Leadership is often judged by confidence and certainty. In reality, the most defining moments of leadership occur when clarity disappears. In this episode of The Change Agent Podcast, Eric Adams speaks with Thomas Jepson-Lay, executive coach and former senior humanitarian leader, about what leadership actually demands when control is impossible. Drawing on nearly two decades leading emergency responses across conflict zones and disaster environments, Thomas explores how leaders behave under pressure — and how those behaviours shape outcomes for teams operating in complexity. 00:00 Leadership when control is no longer possible 03:30 Why confidence and certainty can mislead leaders 08:10 Vulnerability as a stabilising force under pressure 13:40 How fear pulls leaders back into old patterns 19:20 From intention-based leadership to consequence-aware leadership 25:30 Why complex and “wicked” problems resist linear thinking 31:40 Trust, nervous-system awareness, and better decisions 38:10 Perspective-sharing in high-stakes environments This is not a conversation about tools or techniques. It is about judgement, responsibility, and who leaders become when certainty is no longer available. If you lead people, teams, or systems in high-stakes environments, this episode will challenge how you think about control, authority, and decision-making in moments that matter most. Watch now. Leadership in crisis, leadership without control, navigating complexity, leadership judgement, decision-making under pressure, adaptive leadership, humanitarian leadership, leadership responsibility, leadership podcast, The Change Agent Podcast Guest links: Thomas Jepson-Lay — Executive Coach & Former Humanitarian Leader Website: https://www.thomasjepsonlay.com The Sector Debrief Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVe2TM2z5UI&list=PLOGUm1NuLP3RWdEXeMca2w3aU6tMoEI7L