In this Short Talk episode Judith Germain speaks to Jamie Shapiro about building trust through vulnerability and leadership challenges. Jamie emphasises the importance of building human connection and trust through leaders modeling vulnerability. Admitting mistakes and asking for help can create an environment where people feel safe sharing ideas without fear. Key Takeaways Leaders should role model vulnerability and go first in creating psychological safety. Can't ask employees to be vulnerable if leaders won't. Intentional spaces for connecting on "how we work together" builds trust and psychological safety. Leaders face paradoxes - be authentic but can't always fully express emotions. Need to care for themselves. Toxic environments are incompatible with psychological safety. Employees should focus on boundaries and self-care. Jamie's book "Be the Leader Who Shows Up Brightly Without Burning Out" offers practical tools on wellbeing and leadership. In this conversation Jamie explains how leaders must sometimes display different emotions to inspire others, depleting their energy. Leaders don't always have permission to share feelings and must balance authenticity with managing emotions that influence others. Jamie Shapiro is a CEO coach, organisational psychologist, and best selling author of Brilliant, Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out. You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here. --- Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine. But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans. The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact. How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see.  Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders.  Judith's websites:  The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.