20. Leaders Bring the Weather: Nervous System Regulation as a Leadership Skill (Espresso Shot)

Leadership isn’t just about what you say or do. It’s about the state you’re in while doing it.In this solo episode of Unfiltered Leadership, Lindsay Yellin explores one of the most overlooked leadership skills: nervous system regulation. Drawing from her own career, coaching work, and frameworks from leaders like Brené Brown, Lindsay breaks down why “leaders bring the weather” and how your internal state shapes team culture, creativity, and trust.When leaders are dysregulated, stuck in fight, flight, or freeze, they lose access to clarity, curiosity, and connection. When leaders are regulated, they set the tone instead of reacting to it.This episode offers practical language, relatable examples, and grounded tools to help leaders recognize when they’re below the line, regain regulation, and lead from a place that aligns with their values.About your host: Lindsay YellinLindsay Yellin is an executive leadership coach, dynamic speaker, and certified ACC and CPCC who helps high-achieving creative leaders trade fear for possibility and self-doubt for self-trust. A former advertising executive, she has led in high-pressure, high-visibility environments and knows the challenge of staying connected to oneself while leading others.✨ Book a Coaching Chemistry Call with Lindsay: https://calendly.com/yellin-coaching/chemistry-call ✨ Get your espresso shot of leadership insight, join the Grounds for Growth newsletter: https://yellingroundsforgrowth.myflodesk.com/groundsforgrowth Episode Highlights:What it really means that “leaders bring the weather”Fight, flight, freeze, and how dysregulation shows up at workThe difference between being reactive vs. being in the driver’s seatWhy regulation is foundational to creativity, connection, and trustThe “thermostat vs. thermometer” leadership metaphor from Ronnie Dickerson StewartAbove the line vs. below the line leadership behaviors from Brenè Brown How victim, hero, and villain roles show up when leaders are dysregulatedSimple ways to regulate before meetings, emails, and tough conversationsWhy nervous system awareness is an act of leadership resilience