The Rock of Trust: A Framework for Impactful Leadership | Karen & Aneil Mishra | 615

12/29/24 • 32 min

How do you take an academic idea and turn it into a global movement?

On this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Bill Sherman dives deep with Karen and Aneil Mishra, exploring their journey of transforming the "ROCC of Trust" framework into an impactful leadership tool. From the humble beginnings of self-publishing to securing high-profile consulting contracts, this episode showcases the art of bridging academic rigor with practical application.

Aneil shares the origins of his trust framework, which emerged from research in crisis-ridden industries, and how Karen's marketing expertise rebranded it from a "Rock" to "ROCC"—making it memorable and actionable. Their collaborative effort highlights the importance of translating academic language into compelling, relatable messages. The Mishras’ story is a testament to the power of resilience, boldness, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The couple also reflects on overcoming challenges, including rejection from publishers who deemed them "not famous enough." Undeterred, they self-published, gained traction, and proved that meaningful ideas can transcend barriers. Karen’s advice to her younger self? Be bolder and unapologetically share relevant academic insights with the world. Aneil adds, tackle big, important problems, as they keep you motivated and aligned with purpose.

Their legacy, especially Aneil’s enduring contributions to trust research, serves as a blueprint for turning intellectual passion into a movement that inspires executives, students, and practitioners alike. This episode is both a masterclass in thought leadership and a heartfelt tribute to Aneil’s impact.

Three Key Takeaways:

• The Rock of Trust Framework: Aneil Mishra's research on trust identified four key pillars: reliability, openness, competence, and caring. Rebranded with Karen's marketing expertise, this framework became a memorable and impactful leadership tool applied across industries and organizations.

• From Rejection to Resilience: Despite being told they weren’t “famous enough” to publish their book, the Mishras self-published and gained traction. Their persistence turned rejection into opportunity, eventually leading to consulting contracts and increased credibility in the leadership space.

• Bridging the Academic-Practitioner Divide: Karen and Aneil emphasized translating academic insights into practical tools. Their ability to speak the language of both executives and students showcased the importance of making complex ideas relatable and actionable.

How do you take an academic idea and turn it into a global movement?

Three Key Takeaways:

Previous Episode

The Transformative Power of Failure | Paul Glover | 614

What does it take to truly transform and lead authentically? Paul Glover knows. Once a successful trial attorney, his life unraveled due to choices that led to federal prison. But from the depths of failure, Paul emerged not only as a survivor but as a powerhouse coach for C-suite executives. His journey is raw, unfiltered, and deeply inspiring, blending lessons of humility, resilience, and hard-won wisdom. Paul’s story is one of dramatic reinvention. Prison, he says, saved his life and softened his perspective, forcing him to confront blind spots and triggers that once drove destructive behavior. Today, his “No BS” coaching method empowers leaders to tackle their echo chambers and embrace failure as a growth tool. From offering money-back guarantees to positioning himself as a modern-day “fool” who tells leaders the hard truths, Paul’s approach is anything but conventional. Leadership, Paul argues, demands the courage to fail and the humility to learn. His coaching and speaking emphasize resilience, not just to bounce back but to bounce forward. Drawing parallels to psychological safety and historical figures like the court jester, Paul challenges leaders to seek and trust those who hold them accountable, creating space for transformation. The key? Being brutally honest—with themselves and their teams. Paul’s message is a wake-up call to leaders everywhere: true leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about embracing imperfection and turning failure into fuel for growth. With humor, candor, and authenticity, Paul Glover inspires audiences to rethink success and take bold, transformative steps forward. Three Key Takeaways: • Transformation Through Failure: Paul Glover’s journey from a successful attorney to a convicted felon and then a sought-after coach highlights the power of embracing failure as a tool for personal and professional growth. He demonstrates how confronting blind spots and taking accountability can lead to profound transformation. • Authentic Leadership Requires Honesty: True leaders need to break out of echo chambers and surround themselves with people who provide honest, unfiltered feedback. Paul’s approach as the “No BS” coach underscores the importance of humility, self-awareness, and the willingness to hear hard truths. • Resilience Goes Beyond Recovery: Leadership isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about bouncing forward. Paul emphasizes resilience as the ability to learn from failures and turn them into opportunities for growth, fostering a leadership style that is both dynamic and transformative. Instead of running from his past Paul has put it forward as part of his authentic self. When you present your thought leadership are you being authentic or just trying to go viral? Check out this short video by Peter Winick to discover why being your real self is more important.

Next Episode

The Best of 2024: Insights from Top Thought Leaders | Best of 2024 with Peter Winick | 616

2024 was an incredible year for Leveraging Thought Leadership, bringing insights from some of the brightest minds in business and thought leadership. This "Best of 2024" episode features five remarkable conversations, each offering unique strategies and perspectives on building influence and scaling ideas. If you're looking to lead with impact, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways. Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor, reflects on the importance of managing people with authenticity and respect. She shares how frameworks like hers help leaders balance care with accountability, dismantling myths about "nice" managers finishing last. Marcus Collins takes the mic to reveal how marketers can build deep emotional connections by starting with shared values and targeting niche communities, a strategy he applied to launch his book successfully. Kate Bravery dives into the future of work with insights from her book Work Different. She confronts outdated HR practices and calls for agility and transparency in job architectures. Liz Wiseman rounds out the lineup, sharing her secret to transforming keynote speeches into lasting, impactful organizational change. By creating ecosystems around her books, Liz ensures her ideas deeply embed in corporate cultures. We finish off the episode with Peter and Bill Sherman looking at the highlights of the Book ROI project that has offered never before analyzed insights into publishing a business book. This episode distills wisdom from top thought leaders into a concise, and powerful hour. Whether you're a seasoned author, a keynote speaker, or an aspiring influencer, you'll find inspiration and practical advice for amplifying your voice.