The Truth About Narcissistic Leaders | Brandon Smith
Download MP3In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Brandon Smith, leadership coach, TEDx speaker, professor at Emory University, and author known as "The Workplace Therapist." Together, they explore the human side of leadership and why so many workplace challenges are rooted in psychology rather than process.
Brandon shares the deeply personal story of growing up with a debilitating stutter, how that experience shaped his understanding of communication and resilience, and why he believes purpose is often born from pain. The conversation dives into narcissistic leadership, toxic workplace cultures, trust, vulnerability, curiosity, and the hidden costs of urgency-driven organizations.
You'll also learn Brandon's powerful frameworks for building trust, navigating difficult leaders, setting healthy boundaries, creating psychological safety, and moving from being the hero of the team to becoming the leader who develops others
Learn More About Brandon Smith:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandonsmithwpt
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsmithtwpt/
- Website: www.theworksmiths.com / www.theworkplacetherapist.com
Timestamps:
00:00 The Chaos of Urgency in Leadership
02:12 Brandon Smith: The Workplace Therapist's Journey
06:18 The Impact of a Horrible Boss on Leadership Philosophy
11:51 Balancing Compassion and Accountability in Leadership
16:32 Overcoming Stuttering: A Journey to Empathy
20:25 The Role of Pain in Finding Purpose
25:59 Understanding Narcissism in Leadership
30:00 Identifying Narcissistic Traits in Interviews
34:02 Understanding Narcissism and Insecurity
35:16 Healthy Confidence vs. Narcissism
39:32 The Importance of Curiosity in Leadership
44:14 The Dilemma of Toxic Leaders
48:54 Recognizing Adaptation to Toxic Environments
57:02 Building Trust Through Vulnerability and Curiosity
01:05:00 The Impact of Curiosity and Questioning
01:08:52 Understanding Assumptions and Clarifying Questions
01:12:55 The Importance of Personal Branding in Leadership
01:20:01 Managing Urgency and Prioritization in Leadership
01:26:59 Rapid Fire Insights and Final Thoughts
02:12 Brandon Smith: The Workplace Therapist's Journey
06:18 The Impact of a Horrible Boss on Leadership Philosophy
11:51 Balancing Compassion and Accountability in Leadership
16:32 Overcoming Stuttering: A Journey to Empathy
20:25 The Role of Pain in Finding Purpose
25:59 Understanding Narcissism in Leadership
30:00 Identifying Narcissistic Traits in Interviews
34:02 Understanding Narcissism and Insecurity
35:16 Healthy Confidence vs. Narcissism
39:32 The Importance of Curiosity in Leadership
44:14 The Dilemma of Toxic Leaders
48:54 Recognizing Adaptation to Toxic Environments
57:02 Building Trust Through Vulnerability and Curiosity
01:05:00 The Impact of Curiosity and Questioning
01:08:52 Understanding Assumptions and Clarifying Questions
01:12:55 The Importance of Personal Branding in Leadership
01:20:01 Managing Urgency and Prioritization in Leadership
01:26:59 Rapid Fire Insights and Final Thoughts
The discussion also tackles questions…
- What is the difference between confidence and narcissism in leadership?
- How do narcissistic leaders impact team culture and performance?
- Why do organizations tolerate toxic high performers?
- What are the warning signs of a dysfunctional workplace?
- How can employees protect themselves when working for a toxic leader?
- Why is curiosity one of the most important leadership skills?
- How do assumptions damage communication and trust?
- What does healthy vulnerability look like in leadership?
- How is psychological safety created on a team?
- Why do leaders struggle to build trust with employees?
- What is the relationship between authenticity, vulnerability, and credibility?
- Why are so many leaders addicted to urgency?
- What is the Hot Sauce Principle?
- How can leaders distinguish healthy pressure from toxic pressure?
- Why do organizations unintentionally create burnout?
- What is the difference between being an "Author" and an "Editor" as a leader?
- Why do high performers struggle to delegate?
- How can leaders stop being the hero and start developing others?
- How do communication skills impact leadership effectiveness?
- Can resilience and confidence be developed over time?
10 Key Takeaways from Brandon Smith on Leadership, Trust, and Workplace Culture
- The Best Leaders Build Trust Through Authenticity, Vulnerability, and Credibility
- Purpose Often Emerges from Life's Hardest Experiences
- Curiosity Is One of the Most Underrated Leadership Skills
- Narcissistic Leadership Creates Long-Term Damage to Teams
- Psychological Safety Starts with the Leades
- Most Workplace Conflicts Are Rooted in Poor Communication
- Healthy Urgency Creates Focus; Excessive Urgency Creates Chaos
- Leadership Is About Developing People, Not Becoming the Hero
- Strong Boundaries Protect Both Performance and Well-Being
- Resilience and Agency Can Be Developed Over Time
Similar Episodes
- Patrick Lyons: https://youtu.be/Crf6TXEB-Rk?si=rifGZy1I2LH-oFF3
- Jim Huiling: https://youtu.be/P_oYkReLpQU?si=UjLWWJAIkBfgyn8r
Production
Produced by: The AGN Group
Host: Angela Gill Nelms
Producer: Katie Hart
Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.
Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com
About The AGN Group:
At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.
Social Media Channels:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/
Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2
Want to be a Podcast Guest?
If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, read more here: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/be-our-guest/
Creators and Guests
Host
Angela Gill Nelms
Angela Gill Nelms is a founder, board leader, podcaster, and award-winning entrepreneur with a career spanning SaaS, medical devices, biotech, and clinical research. She builds high-impact teams and organizations rooted in culture, resilience, and strategic execution—helping innovators move ideas from lab to market and leaders grow with intention. She hosts three podcasts that reflect her mission to elevate leadership and accelerate biomedical innovation: Badass Leaders Podcast, Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow, and Recovery Advocate Network: Coffee & Conversation. Across each show, Angela creates space for honest conversations that drive impact, reduce stigma, and shape the future of leadership and health. A Georgia Tech Academy of Distinguished Alumni honoree and INC 500 award recipient, Angela serves on multiple boards across innovation and mental health ecosystems. Outside of work, she’s beekeeping, blacksmithing, turning wood, or training—6× IRONMAN and lifelong advocate for humans being human.
Producer
Katie Hart
Katie Hart is the Senior Client Relations Manager and Executive Podcast Producer at The AGN Group, where she leads podcast production, brand strategy, and client experience from concept to launch. Equal parts creative and operational powerhouse, she guides clients through branding, recording, and distribution while ensuring every detail runs seamlessly. Known as a customer experience magician, Katie is passionate about making every client and guest feel seen, supported, and celebrated—delivering a five-star experience that amplifies bold stories and builds meaningful impact.
