What if the scariest boss you ever had didn’t just haunt your memories, but quietly shaped how you lead today? In this special Halloween episode, we dive into our real leadership horror stories, from intimidation and gas‑lighting, to passive‑aggressive culture and fear‑driven control. What’s behind the fear? Lessons you need as a leader: how to read the room, lead with humility, build psychological safety, and stop letting ego or fear drive your decisions. This one’s part confessional, part gut‑check, and and 100% about how self‑aware leadership doesn’t have to be scary.

Episodes mentioned:

• 38. A Boomer, A Millennial, & A Gen Alpha Walk Into a Meeting… | Cross-Gen Leadership That Protects The Mission

• 44. Escaping the Legacy Trap | What If You Only Had One Year Left?

Books mentioned:

• The Carpenter by Jon Gordon

• Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks

• Just Add a Zero by Chad Jenkins

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• How the boss you hated taught you how not to lead

• Why self‑awareness is the first defense against leadership that scares instead of serves

• The difference between confidence and control, and why fear‑driven leadership kills innovation and trust

• What true psychological safety sounds like -- and how it’s the platform for growth

• The mindset shift that turns a one‑time volunteer into a lifelong advocate

You started your business to solve a problem and leave a lasting impact in the world, but now the inertia of your business has taken over and you’re too busy and burned out to serve your community. That’s where we come in! Hosted by Scott Woods and Steff Thomas, the team behind Silverback Ventures, the Changemakers Collective podcast is here to help impact-driven business owners like you accelerate growth and multiply impact through servant leadership.

Connect with Us: 

• Website

• Silverback Ventures LinkedIn

• Scott Woods LinkedIn

• Steff Thomas LinkedIn

• YouTube