Tag Archives: Dr Steve Peters

As a leader, what’s your default position in pressure situations and does it serve you?

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It is now commonly accepted that in pressure or danger situations, the amygdala – which is part of the limbic system or mammalian part of the brain – reacts emotionally in one of three ways. Typically we will:

  • Fight
  • Flee
  • Freeze

…hence the expression – ‘fight or flight response’ – first coined by Walter Bradford Cannon, M.D. (1871–1945) an American physiologist, professor and chairman of the Department of Physiology at Harvard Medical School.

In humans, the fight response may be manifested in angry, argumentative behaviour and the flight response through social withdrawal, substance abuse and even television viewing.

Males and females tend to deal with stressful situations differently. Males are more likely to respond to an emergency situation with aggression (fight), while females are more likely to flee (flight) and turn to others for help, or attempt to defuse the situation.

As a leader when in stress situations, what do you typically do? Does it:

  • Serve you?
  • Your colleagues/team members?
  • Your organisation?

…and if not, what can you do about it?

Paying attention to your typical or default response will raise your self-awareness, the foundation of more effective leadership. Become more aware of your shallower breathing, raised heart-rate, sweaty palms. Once you are more aware, you can begin to think more clearly and respond the situation more rationally as opposed to just reacting emotionally.

Assuming there is no immediate physical danger, pause, take a deep breath, count to ten, buy yourself time to process the situation in the neocortex, the rational part of your brain.

This raised awareness may encourage you to find a resolution to situations that is more collaborative, avoiding blame, judgement, recrimination and guilt, aggression or passivity. Assertive behaviour is likely to be the result.

For more on this subject, read Dr Steve Peters’ excellent and readable book ‘The Chimp Paradox’. His style is engaging and accessible with practical advice and insights. Dr Peters – engaged by British Cycling Performance Director, David Brailsford – is regarded as a key player in the sustained success of Team GB’s Cycling Team at the Olympic Games over the last 8 years and more recently of Team Sky on the road.