🎙 The Power of Trust: The Cornerstone of Influence

Trust isn’t soft — it’s foundational. In this first episode of the Elite Leader Insights Podcast, Donald C. Kunkel Jr.explores why trust is the most essential trait in any leadership role — and how it directly impacts your ability to influence, inspire, and lead with impact.

Pulling from neuroscience, real-world case studies, and core concepts from The Foundations of Influence, this episode breaks down the mindset and methods of high-trust leaders — and offers three actionable strategies you can use today to grow your influence by building trust.

Whether you’re leading a team, raising a family, or mentoring others, trust is the thread that holds influence together.

You’ll learn:

• Why trust is the foundation of all influence — not authority
• What neuroscience reveals about trust and team performance
• How leaders like Luis Urzúa used trust to lead in crisis
• Three research-backed strategies to build trust in any setting

Resources Mentioned:

• The Foundations of Influence: The Power to Lead & Inspire
• TECCA Influence Assessment™ and Power Profile™
• Elite Leader Insights™ Newsletter

Final Thought:

Trust is your greatest currency. It multiplies influence, and influence is how we lead — in life and leadership.

Elite Leader Insights is hosted by Donald C. Kunkel Jr., founder of the Elite Leadership Center, author of The Foundations of Influence: The Power to Lead & Inspire, and creator of the TECCA Influence System™.

🌐 Connect with Us: LinkTree | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (X)

Elite Leader Insights is hosted by Donald C. Kunkel Jr., founder of the Elite Leadership Center, author of The Foundations of Influence: The Power to Lead and Inspire, and creator of the TECCA Influence System

🌐 Connect with Us: LinkTree | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (X)

🎙 The Ripple Effect: How Leaders Shape Culture

Culture doesn’t start with a slogan — it starts with a leader. In this episode of the Elite Leader Insights Podcast, Donald C. Kunkel Jr. explores how small, consistent leadership behaviors create long-term ripple effects that shape team culture, for better or worse.

Drawing from a real-world leadership case study, he shares five practical, research-backed strategies for driving cultural transformation — without fancy programs or corporate jargon. You’ll hear how clarity, feedback, accountability, and values-based hiring can reshape even the most misaligned teams.

Whether you're a seasoned executive or a frontline leader, this episode will challenge you to reflect on what you're permitting, what you're perpetuating, and how to lead culture change from the inside out.

You’ll learn:

• Why culture is built through repetition, not intention
• The #1 phrase that changed how Don leads and teaches
• Five best practices for shaping culture that actually stick
• How to hire, coach, and correct in ways that reinforce values

Resources Mentioned:

• The Foundations of Influence: The Power to Lead & Inspire book
• The TECCA Influence Assessment™ and Power Profile™
• Weekly Elite Leader Insights™ newsletter

Final Thought:
What you permit, you perpetuate. Leadership isn’t what you preach — it’s what you consistently practice

Elite Leader Insights is hosted by Donald C. Kunkel Jr., founder of the Elite Leadership Center, author of The Foundations of Influence: The Power to Lead and Inspire, and creator of the TECCA Influence System

🌐 Connect with Us: LinkTree | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (X)

When Favoritism Fails: The Cost of Playing Favorites

Favoritism rarely announces itself—but your team always feels it.

In this episode of Elite Leader Insights, Donald Kunkel Jr. explores the hidden impact of favoritism—how even well-intentioned patterns can quietly erode trust, credibility, and team engagement.

You’ll hear:

• A personal leadership lesson from Donald’s Air Force experience
• Why perceived favoritism is just as damaging as the real thing
• Research-backed insights on morale and retention
• Action steps to build fairness, development, and team culture

👉 If you lead people—this one’s for you.

📚 Resources Mentioned:

📊 Take the free TECCA Influence Assessment and get your personalized TECCA Power Profile — including your Influence and Development Archetypes:
FoundationAssessments.com

📬 Subscribe to the Elite Leader Insights weekly newsletter for practical leadership tools:
EliteLeadershipCenter.com

🌐 Connect with Us: LinkTree | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (X)

Elite Leader Insights is hosted by Donald C. Kunkel Jr., founder of the Elite Leadership Center, author of The Foundations of Influence: The Power to Lead and Inspire, and creator of the TECCA Influence System

🌐 Connect with Us: LinkTree | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (X)