What a Gun in the Face Teaches You

The Business Emergency Room: For Leaders Facing Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguity (VUCA)

High-stakes decisions don’t reward the loudest voice; they favor the calmest mind and the clearest why.

Maartje van Krieken is joined by Jeffrey Owens, a former police officer, FBI-trained hostage negotiator, and executive leader, for a conversation that connects crisis response tactics to the boardroom. What does facing down an armed man teach you about managing people under pressure? And how can the rules of hostage negotiation help leaders make better decisions in chaotic moments?

Jeff shares the hostage negotiation lessons that shaped his career, including a story where listening, not authority, saved his life. That experience became the foundation for his crisis decision-making framework, a clear and repeatable model built on asking why, deciding what, and then acting on how. He also breaks down his philosophy of respect-based leadership in high-stakes moments, reminding us that respect is not weakness, but the fastest path to influence.

If your business feels like it’s running in crisis mode more often than not, Jeff and Maartje’s conversation will change how you lead through it.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

01:46 Jeff Owen’s Hostage Negotiation Story

07:02 Key Lessons from Hostage Negotiation

09:20 The Trinity Concept: Why, What, How

10:55 Applying Negotiation Lessons to Business

14:10 Empowering Leadership and Delegation

18:09 High-Stakes Decision-Making

22:07 The Power of Respect in Leadership

24:02 Wisdom and Learning from Mistakes

Links

Connect with Jeffrey Owens:

Mobile/WhatsApp: [phone]

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.JeffreyOwens.com

Jeffrey Owens is a leadership advisor and human interaction expert with decades of experience as a police hostage negotiator and senior business executive. After retiring as a Major from the Honolulu Police Department and leading at an international security firm, he founded Transcend Inc. to help leaders and teams thrive under pressure. His Power of Respect™ framework offers practical strategies for reducing conflict, building influence, and driving results. A Certified Speaking Professional and Certified Threat Manager, Jeff is a member of both the Virtual Speakers Hall of Fame and the Hawaii Speakers Hall of Fame.

Connect with Maartje van Krieken:

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

https://maartjeturnschaosaround.substack.com/

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.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm