Leadership, Change & the Nervous System

I’m not an expert on the nervous system. But I have my own experience of how much it matters – in leadership, in change, in overall well-being and in everyday human interactions.

An unregulated nervous system doesn’t stay private. It spills into how we lead, how we decide, how we relate.

It shows up in leadership through tone, reactions, and our ability (or inability) to hold space for others.
It shows up in self-leadership through decision-making, boundaries, and presence.
It shows up in relationships at work through conflict, communication, and trust.

Many of us walk around with a nervous system out of balance without even realizing it. And yet it quietly shapes everything – from the atmosphere in a meeting to the sustainability and profit margin of a whole organizational culture.

For me, one of the biggest shifts has been learning to notice the early signals – before the stress takes over. My breathing, my shoulders, my tone. If I can regulate myself there, even in small ways, I lead differently. I have more presence, and the team feels it.

And there are many ways to support this regulation. Some are simple and immediate: pausing for breath, moving the body, grounding your attention. Others are more structured: nervous system treatments and somatic methods that help the body reset and build resilience over time. Every leader can find their own way, but the key is to recognize that regulation is not optional – it’s essential.

You don’t need to be an expert to notice. You just need to start paying attention. To ask: am I leading from presence, or from survival?

Shift Section: What signs tell you that your nervous system is leading the meeting – instead of you?

Let’s unlock the next evolution together.