What Heart Surgery Taught Me About Leading Under Pressure

What does open-heart surgery have to do with corporate leadership?

Everything.

When people ask me where I learned to lead—under pressure, with clarity, and across highly skilled, high-stakes teams—I don’t point to a business school or boardroom.
I take them straight to the OR.

Because the leadership lessons I learned while literally holding lives in my hands are the same ones I now teach executives, founders, and high achievers. Whether you’re navigating a merger, managing burnout, or simply trying to lead better, these principles can change the game.

Let me take you inside the operating room—and show you how to lead like a surgeon.

The Real Test of Leadership Happens When It All Goes Sideways

It was 2:00 a.m.

We were hours into an emergency bypass surgery—textbook procedure, until suddenly, it wasn’t.
The heart stopped responding. Blood pressure plummeted.
And every eye in the room turned to me.

These are the moments we fantasize about avoiding in leadership. But real leadership isn’t proven when things are easy—it’s revealed when things go wrong.

“Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about making the right call—under pressure, with clarity, and in real time.”

So how do you become that kind of leader?

Lesson 1: Stay Calm in the Chaos

When the pressure rises, the room takes emotional cues from you.

Panic is contagious.
But here’s the good news: so is calm.

In surgery, I learned to slow my mind while the world around me was speeding up. Instead of asking “How do I fix everything?”, I’d ask:

• What’s the one thing I can do right now?
• What action will buy us time or stability?

That same mindset applies in the boardroom, during product crises, or in heated negotiations. Break the problem down. Narrow your focus. Lead one decision at a time.

💡 Try this: In high-stakes meetings, take a beat to breathe before speaking. That micro-pause communicates steadiness—and gives you control.

Lesson 2: Communicate Like Lives Depend On It

(Because Sometimes They Do)

In the OR, ambiguity is dangerous.

I didn’t have the luxury of vague language.
It was never “Could you maybe hand me that thingy?”
It was: “Scalpel. Now.”

Even under pressure, I had to be clear, direct, and concise.

And I carried that exact same skill into every boardroom, consulting room, and strategy session I’ve led since.

Whether you’re guiding a team through change or giving performance feedback, clarity beats cleverness. Every. Time.

Pro tip: Great leaders follow up. In surgery, I didn’t assume someone heard me—I had them repeat back the instruction. In business, don’t just delegate—confirm alignment.

Lesson 3: Trust Your Team—But Empower Them First

In surgery, my field of vision was literally limited by my magnifying lenses. I couldn’t see the whole patient. I had to trust my team to tell me what I might be missing.

But trust isn’t a given—it’s built.

I empowered everyone in the room: from the head nurse to the newest intern. Because leadership isn’t doing everything yourself. It’s creating a space where others are willing—and able—to step up when it counts.

“Great leaders multiply their eyes, ears, and insight. They don’t just lead—they listen.”

Lesson 4: Align Everyone to One Mission (Then Repeat It)

In surgery, alignment meant survival.
Outside the OR, it means focus.

Your team might be filled with talented individuals. But unless they’re focused on the same outcome, you’ll waste time, energy, and morale.

So remind them of the mission—often. Repetition is not micromanagement. It’s leadership.

Want performance? Start with purpose.

Your Crisis-Ready Leadership Checklist

Whether you’re in the OR, the boardroom, or your business—these four principles apply:

✅ 1. Stay Calm in the Chaos

Your energy sets the tone. Breathe before you speak. Calm is contagious.

✅ 2. Communicate with Clarity

No fluff. Say what you mean. Ask for confirmation.

✅ 3. Empower & Trust Your Team

You don’t need to do it all. You do need to build a culture of contribution.

✅ 4. Align Around the Mission

Say it. Then say it again. Shared goals create unstoppable teams.

Final Thought: This Is Not Open-Heart Surgery

Leadership feels like life-or-death sometimes.
But unlike in the OR, in business you can pause, adjust, iterate, and try again.

So the next time pressure hits, remember:

Stay calm.
Communicate clearly.
Empower others.
Focus on the next step.

You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be present.