Bad Days Leadership
Bad Days Leadership is a podcast where bad days make better leaders. Hosted by Dr. Matt Paden, President and Managing Partner at Great Days Leadership, each episode explores the moments we’d rather forget, the cringe-worthy decisions, awkward conversations and leadership missteps that taught us the most.
In a relaxed conversation, guests share stories from their own leadership journey like:
- A decision they still wince at
- A boss behavior they vowed never to repeat
- A “bad leader alert” phrase or action they’ll never forget
These honest, often humorous reflections reveal powerful lessons about growth, humility and resilience. Each guest leaves listeners with one piece of practical advice, something they wish they’d known ten years ago.
The show is conversational and authentic, designed to remind us that even our worst days can make us better leaders.
Bad Days Leadership
Episode 2 - "I Was Texting Under The Table Because I Didn't Know The Words" w/Dr. John Delony
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Dr. John Delony joins Dr. Matt Paden on Bad Days Leadership.
In this episode, John shares the story of getting publicly exposed for pretending to understand a $20M financial decision, why he spent 15 years thinking "never say I don't know" was good leadership, and the hiring blind spot he still can't fix. They also break down what real crisis leadership looks like (from a bus wreck that sent students to five hospitals), why feedback only works inside relationship, and the three phrases John uses daily to stay regulated as a leader.