57: The Storm That Made a Better Leader

In this episode of Bad Boss Confessional, Beth Fahey sits down with Michael Hennon, former CIA analyst, bank technology executive, and EOS implementer based in Durango, Colorado. Michael's confession comes not from the boardroom but from a sailing dock in Annapolis, where he was managing 18 instructors and hundreds of kids on the water when a storm rolled in fast. His instinct was to get loud, bark orders, and project control. It made everything worse. The conversation explores what happens when a leader performs intensity instead of actually leading, why calm is one of the most underrated skills in any organization, and how one honest after-action review changed the way Michael has shown up in every high-pressure situation since. His lesson is simple and transferable: the strongest response in the room is usually the quietest one. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 02:22 A Diverse Career Path 05:05 Coaching and Consulting Differences 07:38 The Power of Calm Leadership 12:13 Self-Correction and Professional Growth 16:18 Reflecting on Career Highlights 20:40 Distilling Complexity  27:35 Reflection and Future Plans Subscribe to the Bad Boss Confessional podcast: 🎙️ Podbean: https://www.badbossconfessional.podbean.com ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badbossconfessional The Bad Boss Confessional is where leaders come to tell the truth about the moments they rarely talk about out loud. The mistakes, the hard lessons, and what it actually takes to become a great boss. Hosted by Beth Fahey, Expert EOS Implementer, co-author of ROLLOUT, and creator of the Great Boss Workshop. Connect with Beth Fahey: 🌐 https://www.bethfahey.com ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@bethfahey Want to be a guest on the show? Visit https://www.bethfahey.com/podcast to inquire. Pick up a copy of ROLLOUT: Get Your Entire Team Running on EOS to Achieve Your Vision at https://www.rolloutbook.com/order Download free Rollout resources at https://www.rolloutbook.com Join Beth at the next Great Boss Workshop at https://www.bethfahey.com/events