Most leadership failures don’t happen because of bad strategy. They happen because we overlook how human we all are when the pressure’s on.
Maartje van Krieken is joined by German author, speaker, and former airline pilot Peter Brandl, who brings a pilot’s perspective into the world of business leadership. With years of experience training flight crews in crisis response and communication, Peter talks through the concept of human factors in leadership, how the real risks come from misjudged decisions, flawed communication, and the stress responses we don’t always notice in ourselves or others.
They explore the role of situational awareness training and why it’s so important, especially when things go sideways. Peter shares some eye-opening moments about how quickly even simple communication can unravel and how much more effective we become when we admit our limitations instead of pretending they’re not there.
They also take a hard look at crisis decision-making. Why does indecision take hold in the moments that matter most? What helps people push through the freeze and take action when it counts? Peter offers up tools, like the idea of a crisis simulator, asking the right “what if” questions before disaster strikes. This episode is a reminder that leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about being prepared, grounded, and human.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction: Peter Brandl
01:47 From Pilot to Leadership Trainer
02:50 Lessons from Aviation for Business Leadership
06:02 Understanding the Human Factors Behind Mistakes
09:04 Why Communication Fails When It Matters Most
13:35 Crisis Decision-Making and the Cost of Inaction
21:01 Using the What-If Technique for Crisis Readiness
27:27 How Storytelling Reinforces Leadership Lessons
Links
Connect with Peter Brandl:
Peter Brandl is a professional pilot, flight instructor, bestselling author, and former president of the German Speakers Association. With over 3,500 events across 30 years, he’s known for blending cockpit experience with boardroom strategy, sharing stages with leaders like Richard Branson and Steve Wozniak. His clients include Deutsche Bank, Microsoft, Red Bull, and Lufthansa. Today, he advises top executives as a trusted sparring partner through high-stakes decisions and turbulent times.
Connect with Maartje van Krieken:
https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/
Host Maartje van Krieken is a crisis strategist and decision-making expert who thrives in high-stakes business environments. Combining disaster management training, hands-on experience in global industries, and leadership skills honed as a seasoned sailor, she helps businesses navigate chaos with precision. Whether tackling transformation, scaling challenges, or leadership bottlenecks, Maartje delivers actionable insights to turn turbulence into traction.
Scaling a business isn’t just about strategy—it’s about navigating chaos, making fast but sound decisions, and keeping teams aligned under pressure. The Business Emergency Room helps leaders, founders, and decision-makers sharpen their decision-making mechanics, master people dynamics, and build resilience in uncertain markets. Host Maartje van Krieken shares battle-tested frameworks to eliminate bottlenecks, avoid analysis paralysis, and turn turbulence into traction. Tune in weekly for real-world insights to lead with confidence and thrive in turmoil.
For leaders facing: High-stakes decisions, VUCA market conditions, crisis management, and rapid business growth pains.
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