Your Organisational
Nervous System
introduction
An organisation functions much like a living organism, with its overall health and performance deeply influenced by the collective state of its employees' nervous systems.
Collective Homeostasis
When individuals within the organisation experience an activated autonomic nervous system state called the Ventral State—they exhibit well regulated heart rates, relaxed muscles, and optimal brain function.
Regulated System
This Ventral state is the result of a well toned Ventral Vagal nerve and it fosters effective communication, creativity, and a sense of ease, enabling the organisation to thrive and innovate.
Collective Dysregulation
Conversely, when employees encounter stressors that activate the Sympathetic State (fight/flight/fawn) or the Dorsal State (shutdown), their physiological responses can lead to increased tension, reduced cognitive function, and diminished collaboration. Co-regulation of our autonomic nervous systems means stress 'spreads' across teams and departments.
Big outcomes
Understanding the organisational nervous system—the interplay of individual nervous systems within a workplace—provides a blueprint for moving from stress to clarity, from conflict to connection, and from burnout to flow state performance.
Nervous System Process
Built in Autopilot
Each of us has a remarkable autonomic nervous system that constantly shapes how we experience the world. Our bodies are constantly scanning our environment to detect whether we are safe or under threat.
Learned Reaction
Based on what is detected and what was previously learned, it sends signals to the brain to organise your response. The body has 4 response states that shape how you feel, what you think, how you think and what action you take in any given moment.
Co-regulation
As humans we are wired to use each other's nervous systems to detect threat and survive. This means if colleagues are feeling dysregulated and stressed it will trigger others into a survival nervous system state. This is how 'culture' is affected by nervous systems.
True Resilience
When parts of an organisation are capable of staying regulated in a Ventral State of safety, they offer not only optimised cognitive function and focus, but they can co-regulate others in the organisation to the same state. Allowing an organisation to feel stress, but not stay there and function from there.
The Four Nervous system states
1.
Ventral State
aka 'balance & connection'
Safety State
Healthy homeostasis. Well regulated heart rate, and breathing. Muscles are relaxed and enjoying movement. Brain function is heightened, body is co-ordinating well. Sense of connection to self, others, the world. Where we communicate well and feel at ease.
Resilient
Feel moments of stress but have the resources to bring yourself back easily to feeling grounded, spacious, alive, grateful, abundant and at ease. The ease of moving back to a Ventral State is true resilience. This is where we can really feel connected with others, creative and trust our decision making.
Capacity Grows
You feel resourced and resourceful, taking appropriate action, (rather than the need to do everything).When stress happens, you know how to support yourself and others, moving back to safety.
Thriving & Creative
We listen deeply and communicate well and feel at ease. We are comfortable engaging socially, connecting and collaborating. Our executive function is high.
2.
Sympathetic State
aka fight / flight / fawn
Survival State
Parts of the brain come off line, heart rate & blood pressure increases, muscles held in tension - ready to go. Cortisol & adrenalin pumped through the body. Digestion out of balance.
Unsettled
You experience a range of emotions including a general sense of unease, feeling stressed, reactive, anxious, alarmed, fearful, with racing thoughts.
Mobilised
Hypervigilent, feeling the need to move/take action to feel better. 'I'll get it done myself'. Can jump over others in conversation and answer before listening and understanding. The territory of micro-managing.
Self protection
Feel out of sync with others, misread cues, sacrifice social engagement for survival. Feel driven to compete, move into judgment and criticism of others. Driven to be better than everyone else.
3.
Dorsal State
Aka collapse / shutdown
Survival State
Parts of the brain come offline, breathing becomes shallow, heart rate lowers, blood oxygen lowers, digestion disturbed,
Overwhelmed
Feel dispondent, loss of hope, self critical and feelings of 'Im never going to be good enough'. Feeling numb and powerless.
Immobilised
Going through the motions of daily life, without being present. Can feel like you want to shrink away/disappear, zoning out.
Disconnected
Connection with others feels threatening, you lack presence in spaces and may find you are talked over or ignored when you speak.
4.
Combined Sympathetic & Dorsal States
aka 'freeze'
Survival State
An activation of both survival nervous system states. All the energy being pumped into the body to mobilise, present with all the fear of taking action.
Rollercoaster
Feeling ALL the challenging emotions -from fear and rage and anxiety to cynicism, resentment and apathy.
Burnout
All the highs of the adrenalin and cortisol pumping in with all the sensations of collapse keeping you immobile - like driving in 1st gear the whole time.
Disconnected
All these sensations keep us feeling alone and stop us from exploring deep trusting connections with others and the world we live in. Can feel like imposter syndrome.
This means that your organisation's thinking, the quality of its decision making, problem solving, action taking, resilience, flexibility and relationship building are a result of the individual and collective nervous system states that are active.
In the driving seat
Are you curious about your organisation's nervous system, and how you can influence it?