Nervous System Literacy in the Workplace: A Trauma-Informed Approach

“Leadership isn't about being in control. It’s about being grounded, attuned, and safe to be around.”
– Resmaa Menakem, My Grandmother’s Hands

In today’s high-pressure, productivity-driven culture, the word leadership often conjures images of top-down authority, long hours, and relentless decision-making. But as more people begin to awaken to the real cost of burnout, disconnection, and unresolved trauma in the workplace, a new paradigm of leadership is beginning to emerge—one rooted in presence, nervous system awareness, and relational safety.

I recently had the honor of leading a workshop titled Leading with Presence: Building Connection and Community Through Somatic Awareness for the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network. This was more than just a professional development session—it was an embodied experience. Together, we explored how trauma lives in the body, how our nervous systems impact the way we lead, and how teams can begin to shift workplace culture by prioritizing safety over stress.

And the feedback was clear: this work is deeply needed.

The Nervous System Is the Foundation of Leadership

Let’s start here: your body is a leadership tool.

We often overlook the role of the nervous system in professional settings. But the truth is, how regulated—or dysregulated—you are directly impacts your ability to lead, connect, and inspire others. If your body is in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze, you may find yourself reacting impulsively, micromanaging your team, or struggling to trust others.

This isn’t because you’re a bad leader. It’s because your nervous system is doing its job: trying to protect you.

When you begin to understand and care for your own nervous system, you unlock the capacity to lead with presence—to be grounded, attuned, and calm in the face of stress or uncertainty. This kind of leadership is magnetic. It creates a ripple effect of regulation, trust, and connection in the workplace.

Co-Regulation: The Hidden Key to Team Culture

One of the most powerful insights from the workshop was the concept of co-regulation—the way our nervous systems are always in silent communication with those around us.

Your energy, tone, breath, and body language can either help someone feel safe or unconsciously trigger anxiety. This is especially important in caregiving, education, and service-oriented roles, where many team members are navigating compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, or high emotional labor.

Leaders who model calm, clarity, and kindness signal to their teams: you’re safe here.
This is where real innovation, collaboration, and creativity thrive.

Trauma-Informed Leadership Is a Practice, Not a Trend

Too often, trauma-informed care gets reduced to buzzwords or surface-level policy changes. But real trauma-informed leadership asks something deeper of us.

It asks us to look inward.

To examine our own trauma imprints, boundaries, communication patterns, and leadership habits.
To regulate our own nervous systems before we try to regulate others.
To show up, not as perfect, but as present.

It asks us to stop performing leadership—and start embodying it.

What Happens When You Lead This Way?

When leadership is rooted in the body, everything begins to shift:

✅ Meetings feel more focused and connected
✅ Communication becomes clearer and more compassionate
✅ Boundaries are honored—not resented
✅ Teams feel safer to speak up, take risks, and show up authentically
✅ Burnout is reduced because people feel seen, supported, and resourced

This isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about leading differently.

Let’s Redefine What Leadership Looks Like

The systems we’ve inherited are unsustainable. Our workplaces—just like our communities—are hungry for a new kind of leadership.

One that values presence over pressure.
Compassion over control.
Regulation over reaction.

As a somatic practitioner and trauma-informed educator, I believe this work is the future. And the good news is, it’s not only possible—it’s already happening.

If you’re a leader, organization, or team ready to bring this approach into your workplace, I’d be honored to support you. Together, we can create spaces where people feel safe to thrive—not just survive.

👉 [Learn more about my speaking & workshop offerings here.]
👉 Or reach out to inquire about a custom training for your team.

Let’s lead with presence. The world needs it more than ever.