What if the “panic habits” leaders default to are the very things burning out their best people? In this Partnering Leadership episode, Mita Mallick—author of The Devil Emails at Midnight—joins Mahan to unpack practical ways senior leaders can replace performative urgency with clear operating rules that people can trust. You will hear why bad bosses are made, not born, and how pressure from markets, role models, and personal crises can turn ordinary leaders into micromanagers.

Mita gets specific about power dynamics. A 4:30 a.m. email from the CEO trains teams to jump, even when the intent is “no rush.” She explains how to set explicit after-hours rules and model them yourself. The goal is to stop the 4 a.m. back-and-forth and restore predictable rhythms for high-stakes work.

Calendars signal culture. Mita argues for a deliberate meeting cleanse, real breaks, and protected one-on-ones. You will hear why “we are not AI agents,” why canceling a meeting can be the kindest move you make this week, and how simple touch points create loyalty.

Leaders also get a playbook for honest feedback. Mita shares how to create safety, why alumni calls six to twelve months after someone leaves yield the most actionable insight, and how a short journaling habit helps you see patterns in your own behavior before they damage trust.

Finally, Mita challenges a core assumption: most work is not life or death. Treating it that way creates burnout. She closes with a frank read on the broken employee–employer contract and a likely shift toward more consultant-style work, which makes clarity, expectations, and operating rules even more important for CEOs and boards.

📗📗Hashtags:
#LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipLessons #ExecutiveLeadership #PartneringLeadership #MikeMears #MahanTavakoli #LeadershipMindset #LeadershipPodcast #LeadershipTransformation #OrganizationalCulture #PsychologicalSafety #NeuroscienceOfLeadership #WorkplaceInnovation #TrustInLeadership #CIALeadership #SmallShiftsBigImpact #ModernLeadership #HRLeadership #PeopleFirstLeadership #LeadershipStrategy #LeadershipMatters #TransformationalLeadership #FutureOfWork #DiscretionaryEffort #LeadershipGrowth #AuthenticLeadership #LeadershipTips #TeamEngagement #WorkplaceTrust #HumanCenteredLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #LeadershipBehavior #LeadershipInAction #CulturalTransformation #HighPerformanceTeams

▶ Website: [https://www.partneringleadership.com/]
▶ LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/partnering-leadership/ ]
▶ Instagram : [https://www.instagram.com/partneringleadership/]
▶ Facebook: [ https://web.facebook.com/DMVchangemakers]
▶ Twitter : [ https://twitter.com/PartneringLead ]

📗📗 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎𝐒:
▶ • • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inKveTERpcI&t=723s
▶ • • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkZgn44bofQ&t=410s
▶ • • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X_7_Xyl1fw

⚠ 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. do your own research.

✖ 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialog, music, and image that are property of "Partnering Leadership "

👋 Thanks for visiting my Channel! 🌟