In this episode of the Energy Tech Podcast, we welcome Jeff Hancher — U.S. Army veteran, Fortune 500 leader, executive coach, and USA Today bestselling author of Firm Feedback in a Fragile World.

Jeff shares his powerful journey from growing up in poverty to building a 25-year Fortune 500 career and launching his own leadership company. We discuss why feedback is often avoided, how to overcome fear when holding tough conversations, and why deposits of trust are essential before withdrawals of accountability.

We also dive into:

- The origins of Firm Feedback in a Fragile World

- Multi-generational challenges in today’s workforce

- The F-E-A-R model leaders face (Fallout, Emotion, Amateur, Retaliation)

- Why diversity is an advantage (the “Avengers” analogy)

- Leadership in 24/7 control rooms & shift work

- How to reset when you’ve given poor feedback in the past

- Practical frameworks for expectations, feedback, and accountability

Useful Links:

📖 Get Jeff’s book + free resources: FirmFeedbackBook.com

🎙 Listen to Jeff’s podcast: The Champion Forum (new episodes every Thursday)

📖 Firm Feedback in a Fragile World — https://www.firmfeedbackbook.com/

-https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-champion-forum-podcast-with-jeff-hancher/id1456048671

📖 John C. Maxwell — The 5 Levels of Leadership: https://www.maxwellleadership.com/blog/the-5-levels-of-leadership/

www.jeffhancher.com

0:00 – Intro & episode setup

0:18 – Guest welcome: author of Firm Feedback in a Fragile World

1:17 – Why this book matters (host’s Cape Cod story)

2:05 – Guest background: Army → Fortune 500 → leadership coach

3:49 – From poverty to purpose: early life & turning points

4:06 – Why write the book? Pandemic workshop → book origin

6:06 – The “fragile world”: multi-gen teams, quiet quitting, retention

8:43 – Why leaders avoid feedback: the F-E-A-R model (Fallout, Emotion, Amateur, Retaliation)

11:44 – The framework: Expectations → Feedback → Accountability

12:31 – Compliant vs engaged: the speed-limit analogy

15:06 – Making deposits before withdrawals (building trust)

16:27 – Mentor story: tough feedback that changed a career

21:07 – Leaders as culture shapers (large teams & politics

21:19 – Control rooms & shift work realities (12-hr rotations)

22:51 – Diversity as an advantage (the “Avengers” analogy)

25:18 – Earning the right to give feedback (breath-mint story)

28:08 – Shift-worker accountability: sharing your “why

31:16 – Socializing personal “whys” to drive team standards

34:24 – Motivation through impact: AED save story & purpose

36:31 – High standards, soft on people (Chick-fil-A example)

39:20 – Common mistakes: the “feedback sandwich” & labeling

43:00 – How to reset if you’ve given feedback poorly (fall on the sword)

45:56 – Boss vs. leader people don’t want to let down

46:04 – Lightning round: must-read, pre-conversation advice, favorite quote

50:16 – Where to find the guest: website & podcast plugs

50:47 – Wrap-up & thanks

Intro Music:

Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com