Why does leadership feel so exhausting?
Why do so many smart, responsible leaders feel like they have to hold everything together?
In this episode of Leadership Rewired, Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams explores one of the biggest traps leaders eventually fall into: the belief that if they just try harder, plan better, or control more, they can guarantee the outcomes they want.
But what if that's exactly what's making leadership harder?
Drawing on systems thinking, decades of experience working with engineering leaders and founders, and lessons from navigating uncertainty, Michael unpacks why the need for certainty often creates more stress, overwhelm, and suffering—and why letting go isn't giving up.
Inside this episode:
00:00 - Introduction
03:18 - The Princess Leia Rule
04:35 - The Illusion of Control
08:24 - If Not Control... Then What?
15:00 - The Change Model
23:02 - What is Your Real Definition of Control?
27:56 - Why Leaders Like Being In Control?
34:09 - Losing Control Can Be Scary
38:55 - Why You Don't Need to Debug Your Emotions
41:26 - Treat Emotions as Data
46:15 - The 2-Minute Rewire Challenge
If you're a founder, engineering leader, executive, or someone navigating change, complexity, and the pressure to have all the answers, this conversation is for you.
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About Michael Hunter
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.
Work with Michael Hunter:
🎵 Music Credits:
Title: Emotional Background
Author: Awesome_Music
Source: Envato Elements
License Code: 849DN2WG7A
🎵 Music Credits:
Title: Soothing
Author: Verclub
Source: Envato Elements
License Code: S5F84G9LCU
