54: Your Values Are Lying: What Happens When Leaders Stop Living What They Preach | Meredith Bell

When it comes to high-performing teams, we talk about skills, but what about character?

In this episode of The Learnit Lounge, host Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins sits down with Meredith Bell—author, leadership expert, and host of the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast—to tackle the question: what does it really mean to have strong character at work? Meredith unpacks the difference between character and personality, explores the core pillars of character (and how they’re developed), and shares actionable systems to help leaders measure and grow character across their teams. Along the way, they dig deep into the practical side—how values move from wall art to lived behavior, how leaders can foster psychological safety, and why feedback is the engine for personal growth.

Whether you’re leading a team or just want to show up as your best self, this episode is packed with insights you can use right away to create healthier, more trusting organizations.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Meredith defines “strong character”—and why it matters more than personality in leadership
• The three foundational pillars of character: building a stronger self, stronger relationships, and a stronger work ethic
• Why self-awareness and humility are the hidden superpowers for leaders
• Strategies to make organizational values actionable (not just wall art)
• How to measure and develop character in the workplace with real, behavior-based feedback
• The connection between character, psychological safety, and team performance
• What to do when misalignment between personal and organizational values arises—and how to address it

Timestamps:

00:42 – Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins introduces Meredith Bell and today’s theme

03:41 – Meredith’s definition of strong character vs. personality

06:29 – Teaching integrity (even to the youngest learners)

08:23 – The three pillars of character: self, relationships, work ethic

09:51 – Why humility, self-awareness, and composure matter for leaders

11:07 – Trust, honesty, and work ethic in real-life leadership

14:10 – How healthy character and emotional intelligence connect

16:11 – Bringing company values to life (and into real decisions)

17:11 – Measuring character: behaviors, 360s, and feedback tools

22:55 – Creating a safer, more feedback-rich environment

25:04 – The hidden costs of ignoring integrity (even privately)

27:07 – Power, performance, and character in leadership roles

29:20 – When character becomes a performance management issue

34:27 – Meredith’s most significant leadership lesson

35:54 – Why training without follow-up doesn’t change behavior

38:25 – Connecting with Meredith and more resources

About Meredith Bell:

Meredith Bell is the co-founder and president of Grow Strong Leaders, where she creates powerful tools for leaders to develop character, communication skills, and strong relationships on their teams. She’s the author of three leadership books, including “Connect with Your Team” and “Peer Coaching Made Simple,” and has interviewed nearly 400 business leaders and experts on the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast. With decades of experience in leadership development, Meredith specializes in helping organizations move from stated values to lived behaviors.

Resources & Mentions:

• Grow Strong Leaders website
• Grow Strong Leaders Podcast
• Connect with Meredith Bell on LinkedIn
• Connect with Your Team book
• Peer Coaching Made Simple book (with Dr. Dennis Coates)
• Grow Strong Character book (with Dr. Dennis Coates)
• Connect with Mickey Fitch-Collins on LinkedIn

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: www.learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com

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