#258 – The Truth About Transparency: Leading Through the Gray Areas

Building Better with Brandon Bartneck

In this solo episode, Brandon Bartnick explores the messy reality behind transparency and authenticity in leadership. These are buzzwords in many settings, but the day-to-day application is far more complex.

Drawing from recent experiences in a manufacturing and audit context, Brandon reflects on:

• Why total transparency isn’t always helpful

• The risks of encouraging issue-raising without accountability

• The challenge of threading the needle between honest communication and effective execution

• How well-intentioned leadership behaviors can unintentionally undermine the culture we’re trying to build

This episode is a reflection—not a conclusion. Brandon shares how he’s thinking about this tension in his current role, and how he’s trying to lead teams with both integrity and pragmatism.

About Building Better:Building Better with Brandon Bartnick focuses on the people, products, and companies creating a better tomorrow, often in the transportation and manufacturing sectors. Previously called the Future of Mobility podcast, the show features real, human conversations exploring what leaders and innovators are doing, why and how they’re doing it, and what we can learn from their experiences. Topics include manufacturing, production, assembly, autonomous driving, electric vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cells, leadership, and more.

Key Themes:

• “Bad news first” only works if people feel safe telling the truth

• A culture of transparency can easily tip into unproductive complaint cycles

• Discernment is key: not all problems are worth escalating, but some absolutely are

• How language and tone shape trust

• What it means to model transparency as a leader without slowing down execution

Show Notes:brandonbartneck.com/buildingbetter/258

Listen to the Episode:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify