Why Smart Leaders Make Bad Choices (Under Pressure)

Fight. Flight. Freeze. Flock. These are the four ways your brain responds to stress — and they show up at work more often than you think. In this episode of Wired to Work, Jess Chapman breaks down what’s actually happening when you react instead of respond — and why stress makes it harder to think clearly in the moment. This isn’t about personality or willpower. It’s about how the brain processes threat. Jess explains: • what’s happening in the brain when stress levels rise • why the amygdala triggers fast, emotional reactions • how the prefrontal cortex (“brain CEO”) gets disrupted • the four stress responses: fight, flight, freeze, and flock • why social threat at work feels as real as physical danger • how chronic stress increases reactivity and reduces reasoning She also shares four practical ways to handle these moments: • how to identify what’s triggering the reaction • how trust lowers emotional intensity • what to do when someone is reacting in real time • how to reduce uncertainty and create psychological safety If you’ve ever thought “Why did that escalate so quickly?” — or found yourself reacting in ways you didn’t intend — this episode will give you a clearer way to understand and manage those moments at work. Welcome to Wired to Work. ✉️ Get in touch at: [email protected] Follow us: Instagram - @ethreeconsulting LinkedIn - ethree-consulting | Neuroworks Website: https://www.ethree.ca | https://neuroworks.ca/ HR Toolkit!: https://www.ethree.ca/hr-toolkit/ Wired to Work is a Double Barrel Production