Episode 142
142. Is Hypocrisy — Active or Passive — Secretly Destroying Your Team's Trust in You?
Have you ever wondered why some physician leaders lose their team's trust almost instantly? Could hypocrisy be the hidden reason?
In healthcare leadership, trust is the currency that drives team performance. Yet, many physician leaders unknowingly sabotage this trust through hypocritical behavior.
If your actions don’t match your words, your team notices—and trust fractures fast. This episode reveals how to stay aligned and avoid the pitfalls of hypocrisy that undermine your leadership credibility.
You will discover:
👉🏼 A simple, actionable definition of hypocrisy and how to spot it in yourself and your organization.
👉🏼 A powerful Venn diagram framework that visually shows the relationship between your words, actions, and the trust you build.
👉🏼 Practical tips and reflective exercises to ensure you "walk your talk," strengthening trust and cohesion within your team.
Press play now to unlock the keys to building unshakable trust with your team by eliminating the hidden hypocrisy that could be holding you back.
Here's the WALK/TALK/TRUST VENN Diagram
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Transcript
I think you’ll agree with me—there’s nothing worse than a hypocrite, especially at work.
The problem? Many physician leaders unintentionally come across as hypocrites and don’t even realize it. In this episode, I’ll show you a simple way to avoid hypocrisy using a brand-new Venn diagram I just created.
Trust me, you’ve never seen this one before. Check it out.
Why Hypocrisy Drives Doctors Crazy
Nothing drives doctors crazier than hypocrisy in the workplace.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
A working definition of hypocrisy you can recognize.
Common examples you might even see in yourself.
How trust is directly connected to hypocrisy.
A simple Venn diagram that will help you stay clear of hypocritical behavior.
All of this ties back to the amount of trust you build with your team. Ready? Let’s get started.
What Is Hypocrisy?
Let’s start with a working definition:
Hypocrisy is when your values and mission statement say one thing, but the behavior of the organization goes in the opposite direction.
For example, an organization may espouse quality and patient satisfaction, yet consistently make profit-driven decisions.
As a physician leader, when you see or hear hypocrisy, it’s obvious. You can sense it immediately—and so can your team.
Doctors have a low tolerance for hypocrisy, especially when they’re the only ones in the room who seem to notice it.
Why Hypocrisy Breaks Trust
Let’s revisit something we discussed back in Episode 135:
The fundamental currency of physician leadership is a five-letter word:
T-R-U-S-T.
Your team’s speed, cohesion, and performance all depend on the level of trust between members—and between you and them.
Nothing fractures trust faster than hypocrisy.
The Two Types of Hypocrisy
There are two main forms of hypocrisy in leadership:
1. Active Hypocrisy
Happens when a leader openly violates the values they claim to hold.
Example: The organization talks about quality care but consistently makes decisions driven by profit instead.
2. Passive Hypocrisy
Happens when a leader fails to live up to the values they claim to espouse.
Example: The CEO gives a glowing speech about organizational values at the annual medical staff meeting—but the rest of the year, they’re nowhere to be seen, and their decisions focus solely on profits.
Passive hypocrisy is often more draining because it takes longer for the team to realize what’s happening—but the damage to trust is just as severe.
The Venn Diagram of Trust
Here’s where my new Venn diagram comes in:
One circle represents what you say (Talk).
The other circle represents what you do (Walk).
The overlap between these two circles represents the trust your team has in you.
The greater the overlap, the higher the trust.
If you talk about values but don’t demonstrate them, your team won’t trust you. It’s that simple.
Be Impeccable with Your Word
This concept ties directly to one of the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz:
Be impeccable with your word.
This means:
Say what you truly believe.
Back your words with visible actions.
Don’t espouse values you don’t consistently display.
Don’t take actions that contradict your stated values.
When you’re impeccable with your word, your team believes in you—because they see your words and actions are aligned.
A Coaching Exercise: Check Yourself for Hypocrisy
Here’s a quick exercise for some self-reflection:
Step 1: Identify Your Core Values
Grab a piece of paper and write down the five core values of your leadership.
What do you value most as a leader?
Truth?
Support?
Quality?
Safety?
Step 2: Reflect on Your Actions
For each value, ask yourself:
How do I demonstrate this value to my team?
If you find a value that you talk about but don’t actively demonstrate, ask:
What can I do at my next team meeting to show alignment with this value?
Step 3: Ask for Feedback
For a reality check, ask the most trusted member of your team:
“These are my core values. Have you seen me act in any way that’s not consistent with them? Be honest—there will be no blowback. I need this transparency to grow as a leader.”
The insights you gain from this exercise can be game-changing.
Final Thoughts: Stay on the Right Side of Trust
Hypocrisy destroys trust.
If you espouse a value, your team needs to see frequent evidence of you honoring it through your actions.
Stay on this side of the boundary, and your team’s trust will grow—and so will your effectiveness and satisfaction as a leader.
That’s it for today.
Until we’re together again in the next podcast—keep breathing and have a great rest of your day.
