192: How To Be the Kind of Leader Your Team Never Wants To Let Down | Damon Lembi
Release Date:Β
August 20, 2025
Release Date: July 16
Winning teamsβand great companiesβaren't built through pressure, they're built through belief and connection.
In this energizing solo episode, host Damon Lembi unpacks what it really takes to become a great leader people respect too much to disappoint. Drawing on personal stories from his college baseball days and decades leading at Learnit, Damon explains why the best leaders donβt motivate through fearβbut by genuinely believing in their people before they believe in themselves. If you want to foster a team culture where trust, psychological safety, and growth thrive, these actionable insights are your starting lineup. Damon shares practical tools and a quick challenge you can start using this week to build respect, accountability, and a platform for your team to shine.
What Youβll Learn:
Why beliefβnot pressureβdrives peak performance and lasting accountability
The science behind psychological safety and why itβs essential for risk-taking and innovation
Damon's βJPβ story: how authentic connection from a mentor changes everything
Two simple, powerful actions you can use immediately to earn real respect as a leader
How to stretch your team and still have their back, even when they stumble
The ultimate test of respect: Will your team give their all even when youβre not watching?
In This Episode:
00:00 β The kind of leader people donβt want to disappoint
00:40 β Story: Damonβs coach JP and the Knoxville series
02:15 β Research from Amy Edmondson: 67% more likely to play it safe without psychological safety
02:45 β Respect canβt be demanded; it must be earned
03:15 β Learnitβs 30-year celebration: stories from employees past and present
03:45 β Leadership is about giving others the platformβnot hogging the spotlight
04:00 β Two habits to earn real respect:
ββ1. Connect beyond deadlines
ββ2. Stretch through belief, autonomy, and support
04:45 β The 6-month test: Would your team still bring their best if you stepped away?
05:15 β Final reflection: See people. Believe in them. Give them a shot.
05:45 β ΒιΆΉΉϋΆ³΄«Γ½ekly challenge: Tell one person what you see in them
06:00 β Rate, review, and share if this resonated
About Damon Lembi
Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit β a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athleteβs perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.