
Michael Hayes
Transform leadership and crisis management with Michael Hayes, speaker and former Navy SEAL commander. Michael works with organizations to develop resilient leaders, enhance strategic decision-making, and improve performance under pressure, leveraging expertise from White House policy roles and Special Operations leadership.

Connecticut, United States
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Mike has led and learned from many crises during his SEAL service, including deployments throughout South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. He has been involved in conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as dealing with national issues in the White House Situation Room and sensitive corporate strategy in the boardroom.
His last role in the Navy was as the Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO, which included ten months as the Commander of a 2000-person Special Operations Task Force in southeastern Afghanistan.
As a White House Fellow (08/09), he served two years as the director of defense policy and strategy at the National Security Council. In the Bush Administration, Hayes was responsible for the START Treaty and conducted negotiations with the Russians in Moscow. In the Obama administration, Hayes led the White House response to President Obama's first major foreign policy showdown - the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia.
Now a highly in-demand coach and speaker, Mike draws on examples from his illustrious career to teach clients how to think rather than what to think. He emphasizes that a leader's job is not to make the best decision but rather to ensure that the best decision is made. He also emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with discomfort, as it is a key tenet of high-performance individuals and organizations.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
This session explores unleashing the power within oneself to achieve high performance. Attendees will learn strategies and techniques to tap into their inner potential and unlock their full capabilities. By understanding how to harness their personal power, attendees will be able to enhance their performance in various aspects of their lives, such as career, relationships, and personal growth. This session will provide practical tools and insights to empower attendees to reach their highest level of performance and success.
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