Mindset, Awareness, and Practice: The Leadership Map with Garrett Benz

Trust isn't built through big gestures. It's built, and broken, through small ones. In this episode, Kent talks with leadership consultant and author Gerd Bents about his Leadership Map framework and what it actually takes to develop as a leader over time. The conversation covers why skills alone aren't enough, how AI is going to break human trust before it builds it, and what it means to lead from a place of courage rather than confidence.Guest: Gerd Bents is a leadership consultant, coach, and author with nearly 30 years of experience working with executives and organizations through change, drawing on backgrounds in psychology, sociology, and leadership development.In this episode:02:10 — Gerd's background: from athletics to executive leadership consulting in the finance industry03:42 — The Leadership Map: mindset, awareness, and practice as three dynamic, ongoing elements06:45 — Why focusing only on skills is a fixed mindset trap08:00 — Skills vs. mastery: using feedback as a case study, and getting your 10,000 reps11:55 — AI, layoffs, and why human leadership skills are becoming more valuable, not less18:33 — How trust erodes slowly and why AI is going to break it at scale22:40 — Working with skeptical senior leaders in finance: how to bring mindset work to people who don't expect it28:57 — The three illusions from Profound Space: confidence, information, and freedom34:05 — Gerd's advice for leaders seeking promotion and leaders who just stepped upResources mentioned:Profound Space by Gerd Bents — createprofoundspace.comRadical Candor by Kim ScottCoachability by Kevin Wilde (Carlson School, former General Mills HR leader)Viktor Frankl on autonomy and mindsetSimon Sinek on asking for advice instead of feedbackBrene Brown on courage and vulnerabilityFeel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan JeffersLinks for today's show:Gerd Bents on LinkedIn (flag for Kent to fill in)createprofoundspace.comProfound Space BookKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader ToolkitMusic for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms.Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.