In this must-listen episode of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, host Sid Bensalah sits down with George Dom, aviation executive, author, and former Blue Angels Flight Leader and Topgun instructor. Together, they explore what it takes to build high-trust, high-performance teams in some of the most demanding environments on earth.
George shares how trust, character, and competence can transform a group of individuals into an elite, resilient team capable of excellence under extreme pressure. Drawing from his experience leading combat missions, commanding squadrons, and performing breathtaking aerial maneuvers with the Blue Angels, George brings powerful lessons on mental resilience, accountability, empathy, and communication.
They unpack George’s acclaimed book High-Trust Leadership, diving into his five pillars of trust and why proactive trust-building is essential for leaders in sports, business, and beyond. George also reflects on the challenges of writing and editing his book, the impact of movies like Top Gun on the fighter pilot community, and the leadership trends he sees shaping the future.
Whether you’re a coach, athlete, entrepreneur, or executive, this conversation is filled with real, actionable insights that will elevate your leadership game.
00:00 High-Trust Leadership and Peak Performance
00:28 Introduction to George Dom
02:14 George Dom's Leadership Journey
04:13 Lessons from the Blue Angels
08:20 The Importance of Trust
17:34 Building High-Performance Teams
27:08 The Five Pillars of Trust
35:50 Writing the Book
38:01 Developing Mental Resilience
39:41 Training for G Forces
41:53 The Power of Visualization
45:21 Balancing Trust and Accountability
46:57 Empathy in Leadership
52:13 Creating a Culture of Feedback
58:55 Emerging Leadership Trends
01:01:48 Lightning Round
Listen now and learn how to lead with trust, even when the stakes couldn’t be higher.
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