David Fung on Leading Yourself First, Rebuilding Trust, and Why Beliefs Hold Leaders Back

In Episode 177 of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, host Ron Harvey of Global Core Strategies and Consulting sits down with David Fung — executive coach, founder of Coachful Coaching, and 23-year veteran of the tech industry, including a leadership tenure at Salesforce. Based in Toronto, Canada, David now works with executives and teams navigating major transitions and chaos, helping them find clarity when the stakes are highest.Ron and David dig into the real, often uncomfortable work that separates titled managers from trusted leaders. From the metaphor of playing soccer at the edge of a cliff to the belief systems that quietly steer behavior, this conversation gives leaders practical language and frameworks they can put to work immediately.What you will hear in this episode:* Why learning to lead yourself is the non-negotiable starting point for leading anyone else** The "soccer at the edge of a cliff" metaphor for creating safety that fuels innovation* How to lead with weakness instead of performing strength, and why it draws people to you* A practical framework for diagnosing where and when trust was broken on a team* Why the "how will we work together" conversation is the one most teams skip* Lessons from Salesforce on running a metrics-driven culture without losing your humanity* How clarity, cadence, and accountability prevent conflict-averse leadership* Why beliefs — not skills — are what most often hold leaders back* The four pillars of sustainable leadership: faith, family, friends, and meaningful work* What the 1937 Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals about community and well-being* A candid story about how David's biggest strength became the behavior burning out his teamThis is a conversation for current and emerging leaders who want to grow without losing themselves in the process.Chapters00:00 – Welcome to Unpack Podcast - Ron introduces the show, its focus on leadership, and welcomes guest David Fung.01:24 – David Fung’s Background - David shares his 23-year tech career, leadership experience, and move into executive coaching.02:14 – What Leadership Looks Like Across Organizations-Discussion on common leadership themes and the “guardrails at the edge of the cliff” metaphor.04:12 – Leading Yourself First - David explains self-leadership, self-work, and why leaders should lead with weakness.07:20 – Trust in Leadership and Society - Ron and David explore who people trust and how trust applies in leadership and life.11:13 – Rebuilding Trust After It’s Broken - David shares how to identify where trust broke down and how to work backward from there.14:04 – Managing Expectations Up FrontThe conversation shifts to setting norms, agreements, and communication standards early.16:44 – Balancing Metrics and Human Connection - David discusses leading in a metrics-driven environment while still seeing people as people.20:39 – Handling Conflict-Averse Leaders - How coaches help leaders confront conflict and build accountability.23:14 – Personal Leadership Lessons and Burnout - David shares a real example of how too many ideas created confusion and burnout.29:11 – The Four Pillars of Self-Care - Faith, family, friends, and meaningful work as anchors for well-being.32:47 – Final Leadership Advice - David’s closing wisdom on humility, discipline, and self-leadership.33:22 – How to Find David Fung - David shares his podcast, coaching work, and where to connect with him.35:07 – Ron’s Closing Remarks - Ron wraps up the episode and encourages listeners to share and stay connected.