Fear is a powerful force that drives both individual and social behavior. Good leaders understand and manage fear effectively to foster optimal team performance. Today, we explore the science of fear and anxiety, exploring their evolutionary roots and the role they play in modern organizations.

We’ll discuss the neurobiology of fear, highlighting the dual pathways in the brain that govern our responses to both immediate and distant threats. You’ll understand how uncertainty amplifies fear and how chronic anxiety, prevalent in today’s competitive environments, impacts mental health and decision-making.

Listen in for science-backed insights on how you can create a work environment where fear is understood and mitigated to drive performance and collaboration.

In this episode:

- Introduction to fear and leadership

- The evolutionary role of fear in human survival

- The neurobiology of fear

- Proximal vs. distal threats

- The role of uncertainty in fear responses

- How fear drives action and shapes social behavior

- The impact of chronic fear in modern society

- Why leaders must understand and mitigate fear

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book/

Resource Mentioned in the Episode:

Mobbs, D., Hagan, C. C., Dalgleish, T., Silston, B., & Prévost, C. (2015). The ecology of human fear: survival optimization and the nervous system. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 9, 121062 -https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2015.00055/full

Adolphs R. The biology of fear. Curr Biol. 2013 Jan 21;23(2):R79-93. Doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.11.055 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23347946/

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences