Massimo Backus, founder of Massimo Backus Leadership and author of "Human First, Leader Second," is on a mission to dismantle the myth that self-criticism drives success. In this episode of the Speak In Flow podcast with Melinda Lee, Massimo reveals how the relentless pursuit of perfection fuels a "piggy bank of shame" for leaders and shares the transformative practice that builds true resilience.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The Typo That Transformed a Keynote

How a glaring mistake on a slide became a live masterclass in self-compassion, uniting a room of executives and proving that our shared humanity is more powerful than perfection.

The Three Parts of Self-Compassion

“The measure of a person is… Can you get back up?... and learn from those things.”

A practical framework for navigating moments of doubt: 1) Acknowledge your inner critic, 2) Connect to common humanity ("You are not alone"), and 3) Choose a kind response that allows you to move forward effectively

From Shame to Shared Freedom

“If you spoke to other people the way that you speak to yourself, would you have friends?”

Massimo challenges the core belief that self-criticism is effective, sharing how forgiving himself for a past firing was the key to unlocking his authentic leadership.

The Self-Trust Anchor

“When do I trust myself most?” Massimo’s golden question for leaders to journal on. Discover how anchoring into moments of self-trust, rather than social comparison, transforms your decision-making, communication, and presence.

About the Guest:

Massimo Backus is on a mission to help one million people believe they are worthy and enough. A facilitator, speaker, and executive leadership coach, he provides no-BS coaching for committed senior leaders and runs transformative programs for organizations serious about change. His fifteen-plus years in talent development have given him a front-row seat to the cultures of Fortune 500 companies like Cisco, Accenture, and Amazon, working with over 3,000 leaders. Massimo holds a master's in Organizational Psychology and is the author of Human First, Leader Second.

Social Handles:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/massimo-backus/

Fun Facts:

• 🎬 Award-Winning Storyteller: Beyond the boardroom, Massimo is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who loves to tell life’s great stories.
• 📚 Academic Pedigree: He holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's in Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University, with professional coaching education from The Co-Active Training Institute, grounding his transformative work in proven research.

Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.

She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.

Website: https://speakinflow.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow

Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall

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