By Justin Stoddart

Introduction

Anyone in real estate today knows what it feels like to lead under pressure. Between market shifts, rising client expectations, and constant competition, the industry often feels like a test of endurance and mindset.

So, this Veterans Day, I had the privilege of interviewing someone who understands leadership under the most intense conditions imaginable — Chris Hossfeld, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran and founder of Barrel Strength Leadership.

Chris trains business leaders through immersive experiences at historic battlefields like Gettysburg and Normandy, using lessons from military history to teach modern professionals how to stay calm, build trust, and inspire others when everything’s on the line.

Together we reflected on what it truly means to lead under pressure, and why this skill might be the ultimate differentiator in real estate leadership today.

Train for the Next Role, Not Just the Current One

Chris shared that the military doesn’t just train soldiers for their existing positions, it prepares them for the jobs that come next. In combat, leaders can be lost, and others must be ready to step up.

In business, especially in real estate, the same principle applies. The most effective leaders aren’t those who hoard knowledge or control; they’re the ones constantly developing their people to take on greater responsibility.

If you’re a team leader, brokerage owner, or executive, your long-term success depends on how many leaders you grow beneath you — not how much you can handle yourself.

Empower Others; Even When It’s Uncomfortable

One of Chris’s most powerful points was that empowerment often feels risky. In sales-driven environments like real estate, it can be tempting to guard your “secret sauce.” But true leadership means sharing it.

Giving others ownership over important decisions, even ones that make you a little uneasy, builds loyalty, culture, and trust.

As Chris said, “It’s scary, but doing that builds a better team. It makes people want to come work for your organization because they see themselves as being empowered.”

If you want to retain top talent, give them opportunity, not just a paycheck.

Stay Calm When Everyone Else Panics

Chris described his first day in combat: a moment of chaos, fear, and uncertainty. As his unit took fire, every instinct screamed to react. But a calm, composed radio operator reported the situation clearly and confidently. That moment changed how Chris led forever.

In business, “combat” might look like a deal falling apart, a client leaving, or a sudden market downturn. Everyone’s watching how you’ll respond. Will you react emotionally, or lead with clarity and composure?

Calm is contagious. The most magnetic leaders are those who keep perspective when others lose it. They don’t deny challenges; they define them, communicate the path forward, and help others see light beyond the storm.

Trust Is the Foundation of Resilient Teams

Chris emphasized that trust is built long before the crisis hits. In his words, “Relationships build trust that then, when things come in a way you don’t expect, you trust what that person is saying.”

Trust comes from giving people meaningful responsibility — and believing in their ability to deliver. In real estate, this might mean empowering team members to handle key clients, manage listings, or negotiate deals.

That trust builds not only loyalty, but also confidence and resilience within your team.

Leadership Is Personal Before It’s Professional

Perhaps the most profound takeaway from our conversation was Chris’s humility. “I am a success in business or in my military career, usually in spite of myself,” he said. “It’s because of the people who invested in me and the subordinates that I entrusted.”

Leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about integrity, self-awareness, and a willingness to learn from those around you, even from a 19-year-old private who keeps his cool under fire.

At its core, leadership is a human endeavor. The more authentically you lead in calm, in crisis, and in character, the more people will follow you.

Conclusion

If there’s one theme that emerged from this conversation, it’s that leadership is an investment; not just in others, but in yourself.

So on this Veterans Day, let’s honor those who’ve modeled leadership under the most extreme conditions by recommitting to lead with integrity, calm, and courage, no matter what the market throws our way.

Timestamps

00:03 – Introduction & Veterans Day tribute
01:10 – Guest: Chris Hossfeld, Barrel Strength Leadership
02:28 – How the military builds future leaders
03:49 – Empowering others in real estate teams
06:07 – Retaining top talent through opportunity
09:48 – Chris’s first day in combat
12:14 – Staying calm when chaos hits
14:07 – Building trust under pressure
16:39 – Frameworks for confident decisions
19:00 – Leadership lessons from Gettysburg & Normandy
21:51 – What history teaches about toxic leadership
23:59 – Emotional power of battlefield learning
26:35 – Recognizing blind spots as a leader
30:22 – Authentic leadership and integrity
31:59 – Investing in people, not just performance
33:36 – Final thoughts & how to connect with Chris

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