162: When Loyalty Becomes Dangerous in Leadership Teams
From Human Centred Leadership Podcast with Kul Mahay by Kul Mahay
April 14, 2026 · 20 min · Episode 162
About this episode
Kul Mahay discusses the dangers of loyalty in leadership teams and emphasizes the need for honesty and psychological safety.
In this episode, Kul explores how loyalty within leadership teams can quietly become dangerous. While loyalty is often celebrated, he reveals how it can suppress honesty, fuel groupthink, and lead to poor decision-making when it replaces truth. Through powerful examples and insights, Kul highlights the importance of psychological safety, courage, and constructive challenge. Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space. He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game. Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/
People in this episode
Host: Kul Mahay
Topics covered
- loyalty in leadership
- psychological safety
- groupthink
- decision-making
- constructive challenge
- emotional intelligence
Keywords
- leadership
- loyalty
- groupthink
- decision-making
- psychological safety
- emotional intelligence
- constructive challenge
More episodes of Human Centred Leadership Podcast with Kul Mahay
- 165: The Slow Death of Courage in Organisations · May 5, 2026 · 19 min
- 164: The Loneliness of Being the Only Honest Voice in the Room · April 28, 2026 · 21 min
- 163: Why Leadership Teams Become Echo Chambers · April 21, 2026 · 18 min
- 161: How Do You Show Up When The Fear is Real? : Maria James · April 7, 2026 · 31 min
- 160: The Leadership Illusion - Why Smart Leaders Still Make Terrible Decisions · March 31, 2026 · 16 min
- 159: How Good Leaders Slowly Compromise Their Values · March 24, 2026 · 16 min
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