334: What Your Team Needs When You Don't Know What Comes Next

Release Date: Oct. 6

When things go wrong, nobody cares about your title. They care whether you can make the call.

Dave Sanderson was the last passenger off Flight 1549, the Miracle on the Hudson, where he and 154 other people had just six minutes to work together to survive. He's spent the years since turning what happened that day into a repeatable way to make decisions. Today, he works with leaders who have to act fast when the stakes are high, usually without every answer in hand.

What You’ll Learn:‍

Three ways to maintain your state in a crisis
How much information you really need to make a call
Dave's ASSESS framework for making a decision quickly
What leaders lose when they freeze instead of making a call
How to build connections that lead to collaboration
What happens to your team when you step in too often

‍In This Episode:

(00:00) Introduction
(00:45) Miracle on the Hudson
(03:37) Turning Uncertainty Into Certainty
(05:07) Keeping Your Head Under Pressure
(11:34) How Much Info Is Enough?
(13:52) Trust vs. Competence
(17:20) Networking vs. Collaboration
(21:19) The Colin Powell Lesson
(24:46) How to Learn from Mentors
(29:07) Connecting in an AI World
(30:55) How to Gain Access
(33:46) Reading an Introvert
(36:11) His Mother's Lesson
(39:42) Why Your Team Needs Consequences
(43:04) "Do Not Let This Die with You"
(46:54) Moments That Matter Magazine

About Dave Sanderson:

Dave Sanderson was the last passenger off US Airways Flight 1549, the Miracle on the Hudson. He survived, then he made a decision: he wouldn’t let that moment be the end of the story.

With 38 years as a top sales producer and decades of experience leading under pressure, Dave founded Resilience Partners Group to help leaders and teams navigate crisis, uncertainty, and high-stakes change—without waiting for permission, perfect clarity, or a title. His work equips people to stay calm, make high-velocity decisions, and take the next best step even when the full path isn’t visible.

Dave has delivered keynotes for Fortune 500 organizations, coached executives, and helped raise $14.8 million for the American Red Cross. Named one of Inc.com’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers, he is known for blending unforgettable storytelling with practical, immediately applicable tools. Dave’s message is simple: You don’t need a title to lead. You need clarity, courage, and conviction. He lives in Charlotte with his family—and speaks today with one goal: to help others lead when it matters most.

Resources Mentioned:

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