The Learning To Lead Show with Mark J. Cundiff
The Learning to Lead Show with Mark J. Cundiff
Helping Good Leaders Become Great—One Practical Insight at a Time
You’re busy. The demands are real. But your desire to grow as a leader hasn’t gone anywhere.
That’s why The Learning to Lead Show is designed for leaders like you—driven, growth-minded, and always on the go. Hosted by Executive Leadership Coach Mark J. Cundiff, this podcast delivers practical leadership insights you can use today, not someday.
Each week, you’ll get:
- Short, focused teaching episodes packed with real-world lessons from decades of leadership experience, bestselling books, and proven frameworks.
- Authentic interviews with front-line leaders who share how they’re navigating challenges, building teams, and leading with purpose, right where they are.
Whether you’re commuting, working out, or grabbing a few quiet minutes between meetings, this show helps you invest in your leadership without adding to your already busy schedule.
Because great leadership isn’t about having more time—it’s about using the time you have to lead on purpose.
This show is for growth-minded professionals who want more than titles and tactics. It’s for those who want to lead with purpose, develop a legacy, and make their future bigger than their past.
So whether you're leading a team, a business, or yourself—tune in, take notes, and let’s grow together.
The Learning To Lead Show with Mark J. Cundiff
"Trust, Truth, and Leadership: A Mentorship Journey" Reflections on my Conversation with Steve Veale
"Trust, Truth, and Leadership: A Mentorship Journey" Reflections on my Conversation with Steve Veale
Download This Episode's LeaderNotes Here: LeaderNotes
Get Your Free Book: The Trust Gap
In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff discusses key insights from his conversation with Steve Veale, the executive investor of Westridge Church. Mark emphasizes the importance of pursuing mentorship relentlessly and how it contributes to becoming a healthy leader, capable of being a strong influence on the team. He also explores the importance of trust in leadership, demonstrating that it enhances performance and drives organizational progress. Mark shares some recommended books from Steve, along with notable quotes on leadership, mentorship, and organizational culture. Additionally, listeners are encouraged to download leader notes and check out Mark's ebook, 'The Trust Gap.'
00:00 Introduction to the Learning to Lead Show
00:39 Key Takeaways from Steve Veale's Mentorship Insights
02:20 The Importance of Trust in Leadership
04:11 Recommended Reads and Resources
04:45 Steve Veale's Memorable Quotes
06:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Free Learning To Lead Resources
- Free Book: The Trust Gap
- Get your Free Learning to Lead Leadership Reading Guide Here
- The Learning To Lead Newsletter
- LeaderNotes
🔎 About LeaderNotes
LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go.
It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.
Download This Episode's Leadernotes Here: LeaderNotes
Hello. Welcome to today's episode of the Learning to Lead Show. I'm your host, Mark Cundiff this is a place where we try to encourage leaders, equip leaders, and help them grow from being a good leader to a great leader. Today's episode features some comments and reflections on my conversation with Steve Veale the executive investor of Westridge. Church in Dallas, Georgia. If you have not listened to the previous two episodes of my conversation with Steve, I would highly encourage you to do that. Today I'm gonna highlight a couple of key things that he talked about that I thought are really worth diving into. The first one was the mentorship is worth pursuing relentlessly aspect where he was talking about where he had tried several different times during his. Career to find a mentor that really spoke truth to him and that he felt safe with. He even uses the word a conduit of truth as a statement of what he feels like he has in the relationship he has with this person that he's dealing with right now. This mentor really speaks truth back to him. And it's also a place where he can share his. Innermost thoughts, feelings, and struggles in a safe place. He talks about the value of that, how that is helping him be a healthy leader. When he's a healthy leader, he's a more robust, powerful influencer on his team. That is something that we could all focus on. Do you have someone that can help you in that way? There are a number of ways to do that, some people like to get a. A part of a mastermind group. Some people want to have a personal coach or a combination of both. Maybe you're in a small group where there are some people that can really speak truth into you and help encourage you. One of my mentors, Jonathan Milligan, says that growth happens in community. So think about that. Think about how you could engage someone to help you from a mentorship standpoint that can speak truth, that can be a conduit of truth to help you grow and increase your leadership influence. One of the other things that he talked about was the power of trust in a relationship and the power of trust in leadership. He talks about. The speed of trust, how everything happens in the organization at the speed of trust. If there is low trust in the organization moves slowly. People doubt the leader people. Are skeptical of the vision of the purpose of the mission of the organization if they don't trust a leader. So think about that. How are you adding trust to your organization, the way you lead the organization? Do they trust you? Do you do what you say you're going to do? Are you a person who is a person of your word that does what you say you're gonna do on a regular? Basis. He says that trust is the ultimate performance accelerator. Whether you're in ministry or business, everything moves at the speed of trust when you lose it. Progress grinds to a halt, earn it, and momentum soars. If I lose faith in a product, he says, I'm not buying it anymore. That's the same with the leader. If they lose trust in you, they're not buying what you're selling anymore. I just want to take a moment here and talk to you about a little ebook that I wrote called the Trust Gap, I'll leave the link in there. In the show notes where you can grab a copy of that for free and it gives you some insights into how the trust of a leader can be eroded through sometimes blind spots through things that they don't even realize they're doing or not doing that cause a trust erode. I've seen this happen recently in a number of organizations where the leader has lost his trust and the organization has absolutely fallen apart, and you do not want that to happen to your organization. Steve also recommended some good books, one that's a long time favorite of mine for over 25 years. Good to Great by Jim Collins. He also mentioned the Awe of God by John Bere, and then the secrets. The Secret Place by Bob Soge, and those will be in the show notes as well. If you have not downloaded the leader notes for these two episodes, I'll have those included, a link for those as well where you can understand a little bit deeper and have some reminders of the things that we talked about during that episode. I won't give you a few of my favorite quotes from Steve to close up today's episode. It's never wrong to invest in your people ever. Two, everything moves at the speed of trust. Number three, if I lose faith in the product, I'm not buying it anymore. Number four, you can't say one thing and do another at any level. Number five, when you put people in leadership who represent the whole. Trust grows. Number six, and this is one of my favorite, A conduit of truth protects what's flowing through it. Think about that. When you have a good relationship with a mentor or someone you can confide in, the conduit of truth is protecting what's going through it. It's a safe place to have conversations and to have growth. Number seven, he's safe because I can tell him anything. But not safe because he tells me what I don't want to hear. Then that's a key part of having a valuable mentor relationship. Number eight, be tenacious. Don't stop until you find that relationship and he's talking there about finding that person that you can have a good mentor mentee relationship with. Relationship. Different seasons may require different mentors. Just realize that, that you see, especially in athletics where golfers change. Coaches during different seasons of their life athletes do that. Other professionals do that. They change because they have a different need at a different time, a different season. So think about that from a standpoint of your mentorship as well, and linking results to culture is how you win long term. In other words, having a great culture. Leads to great results. That's it for today. I just wanted to share a few insights that I got from my conversation with Steve Vill. Again, if you haven't listened to the previous two episodes, part one and part two of my conversation with Steve. If you like what you're hearing on the Learning to Lead show, please share with your friends. Please go to your favorite podcast player and give us a ranking of five. Then also make sure you go and download the leader notes. These leader notes will give you some insights and help you remember what was discussed during our conversations. Have a great week leading. Make sure to keep growing and learning and leading at a higher level.