Great leaders don’t fail under pressure, their brains do. Today David Watson returns to unpack what actually happens in your mind when stress hits, and how the best leaders learn to regulate themselves before leading others.

In this episode, David shares hard-earned insights from working across eight countries in some of the world’s highest-pressure environments. We dive deep into emotional intelligence under stress, amygdala hijacks, peak performance curves, and why understanding yourself is the foundation to leading high-performing teams.

You’ll learn how to lead calmly in chaos, avoid emotional contagion, manage pressure without burnout, and create psychological safety that lifts performance rather than shuts it down.

Get in touch with David Watson – https://neurolead.net.au

-

David Watson’s Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

“Being able to do what gives you joy, consistently.”

What does happiness mean to you?

“Happiness isn’t constant — it’s a feeling of clarity, openness, and willingness to engage.”

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

“Early wake-up, phone out of the bedroom, water with creatine and salt, affirmations, speech practice, and grounding before the day starts.”

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

“Understand and lead yourself first — or your brain will make decisions for you.”

-

Listen To The Podcast

https://pod.link/1683066164?view=apps&sort=popularity

-

Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

-

Chapters

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:00:44) – Chapter 1 | Leading Under Pressure & Emotional Intelligence

(00:32:33) – Chapter 2 | Peak Performance, Pressure & Burnout

(00:58:14) – Quick Fire Questions

(01:04:28) – Outro

-

#podcast #leadership #highperformance #neuroscience