work.

Here are three leadership lies that need to die:

• Lie #1: Leaders should never show weakness.
  Truth: Vulnerability builds trust. Trust builds teams. Teams build businesses.

• Lie #2: Your job is to have all the answers.
  Truth: Your real power is knowing how to find the answers—usually through your team.

• Lie #3: Culture is a soft skill.
  Truth: Culture drives results. Period.

From Task-Driven to Purpose-Driven

One of Brian’s most profound insights? That most leaders unknowingly treat their team like task robots instead of purpose-driven humans.

He challenges you to shift the conversation from “what needs to get done” to “why it matters.”

When people understand the purpose behind their role—and feel connected to it—they give more, care more, and create more.

“You’ll never get world-class results from people who feel like they’re punching a clock,” Brian says. “You’ll get world-class results from people who feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves.”

What To Do If You’re Ready To Lead Differently

Brian urges founders to start small. You don’t have to change your whole company overnight. But you do have to change yourself first.

Start by asking:

• Am I listening to understand—or to respond?

• Do my team members feel safe to be honest with me?

• Do they feel seen, heard, and valued?

If the answer is no, don’t panic. Just begin. One honest conversation. One shared story. One moment of vulnerability.

That’s all it takes to start leading differently—and building the kind of business that doesn’t just survive, but thrives.

Final Thoughts: What Success Really Means

Brian closes the conversation with a powerful reminder: your business can be sold, taken from you, or shut down. But your relationships? That’s the legacy.

“You will never regret investing in the people you care about,” Brian says. “At the end of the day, your most important title isn’t CEO. It’s husband, father, friend.”

Lead your team like they’re your family. And lead your family like they’re your most important team.

That’s the leadership wake-up call most founders never get.

Until now.

🎧 Ready to lead differently?
Listen to the full episode now: Why You’re Leading Wrong—Brian Brault’s High-Performance Wake-Up Call

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