How to Lead Under Pressure | Jacob Reeves

How do you lead clearly when every decision carries pressure—and your team is watching how you respond?

NaRon Tillman sits down with software executive Jacob Reeves to explore stress management, emotional intelligence, and the human side of leading a business through change.

Drawing on his experience running private equity-backed companies and serving in the Tennessee Army National Guard, Jacob shares how he plans for pressure, protects his mental and emotional capacity, and builds trust through listening and action. They also discuss how leaders can encourage AI adoption through curiosity, experimentation, and clear communication.

In This Episode:

• Planning for stress before high-stakes decisions

• Managing your mental and emotional currency

• Rebuilding team morale by listening to understand

• Balancing empathy with difficult personnel decisions

• Creating employee buy-in and shared ownership

• Helping teams explore AI tools without leading through fear

Key Insight:

Leadership under pressure begins with how you manage yourself. Listening, empathy, and clear expectations help your team move through uncertainty with you.