Understanding Your Nervous Systems Power In The Workplace
From Fight or Flight to Love and Light: Have you ever felt your heart race before a tough meeting, your palms sweat before a pitch, or your mind go blank in a high-pressure moment? That’s your sympathetic nervous system—often called the “fight or flight” response—doing its job. But did you know that just as we’re wired for survival, we’re also biologically built for connection, compassion, and calm? That’s the role of the parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes referred to as the “rest and digest” or even the “love” system.
Understanding these two branches of our autonomic nervous system isn’t just for neuroscientists—it’s essential for leaders, teams, and anyone who wants to navigate work and life with more clarity, empathy, and resilience.
The Amygdala: Guardian of Survival
Located deep within the brain’s limbic system, the amygdala is our internal alarm system. It constantly scans the environment for threats—real or perceived. When triggered, it activates the sympathetic nervous system, flooding the body with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This is what gives you that jolt of energy to fight, flee, or freeze.
This response is incredibly useful—if you’re facing a lion. Less so when your “lion” is a challenging boss or an inbox full of urgent emails.
Prolonged activation of this system can lead to burnout, disconnection, and poor decision-making—especially in high-stakes environments where clarity and collaboration matter most.
The Vagus Nerve and the Power of the Heart
Enter the parasympathetic nervous system, often linked to the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the heart and other organs. This system slows your heart rate, deepens your breathing, and brings a sense of safety and connection. It’s what allows you to listen deeply, lead with empathy, and build trust.
In moments of calm, the parasympathetic system allows your prefrontal cortex—the “thinking” brain—to come back online. This is where creativity, strategy, and emotional regulation live.
You might call this the “love” part of the brain. Not in the romantic sense, but in the deeply human sense—where we connect, care, and co-regulate with others.
Why It Matters at Work
Teams in chronic fight-or-flight mode may perform under pressure, but often suffer from miscommunication, reduced innovation, and exhaustion.
Leaders who cultivate parasympathetic-friendly environments—through psychological safety, breathwork, mindful pauses, and compassion—see stronger collaboration, lower turnover, and healthier teams.
Tools to Shift from Survival to Connection
Pause and Breathe: A single conscious breath can signal safety to the nervous system.
Name the Feeling: Language calms the amygdala. “I feel overwhelmed” is a powerful step toward regulation.
Connect with Others: Co-regulation (sharing calm) is just as powerful as self-regulation.
Touch Your Heart: A hand on your chest activates the vagus nerve and supports parasympathetic activation.
Practice Gratitude: It’s not fluff—it rewires your brain toward trust and safety.
Leading with the Heart-Brain Connection
In today’s fast-paced world, we can’t afford to live in constant survival mode. Our brains—and our businesses—thrive when we toggle skilfully between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
By understanding the neuroscience behind our responses, we unlock more than just productivity—we unlock humanity, empathy, and the kind of leadership the world needs now more than ever.
From fight or flight to love and light—the shift starts with awareness.
Have you noticed these shifts in your own leadership or team dynamics? Reach out on the contact page to find out more.