In this conversation, Ben Cashion—CEO coach, startup veteran, and former licensed counselor—dives deep into what it really takes to build trust as a leader in today’s skeptical world.

We explore the emotional weight of leadership, why trust is so hard to come by (and so valuable when you earn it), and how founders can create lasting impact through clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Whether you're a startup founder, scaling CEO, or just feeling the pressure of leading people and making payroll, this episode offers real-world insights for building a business that works—and a leadership style that earns trust.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Trust is Broken… So Now What?

01:15 – Ben’s Unusual Path: Counselor Turned CEO Coach

03:10 – How Therapy Training Enhances Coaching

05:00 – Coaching vs. Consulting: What’s the Difference?

07:00 – Finding Your Voice and Style as a Leader

09:15 – Trust Starts with Competence and Confidence

12:00 – Startup Scars and Founder Wisdom

15:00 – The Hidden Weight Founders Carry

17:30 – How to Build Trust Through Shared Perspective

20:00 – Teaching Your Kids (and Team) Compassion

22:30 – Clarity: The Antidote to Ambiguity

25:00 – When Emotion Shows Up in the Boardroom

28:00 – Knowing When to Lead with Space vs. Direction

30:00 – Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence

33:00 – Coaching Leaders Through Conflict

36:00 – The Power of Preparing for Hard Conversations

39:00 – Layering EQ into Business Strategy

41:15 – Why Every Leader Needs to Script Hope

42:30 – Ben’s Top Book Picks for Leaders

44:00 – Why Building Trust Is Your Business Advantage

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🔗 Connect with Ben Cashion

🌐 https://www.cornerstoneco.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-cashion-5703a5b8/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact