Episode 3: The Difference Between Loyalty and Inertia

Welcome to What They Don’t Tell You — a leadership podcast from Deabadh Group.

In Episode 3 of What They Don’t Tell You, William Warren explores the subtle but powerful difference between loyalty and inertia — and how staying too long in roles, relationships, or systems can quietly drain energy, creativity, and organizational vitality. This episode looks at why familiarity often masquerades as commitment, and why real loyalty sometimes means knowing when to move on.

About this episode

From careers to companies, many people stay put not because it’s right — but because it’s familiar.

In this episode, William examines how inertia quietly shapes leadership decisions, organizational culture, and personal growth. Drawing on decades of work with senior leaders, he explores why loyalty and inertia often look the same from the outside, but feel very different on the inside.

You’ll hear how structural friction, fear of loss, and comfort with the status quo keep people in roles long after their energy has gone — and how organizations slowly begin protecting history instead of building capability.

William also reflects on leaders who remain present in body but not in spirit, and why sometimes the most loyal act is having the self-awareness to step aside.

This is an invitation to pause and reflect:

Where in your own career might you be staying out of habit rather than choice?

Where might something be continuing simply because it always has?

Because real loyalty isn’t about staying. It’s about serving what’s emerging.

Learn more about our leadership work at deabadhgroup.com