Uncommon Leadership

Most leaders believe their teams go quiet because people fear conflict, don't know what to say, or lack confidence.   But that's almost never the real reason.   In this episode of Uncommon Leadership , Keith Klain joins me to reveal a harder, more human truth: Teams go quiet when they stop trusting how honest their leaders will be with them.   Keith shares the shift that transformed every organiza...

What if the real competitive advantage in your organization isn't your strategy or your technology— but the way you show up for your people when everything feels uncertain?   In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast , I'm joined by Jim Carlough—a veteran healthcare executive, strategist, and author.   Jim's journey spans from captaining sports teams in his youth to helping organizations...

Are your teams holding back?   Are they experimenting, speaking up, or taking risks when the stakes are high?   If not, you're dealing with a problem that hasn't surfaced yet. And it's not a skill problem. Or a process problem.   It's most likely a culture problem.    When your people don't feel safe, they don't take risks. They hide their vulnerabilities. And in an environment like this, even you...

Why aren't your teams bringing you their best ideas?  Why are they silent in meetings? Most likely, they don't feel psychologically safe to speak up. Or they haven't connected with the real you yet.  If this sounds true for your team, your leadership approach is heading into isolation, and you are facing a quiet crisis. The good news is that it's not too late, and together—we can fix it! Hi there!...

When 85% of medical practices in the USA shut their doors, Dr. Ravi Iyer, a Harvard-trained physician and human potential expert, became the last line of defense as he and his team kept theirs open.   Dr. Iyer's mantra, all for one and one for all, led him to serve over 100,000 patients through the chaos and disruption caused by the pandemic.   Hello and welcome to another fascinating episode of t...

A lot of leaders believe that they need to sacrifice themselves to stand out.   But what if prioritizing yourself—your clarity, your energy, and your pace—is the most strategic thing you can do for your team as well as your organization?   What if you had to be a little selfish? Putting on your oxygen mask before you rushed to help everyone else around you?   Welcome to another inspiring episode o...

For the first 15 years of her career, Dr. Amanda Lynne Smith was always the first to arrive and last to leave. And she expected the same relentless pace from everyone around.   Then COVID arrived, and with it, an unexpected gift: the permission to breathe.   But this isn't just a story about work-life balance. It's the story that led to a groundbreaking realization—you cannot keep pouring if your...

Have you ever hit a personal rock bottom that threatened your entire career?   Our guest today, Dr. Alfredo Borodowski, knows that feeling intimately. Alfredo's story is one of total collapse and remarkable redemption. He didn't find his way back with better systems; he found it by discovering his own forgotten character strengths.   Hello! This is Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, and I'd love...

Hello there!   I'm Michael Hunter, founder of Uncommon Teams, and I'm so glad you found this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast.   I started this series because I constantly meet leaders battling burnout and searching for deeper impact. While I may not have all the answers you're looking for, I truly believe that professional and personal success hinges on aligning personal fulfillment wit...

What if the things you've been hiding are the very things that make you an extraordinary leader?   In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership podcast, Michael Hunter sits down with Nick Goodin, a former chief product officer, to unpack a truth most leaders never discover: your personal story is your greatest asset.   Nick shares his own incredible journey—from a traumatic childhood to the sudden,...

This story is going to resonate with so many leaders out there:   Once upon a time, you built your career/business on a foundation of expertise and experience. You followed the rules and made sure every plan was perfectly laid out.   But lately, you've started to feel stuck. You're slowly realizing the old playbook no longer works in a world of constant change.   In this episode, I, Michael Hunter...

Do you ever feel like your team is stuck? Like you're hitting a wall and just can't seem to move forward?   In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, am talking to Melissa Appel, an executive product management coach, advisor, and author.   We get into an uncomfortable but essential truth about leadership: a leader's behavior might be the very thing...

