What if the most powerful leaders are not those who control others, but those who have mastered the art of self-regulation?
Not only leaders who can regulate themselves, but those who regulate the nervous systems of those around them. By doing this, they help others increase their chances of accessing brain states that lead to innovation, well-being, creative problem-solving and resilience.
This is not about suppressing emotions or always staying calm—it’s about cultivating a repertoire of states and intentionally shifting into the one that best serves the moment, the mission, and the people around us.
Mindset Neuroscience on Spotify
Mindset Neuroscience on Apple Podcasts
Super-Regulators videos series is here:
The Science Behind Super-Regulation
Recent research into self-directed neuroplasticity shows that our brains are not fixed by our past. Instead, we can actively rewire patterns—especially those related to stress, reactivity, and self-doubt—through intentional practices that blend awareness and brain-optimizing actions.
This is the foundation of what I call Super-Regulation—a set of skills that enable us to not only manage our own states, but to help others do the same.
Self-regulation skills are not those we are born with—they develop over time, shaped by our early relationships and experiences. Many of us did not receive the ideal conditions for learning adaptive regulation, but the brain’s capacity for change means it’s never too late to build these skills.
As leaders, coaches, and professionals, our own nervous system becomes a model for those we serve.
When we embody self-regulation, we create vibrations that are detected by other nervous systems. These frequencies of psychological safety, resilience, and possibility can then become more accessible for others.
Becoming a Self-Regulating Leader
What does it mean to be a Super-Regulator? It starts with three core capacities:
- Self-Regulation: Using mind and body to access a sense of inner well-being and agency, even in challenging situations.
- Co-Regulation: Harnessing relationships to foster growth, safety, and evolution—for ourselves and others.
- Super-Regulation: Guiding others to develop their own self- and co-regulation skills, amplifying collective intelligence and resilience.
Leaders who practice these skills are not just more effective—they are more trusted, adaptable, and inspiring. They pause before reacting, shift from anxiety to curiosity, and stay present with discomfort long enough to learn from it. They model calm and clarity, even when chaos swirls around them.
This week's podcast is an audio recording of my mini-book, Super-Regulators: the science of self-regulation and a new type of human.
Listen to it here
(or go to spotify, Apple Podcasts)
Self-Regulation Exercise to activate new neural (including executive control) circuits:
NOTICE-PAUSE-NOTICE
Over the next week:
- NOTICE moments when you feel triggered or unsettled—what is your default reaction?
*(NOTICING activates prefrontal brain systems that boost pattern recognition powers -which then help us reinforce desired action-outcome sequences) - PAUSE: What does your body want to do? Can you slow down your breath, your movements, or your speech?
*(pausing or slowing down activates inhibitory, suppress-and switch mechanisms - a key to regulation and adaptability) - NOTICE: How does this micro-shift affect your interactions, your decisions, and your sense of agency?
These small acts of awareness and adjustment are the building blocks of self-regulation. Over time, they accumulate into new neural patterns—making it easier to access states of well-being, even under pressure.
Reflection: What Kind of Systems-Thinking, Self-Regulating Leader Do You Want to Be?
When you think about your own journey, what would it look like to become a Super-Regulator?
Expand Your Impact this Fall
I invite you to join me for the Super-Regulators: Science of Self-Regulation and Systems Thinking Master Class Intensive —a research-backed training for coaches, leaders, and professionals who want to elevate their impact and help others access higher levels of their own human potential.
FREE EVENT!
Watch leaders, coaches and professionals from all over the globe present how they are using neuroscience to elevate their work as Super-Regulators!
This will be a series of short (3-5 minute) "Ted" like talks about a variety of topics relevant to coaching, leadership, education and mental health.
When: Tuesday September 23rd
Where: Online
Cost: FREE
(more details coming up in future emails!)
You can learn all about the Neuro Leader Community here...
