The Threat Response at Work
The Threat Response at Work
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.
Why Your Brain Reacts to Social Situations Like They’re Survival Threats
Have you ever felt disproportionately stressed by feedback, sudden change, or feeling misunderstood? The SCARF model reveals why everyday workplace moments can trigger ancient survival responses — and how understanding them can transform how we lead, communicate, and perform under pressure.
SAFE Feedback: Creating the Conditions for Learning
When feedback feels unsafe, learning shuts down. The SAFE approach focuses on creating the conditions people need to hear feedback clearly and use it well.
Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail..
New Year’s resolutions get a bad reputation, but the problem isn’t the goals themselves — it’s how we set and follow through on them. This post shares simple, proven ways to turn good intentions into achievable actions.