What does it truly take to embrace your most authentic self?    Join us for another episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast where I, Michael Hunter, sit down with Ken Miller, a resilience coach and national speaker—who has an extraordinary story to share.   Ken shares his journey from being an Ivy League graduate to a life of addiction that led to homelessness and multiple prison sentences. He...

What if the key to being a great leader isn't about working harder, but about being more you ?   Hi, I am Michael Hunter , founder of Uncommon Teams, and I'm so glad you found this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast. Because today, I sit down with Jason Dea , who is a CPO, a startup advisor, and a leadership coach, and explore a new way to lead.   Discover why trying to be a different pers...

What makes a leader finally decide it's time to change?    Hey there! This is Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, and welcome to another episode of The Uncommon Leadership Podcast, where I have real, unfiltered conversations with successful leaders about their journeys—the highs, the lows, and the moments that forced a change.   Here, we go beyond the business talks and dive into the human side of...

Many leaders find themselves at a crossroads today.   Because they understand that the traditional "command and control" style of leadership is no longer working across the nuanced human dynamics of today's workplace.   So if you're here looking to explore this concern or need help navigating change, you've come to the right place.   Hello, this is Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams. With me, I ha...

Hey there! I'm Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, and I'm genuinely glad you're here.   If you've found your way to this podcast, it tells me you're ready to embrace change like an old friend, and I'm here to make that process easy for you—especially if you're currently feeling like you're running on empty or sacrificing your well-being just to keep up.   Because in this powerful episode, I sit d...

As leaders, we often find ourselves navigating a landscape of constant change. Unexpected challenges.   And the constant pressure of having all the answers.   So, if you're feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or simply know there's a deeper, more authentic way to lead—you are in the right place.   Hello and welcome to another episode of the Uncommon Leadership podcast. Today, I'm honored to sit down w...

Are you a leader, founder, or CXO grappling with change, overwhelm, or burnout in your organization?   Do you wonder about the real ROI of focusing on employee well-being and internal development?   If so, you've come to the right place!   Hello and welcome to another episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast.   Here, I, Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, explore how you can align personal fulfi...

What if I told you that the key to unlocking even greater success isn't another strategy, but a raw, honest look at how you lead yourself and your team?   In this Uncommon Leadership episode, I'm joined by Natasha Sell, co-founder of Sutra.co.   Natasha's journey reveals that true leadership, especially for entrepreneurs, is a profound path of personal growth that demands your whole self.   We exp...

With 56% of leaders hitting burnout in 2024 and a staggering 43% of companies losing half their leadership teams, it's clear modern leadership is heading into a burnout phase.   But the question remains: Why?   On this episode of the Uncommon Leadership podcast, I dive into the core issues with highly experienced product leader and coach — Phil Hornby. Phil's unique blend of technical acumen, busi...

Is your leadership style secretly costing your company millions?   Many leaders today fall prey to the dangerous pressure of hiding their true selves.   And this is draining more than just energy.   It's slowly piling up invisible walls within your team—stifling innovation, and quietly sabotaging your bottom line.   The old playbook for leaders is failing in today's unpredictable world. It's creat...

Imagine being constantly caught off guard by problems you never saw coming, while carrying the weight of leadership decisions that could make or break your organization.   It's a tough spot, and frankly, a sad reality for many leaders who've unintentionally built walls, missing crucial insights that could save them millions.   Welcome to another powerful episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast!...

Ever wonder why some teams thrive through chaos while others crumble?   It's not about micromanagement or perfect plans—it's about trust. It's about fierce loyalty.   In this powerful episode, I, Michael Hunter, and DocuSign's Director of Engineering, Wes Clines, decode the true essence of an uncommon leader .   Wes shares his battle-tested "hacks" to transform teams through transparency, consiste...

Hello there!   I'm Michael Hunter, founder of Uncommon Teams, and I'm so glad you found this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast.   I started this series because I constantly meet leaders battling burnout and searching for deeper impact.   While I may not have all the answers you're looking for, I truly believe that professional and personal success hinges on aligning personal fulfillment w...