When Crisis Hits: Why Humility and Gut Instinct Matter

When a crisis hits, the pressure is on. The weight of command becomes real and the decisions made in those moments define a leader. But what if the key to effective crisis leadership isn't about having all the answers, but about knowing how to find them?In this powerful episode of Unbreakable Leadership, Peter Pollock is joined by Brig. Gen. (Ret.) John "Dragon" Teichert, a decorated F-15E and F-22 test pilot with a storied career commanding at the highest levels, including Joint Base Andrews and U.S. operations in Iraq. Together, they dive into the heart of what it takes to lead when the stakes are highest.Peter opens with a gripping story from his time deployed, where a personnel officer had to lead a multi-service Crisis Action Team (CAT) through an F-16 crash and recovery. The lesson? His greatest compliment came from a pilot who said, "Thanks for not pretending you know everything."John builds on this with his own harrowing tale of an F-16 crash in a Maryland neighborhood, highlighting the dual responsibility of managing the incident while proactively communicating with a nervous community and government officials. Their conversation is a masterclass in humble leadership, exploring how to tap into the expertise around you, create a culture that unleashes innovation, and why you have to break the rules.Key TakeawaysReal leaders listen first, ask for recommendations, and empower the experts around them.Crisis exposes character. Preparation creates confidence.Communication in crisis builds trust more than perfection ever will.Being a good human is not a soft skill, it is a leadership multiplier.Sometimes the right decision breaks a rule. You better be right and you better be accountable.Leaders must reduce barriers for their people by delegating authority and waiving unnecessary rules.Gut instinct is often accumulated experience speaking. Ignore it at your own risk.Culture changes fast when people see their ideas acted on and not dismissed.Hard moments bind teams together more deeply than success ever could.In This Episode[02:48] Humility in leadership and crisis action team story[06:54] Listening to experts and delegating authority[09:07] Leaders should know a little about a lot[11:09] Innovation, getting to yes, and waivers[15:32] Building a culture of open communication[18:18] Leader accessibility and feedback loops[28:30] Be a good human and trust building[32:32] Shared trauma and organizational bonding[38:13] Following your gut[45:04] Closing remarksNotable Quotes06:38 “As a leader, you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room.” – Peter Pollock09:04 “Your job as a leader is not to know everything about everything; your job is to know a little about a lot.” – Peter Pollock10:01 “Why should I make myself an expert when I can pick up the phone and call an expert?” – John Teichert16:19 “If people realize you’re just going to say no, it will stop all the good ideas from ever getting to you.” – John Teichert29:49 “Trust is the catalyst that allows organizations to do far more than they could otherwise.” – John TeichertOur GuestBrig. Gen. (Ret.) John “Dragon” Teichert is a decorated United States Air Force fighter pilot, F-22 test pilot, former commander of Joint Base Andrews and Edwards AFB, former Senior Defense Official to Iraq, Pentagon leader, author, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. His career spans combat aviation, crisis leadership, international affairs, and innovation across the Air Force and Space Force. John is widely known for his principled leadership, community engagement, and commitment to building cultures where people and mission thrive together.Resources and LinksJohn Teicherthttps://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1607028/e-john-teichert/https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnteichert/Book Boom!Peter PollockWebsite https://gladiusconsultingtx.com/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterpollock1/Book Leadership: The Good, Bad and Ugly