Ep. 34: Performing like a fighter pilot, with Christian “Boo” Boucousis

What can leaders learn from fighter pilots about performing under pressure?

Former fighter pilot and CEO Christian “Boo” Boucousis joins The Leadership Dance to share how elite performers make decisions in chaos, execute with clarity, and stay calm when it matters most. From cockpit-tested leadership habits to practical tools like plan–brief–execute–debrief, this episode breaks down what it means to perform like a fighter pilot. From a five-year-old boy mesmerized at an air show to one of fewer than 400 fighter pilots trained over four decades, Boo’s journey reveals how his air force training taught him to value time in seconds and put the mission above ego. This candid conversation explores friction, burnout, digital overload, and how to move from reactive days to truly flawless execution.

💡 Key Takeaways:

High performers don’t just have good ideas; they turn decisions into action.

The fighter pilot mindset is relentlessly growth-oriented: define what success looks like today, then get slightly better tomorrow.

Calm is a leadership advantage. In chaos, people look to the calmest people in the room.

Connect with Boo:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianbooboucousis/ 

Website: https://callmeboo.com/about/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fewpodcast

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Music from InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ "Catwalk Queen"