Michael Hunter - Leading from the Inside Out: The Science of Calm in Chaotic Times

Michael Hunter — Leading from the Inside Out: The Science of Calm in Chaotic Times

What if calm isn’t the absence of chaos — but your competitive advantage?

In this episode of the People/AI Strategy Forum, Sam Reeve sits down with Michael Hunter, author of The Resilient Tech Leader, to explore how leaders can metabolize turbulence instead of being consumed by it.

As AI accelerates change, urgency multiplies, and burnout rises, many leaders feel like everything is a priority — which makes everything impossible. Michael shares a science-backed, field-tested approach to building calm from the inside out so you can make cleaner decisions, execute consistently, and help your team do their best work — even when the fire alarms are blaring.

Drawing from his background in high-pressure tech environments, Michael explains why the most important system you’ll ever upgrade isn’t your tech stack — it’s you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why multitasking destroys effectiveness (and what to do instead)
• How to triage chaos in 10 minutes
• The hidden cost of context switching
• A practical one-page focus routine to protect your attention
• The power of “tiny experiments” to build resilience
• How to align heart, mind, body, and spirit in leadership
• Why anxiety about the future is often a confidence gap
• The “chain of meaning” exercise to clarify what really matters
• How leaders can design a legacy that outlives their title

Michael reframes resilience as a learnable process — not a personality trait. Through small steps, lightweight rituals, and awareness of your “notice me nudges,” you can build the internal steadiness required to lead in chaotic times.

Key takeaway:

You don’t need perfect calm to lead well.
 You just need the next tiny step.

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Guest: Michael Hunter, Author of The Resilient Tech Leader
Host: Sam Reeve, CEO of CompTeam
Show: People/AI Strategy Forum (powered by CompTeam)

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About the People/AI Strategy Forum
The People/AI Strategy Forum explores how leaders navigate the intersection of people strategy, leadership, and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Sam Reeve, Founder & CEO of CompTeam, the Forum features conversations with executives, practitioners, and experts shaping the future of work.

Learn more about CompTeam and the People/AI Strategy Forum at compteam.net.