In this episode, Dr. Shawn Watson (neuroscientist + entrepreneur) and Michelle O’Brien (Biotech CMO, mum, marathon runner) sit down with Leah Stockley — organisational psychologist, speaker, writer, and co-founder of Let’s Flow — to explore why so many leaders feel stuck, exhausted, and overwhelmed… and why it’s not a personal failing.Core truth: Leaders aren’t failing because they lack capability — they’re getting crushed by systems that overload decisions and block meaningful progress.If you’ve ever felt like work is harder than it “should” be, this conversation will land.What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why leadership overwhelm is often a systems problem, not a motivation problem • Leah’s ACT Leadership System: Aspire, Collaborate, Thrive - a human-centred approach to restoring clarity and momentum without adding pressure • The two biggest drivers of decision fatigue: • The sheer number of decisions you make • The emotional weight attached to those decisions • Why “clearing your inbox first” can be the worst way to structure your day (and what to do instead) • A practical shift: swap your to-do list for a Decision List - and protect your best brainpower for your most important decisions • What healthy cultures do differently: how trust, clarity, autonomy, and capability create teams that thrive (especially in startups and fast-growth environments)🧠 Keywords for this episodedecision fatigue, cognitive overload, leadership systems, organisational psychology, decision-making, neuroscience, peak performance, mental clarity, productivity, focus, stress management, burnout prevention, culture building, AI and leadership, leadership strategy, high-stakes decision makers, cognitive performance⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction01:05 Meet Leah Stockley + why she left corporate03:05 Why startups have a “blank slate” advantage05:10 The ACT Leadership System (Aspire, Collaborate, Thrive)08:05 What’s breaking leaders today: clarity, authority, overload11:20 Why “too much work” creates toxic cultures14:40 AI at work: opportunity vs fear (and what leaders miss)18:20 The 3 psychological needs at work: connection, autonomy, capability22:05 Culture in remote/global teams (without pointless meetings)26:30 Generational expectations + working agreements that actually work30:10 Measuring success: science + soul (and what “better decisions” means)35:10 Decision fatigue: what it is + why it’s physiological39:05 The 2 drivers of decision fatigue (quantity + emotion)43:30 The “Decision List” (why your to-do list is hurting you)47:10 Why communication drops when fatigue hits (team performance insight)50:05 Wrap-up + Leah’s book Momentum (Q3)51:10 Make every decision count — closing👤 About Our Guest: Leah StockleyLeah Stockley is an organisational psychologist with 35+ years across leadership, technology, transformation, and large-scale change. She helps senior leaders break through inertia inside systems that reward speed over sustainability — so people and organisations can thrive.🌐 Let’s Flow: www.letsflow.sg🔗 Leah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahstockley/📚 Book in progress: Momentum: Small Steps Lead to Big Impact (expected Q3)👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on decision fatigue, cognitive performance, and real-world tools for better decision-making.💬 Comment below: What’s one decision you’ll protect your energy for this week?⭐ And if you know a leader, founder, or high-performer who’s running on fumes — share this episode with them.Follow + listen: • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DecisionsThatCount • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/decisions-that-count/id1796794128 • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ORNyRJW3k2RNSp41sNUD0 • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DecisionsThatCount • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@decisionsthatcount • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/decisions-that-count-podcast/