Leadership and Crisis Management with Hostage Negotiator Scott Walker

Sometimes people can feel like hostages to their organizations, leading to negative outcomes at every scale. As a team leader, how can you recognize and address these dynamics to generate a more supportive environment? At the end of the day, leadership and hostage negotiation require the same critical skills: preparation, persuasion, collaboration, and emotional regulation.

Sonja and Jamie interview expert crisis negotiator Scott Walker, author of the recent book, “Order Out of Chaos,” to learn lessons for team leaders who find themselves navigating crisis management and adversarial confrontations. 

The episode dives into the importance of honest, direct conversations, even when there are fundamental disagreements on the table. They also discuss strategies to maintain respect and fluid communication among all people involved using a clear understanding of both sides’ motivations. Take a peek into a high-stakes world that actually has many parallels in our everyday lives.