How a Disney Leadership Coach Handles a Crisis
Thu Feb 05 2026
Today, the world feels like it's in a constant state of crisis. Every day news seems to destabilize us. We don't need to contribute to that. But how can we maintain clarity in our communication when everything else seems so muddy?
In this episode of the Speak In Flow podcast, host Melinda Lee sits down with Dr. David Yudis, a leadership psychologist and former head of talent development at Disney. Together, they break down the art of leading under pressure, sharing the simple mental tools and human-first principles that transform you from a reactive participant into a grounded leader who provides calm and clarity.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
The Grounding Power of “So What?”
Discover the simple, two-word tool to immediately center yourself and your message in any high-pressure situation.
How to transform reactive panic into a clear, actionable focus for your team by asking, “So what does this mean for us, and what do we do about it?”
The Two Leadership Traps in a Crisis
Understand why leaders often fail to connect when the pressure is on.
The dangers of reactive, emotionally-hijacked communication versus the potential disconnect of appearing “too calm,” and how to find the authentic, grounded middle path.
Self-Awareness Before Strategy
“What is the message that you are trying to communicate, and to whom, and… how can you best make that connection?”
How to cultivate the self-awareness that forms the foundation of emotional intelligence and prevents “stress leakage” that can undermine your leadership over time.
The Strength in “I Don’t Know”
“Here’s what we know, here’s what we don’t, here’s our next step.”
Admitting uncertainty and pairing it with a clear action plan is the ultimate leadership move in an uncertain situation.
BLOG:
Do you need the right words at the right time? As we all know, this is harder than it looks. However, in critical moments, this skill can mean the difference between sinking and staying afloat.
Learn how in our latest blog post, "The Art of Crisis Communication."
About the Guest:
Dr. David Yudis is a transformational leadership architect who builds executive capability through designed experience. As a licensed clinical psychologist, former Head of Enterprise Executive Development at The Walt Disney Company, and founder of his leadership lab, Potential Selves, he bridges the profound gap between human behavior and high-stakes organizational performance.
Guided by a belief that the deepest learning is visceral, not theoretical, he has pioneered a proprietary methodology called "The Game." A co-author of The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change and a Forbes Coaches Council contributor, Dr. Yudis now guides Fortune 500 executives through the ambiguity of capital raises, strategic pivots, and succession challenges.
Social Handles:
Website: www.davidyudis.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidyudis/
Fun Facts:
🎤 Former Frontman: Was the lead singer for the new wave band New Millennium.🍽️ Curator of Curiosity: Once hosted a dinner that included a world-renowned quantum physicist, an NBA play expert, and an Olympic coach.🗣️ Polyglot:...
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Today, the world feels like it's in a constant state of crisis. Every day news seems to destabilize us. We don't need to contribute to that. But how can we maintain clarity in our communication when everything else seems so muddy? In this episode of the Speak In Flow podcast, host Melinda Lee sits down with Dr. David Yudis, a leadership psychologist and former head of talent development at Disney. Together, they break down the art of leading under pressure, sharing the simple mental tools and human-first principles that transform you from a reactive participant into a grounded leader who provides calm and clarity. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Grounding Power of “So What?” Discover the simple, two-word tool to immediately center yourself and your message in any high-pressure situation. How to transform reactive panic into a clear, actionable focus for your team by asking, “So what does this mean for us, and what do we do about it?” The Two Leadership Traps in a Crisis Understand why leaders often fail to connect when the pressure is on. The dangers of reactive, emotionally-hijacked communication versus the potential disconnect of appearing “too calm,” and how to find the authentic, grounded middle path. Self-Awareness Before Strategy “What is the message that you are trying to communicate, and to whom, and… how can you best make that connection?” How to cultivate the self-awareness that forms the foundation of emotional intelligence and prevents “stress leakage” that can undermine your leadership over time. The Strength in “I Don’t Know” “Here’s what we know, here’s what we don’t, here’s our next step.” Admitting uncertainty and pairing it with a clear action plan is the ultimate leadership move in an uncertain situation. BLOG: Do you need the right words at the right time? As we all know, this is harder than it looks. However, in critical moments, this skill can mean the difference between sinking and staying afloat. Learn how in our latest blog post, "The Art of Crisis Communication." About the Guest: Dr. David Yudis is a transformational leadership architect who builds executive capability through designed experience. As a licensed clinical psychologist, former Head of Enterprise Executive Development at The Walt Disney Company, and founder of his leadership lab, Potential Selves, he bridges the profound gap between human behavior and high-stakes organizational performance. Guided by a belief that the deepest learning is visceral, not theoretical, he has pioneered a proprietary methodology called "The Game." A co-author of The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change and a Forbes Coaches Council contributor, Dr. Yudis now guides Fortune 500 executives through the ambiguity of capital raises, strategic pivots, and succession challenges. Social Handles: Website: www.davidyudis.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidyudis/ Fun Facts: 🎤 Former Frontman: Was the lead singer for the new wave band New Millennium.🍽️ Curator of Curiosity: Once hosted a dinner that included a world-renowned quantum physicist, an NBA play expert, and an Olympic coach.🗣️ Polyglot:...