Debugging the Leader: A Framework for Internal Alignment ft. Jon Bach

You've spent your career mastering the technical. 
You know how to debug a system, optimize a workflow, and drive efficiency with data. 

But as you move higher into leadership, you realize your most reliable tools, logic and evidence, often fail when applied to the most complex system of all: the human one.

In this milestone 100th episode of Uncommon Leadership, Michael Hunter and Jon Bach step away from standard people management advice to investigate the person behind the leader. 

Together they explore:

• What happens when you start paying attention—not just to systems, but to your own patterns, reactions, and internal signals.
• Why change feels disorienting.
• Why teams struggle even when the work looks right.
• Why what we call performance issues are often something else entirely.
• What it means to lead in a way that includes your mind, your body, your instincts—not just your logic/data.

Episode Breakdown
0:00 — Introduction
03:36 — How do you become an uncommon leader? 
07:27 — How to decode your body's signals 
11:10 —  A go-to question for all tech leaders 
15:33 — Why work-life balance is just a myth
19:13 — How to handle layoffs?
26:30 — How to stop carrying regret as a leader
28:34 — How to navigate career transitions? [ Satir Change Model]
40:15 — A mindset shift for dealing with uncertainty 
45:37 — The cumulative power of tiny steps
51:26 — Signs you're leading out of alignment
57:46 — How to live in alignment with your base beliefs
01:06:52 — Common vs. Uncommon Leaders
01:17:26 —  The question you need to ask to get to know someone
01:21:16 — Closing Thoughts

If you're navigating change, leading a team, or trying to make sense of what feels unclear right now—this episode offers a grounded, human way to approach it.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw
 
Prefer audio? Stream here:
Apple- 
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165
 
Spotify- 
https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj
 
This podcast is brought to you by Uncommon Teams: https://uncommonteams.com/
 
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Speakers on this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast
 
Jon Bach | Guest Speaker
With 30+ years at tech giants like Microsoft and eBay, Jon Bach treats software testing as a treasure hunt for the truth. Combining his background in journalism with deep technical expertise, he approaches code with an investigative lens—viewing every bug as a hidden story waiting to be told.
 
Jon's mission is deeply human as he helps tech professionals uncover the hidden assumptions and expectations buried in their daily workflows, guiding them to find the absolute truth about their work (and themselves). Outside of the software world, Jon embraces his roots as a freelance writer for Whidbey Weekly and Whidbey Life Magazine.
 
Connect with Jon Bach:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bachjon
Email: jbestpilot@gmail.com
Blog: jonbox.wordpress.com
Free Resources: satisfice.com
 
 
Michael Hunter | Host
Michael Hunter is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and the founder of Uncommon Teams. Drawing on his experience working with leaders at tech giants like Microsoft and Salesforce, Michael helps founders and Heads of People align personal fulfillment with sustainable business success. 
 
Using empathetic, human-centric frameworks, Michael guides leaders to build authentic teams, cultivate resilience, and embody certainty.
 
Work with Michael Hunter:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/
Website: https://uncommonteams.com/ 
Newsletter: https://uncommonteams.com/newsletter-archive/
Read the book: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/
Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/