Power and Ego in the Boardroom

Episode 035 of the Badass Leaders Podcast with Jonathan Bennett

How to Lead Humans, Not Robots: Conflict, Culture & Courageous Leadership | Jonathan Bennett

If you’ve ever wished leaders would stop acting like robots and start acting like humans, this episode is your new masterclass. Leadership advisor, entrepreneur, and board director Jonathan Bennett joins Angela to unpack the real skills great leaders rely on: conflict resolution, culture-building, deep listening, emotional intelligence, and how to actually show up as a human in the room — even when things get messy.

You’ll learn the tools Jonathan uses with executives around the world, including: • How to handle difficult conversations without freezing, shutting down, or blowing things up • Why “what have you already tried?” is the most powerful leadership question you’re not asking • How emotional triggers, somatic reactions, and old patterns shape how we lead • Why good governance is relational — not just procedural • How to run better meetings, build trust, and create space for real connection • What young leaders can do right now to build board experience • Why most conflict isn’t actually about you (and how to use that to your advantage)

Key Questions Answered: How do great leaders handle conflict without making things worse? How can you stay curious instead of defensive in hard conversations? What’s the difference between emotional triggers and actual problems? How do somatic reactions (freeze/fight/flight) impact leadership? What does healthy conflict look like in teams and boardrooms? How can leaders build trust and psychological safety? How do you develop deep listening skills and avoid hijacking meetings? What makes a board effective — and what destroys its culture? How can new leaders get their first board seat? Why is “what have you already tried?” a game-changing question for managers? This episode cuts the fluff and gets real about leadership, culture, conflict, courage, and becoming the kind of leader people actually want to follow.

Key Themes: Human-centered leadership Conflict resolution and communication Deep listening skills Emotional intelligence for executives Somatic responses and self-awareness Trust, culture, and psychological safety Governance and relational board leadership Coaching, advising & navigating hard situations Decision-making and meeting effectiveness Leadership development and self-growth

Learn More About Jonathan:

• Podcast: https://clearlythen.com/listen
• Website: clearlythen.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bennettjonathan/

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• A League of Their Own (film) – quote “It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
• Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast – popular business quote 
• AI note-taking tools: Fathom (Angela’s mention): https://www.fathom.ai/ 
• AI note-taking tools: Granola (Jonathan’s mention): https://www.granola.ai/ 

Angela’s blog about hobbies: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/why-doing-many-things-at-once-might-be-the-smartest-move-you-ever-make/

About Angela:
Angela Gill Nelms is a trailblazer in the creation of exceptional companies and teams. She serves as the Director of Biolocity and is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of both The AGN Group and the Recovery Advocate Network. Previously, she held the position of Chief Operations Officer at Aetos Imaging, RenovoRx, and Florence Healthcare. With a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech, Angela has a proven track record of successfully navigating the FDA, leading diverse teams, prioritizing the needs of customers and patients, and building exceptional companies.

Angela shares her lessons learned around the country in keynote speeches, coaching, and team-building workshops. Learn more about Angela at www.AngelaGillNelms.com.

About The AGN Group:
At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. We offer keynote and panel speaking, leadership and team-building workshops, fractional and management consulting, brand and storytelling services. Email us at hello@TheAGNGroup.com to connect. Learn more at www.TheAGNGroup.com.

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Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@angelagillnelms.com.

Learn more about the podcast at www.BadassLeadersPodcast.com.

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