{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Unlock 360","title":"S.5 | Ep. 18: Why Trust Is Every Leader's Greatest Asset with Dr. Gearl Loden","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2148,"description":"In this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud welcomes Dr. Gearl Loden, Superintendent of Nixa Public Schools in Missouri and author of Before It Breaks: The Seven Pillars of Trust Every Leader Must Build. With more than 36 years in education and 18 years as a superintendent, Dr. Loden shares how his personal experiences, leadership journey, and passion for developing people have shaped one of the nation's highest-performing school districts.\nDrawing from both his new book and his leadership experience, Dr. Loden explains why trust is the foundation of every successful organization. He discusses practical strategies for building stronger teams, repairing damaged relationships, creating systems that support people, and leading with courage through difficult conversations.\nThe conversation also explores Nixa Public Schools' transformation through professional learning communities, community partnerships, innovative leadership development, and proactive decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Loden shares how focusing on trust, continuous improvement, and serving the entire community has helped Nixa become one of the top-performing districts in Missouri while maintaining a culture where both students and staff thrive.\nKey Moments\n03:55 How Personal Challenges Shaped His Leadership\n06:05 Why Trust Is Every Leader's Foundation\n07:13 The 72-Hour Trust Protocol\n10:26 Building Competent Systems, Not Just Competent People\n19:02 Leading Through the Pandemic\n24:38 Preparing Before COVID Changed Everything\n27:57 One Nixa and Building Community Connections\n33:24 Earning Community Trust Through Leadership\n35:26 Why Public Education Matters More Than Ever\n39:30 Creating a Culture Where Employees Thrive\nWhy You'll Love This Episode\nDr. Loden blends practical leadership strategies with personal stories that demonstrate how trust, strong systems, and genuine care for people create thriving schools. Whether you're leading a district, a campus, or a team, this...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/cNqF3jSAGeObZtB8q6Pl2slNau9sCDYLUTBh6wENuzU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hYjlk/YmIwNjIyZjk2ZTk4/MDUzMmEwNTZjMWNj/OWNjNy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}