In leadership and professional settings, clarity and certainty are essential for good decision-making. Yet when plans change unexpectedly or control is removed, even experienced leaders can find themselves reacting emotionally rather than thinking strategically. This is the brain’s threat response at work.

When certainty is disrupted, blood and oxygen are diverted away from the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for reasoning and judgement — making calm, rational thinking temporarily harder. Recognising this response allows leaders to pause, regulate, and re-engage their thinking capacity.