We rarely talk about leadership as a health issue, but we should. Most stress I see isn’t from workload. It’s from uncertainty, lack of control, and emotional unpredictability. The way we’re led at work, at home, and in our communities quietly rewires our nervous system. Over time, that shows up as poor sleep, gut issues, irritability and burnout. Leadership isn’t abstract. It’s a daily biological exposure.
Leadership also isn’t about titles. It’s whoever people look to when things wobble. Whoever sets the emotional temperature of the room. Humans are wired to scan for safety, and supportive leadership restores predictability and agency. Controlling or erratic leadership keeps the body in low-grade fight or flight, where recovery never quite happens.
We also talk about systems. Cities, workplaces and kitchens shape health more than motivation ever will. The same applies to ultra-processed food. These products are engineered for convenience and craving, not resilience. Avoiding them isn’t about being perfect. It’s about recognising patterns and being sceptical of foods that need marketing to look healthy.
And finally, fatigue. Even with good sleep, regular exercise and “good numbers,” people can still feel wrecked. Sometimes tests help. Often the issue isn’t deficiency. It’s load exceeding recovery. Good metrics don’t always mean a rested nervous system. Health improves when leadership, systems and biology are aligned, not when we just push harder.
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PS: This session was recorded LIVE, thank you to everyone who tuned in!
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