Power Moves from a Paramedic and a Scientist.
Gaining Back Control of Our Stress Levels
The concept of ‘thriving as a modern leader’ can sometimes feel like a stretch. However, what if we could harness stress for success? What if we could regulate our reactions and emotions to achieve better focus and increased productivity?
At the recent MFA Leadership Series in Melbourne and Sydney, 450 leaders gathered to hear from a seasoned paramedic and a neuro-performance scientist on how stress affects us, and ways of both managing our reactions in high-pressure situations and enhancing our emotional regulation.
Paramedic Leigh Anderson shared compelling medical emergency stories, alongside scientific insights into mindset, stress, and resilience. He emphasised the power of practical tools - starting with two breaths before entering a stressful environment, to enhance and maintain clarity in the moment.
Dr. Kristy Goodwin, an award-winning neuro-performance scientist, highlighted the mismatch between our brain's capabilities and the demands of our always-on world. She advocated for targeted micro-changes rather than full digital detox, to prevent chronic fatigue, stress, and burnout.
Both speakers sparked passionate table conversations among the captivated attendees, who discussed the importance of recognising and managing personal, and team, stress levels. Leaders then committed to adopting specific micro-habits which can have significant impacts - from the moment we wake up, how we work, how we rest, and how we sleep.
For firsthand insights, speak to a leader who attended the session about the micro-changes they're implementing, and explore the speakers book links below.
Here’s a look at the takeaways of attendees at both sessions:
Fergus Ruddle, Senior Director, Client Advisory & Management, UM Melbourne
Dr Kristy Goodwin’s small tips on how to work smarter and in a more human-centred way were a game changer for me and my table, and I’m already adopting some of her tips on rebalancing our digital work habits. Leigh Anderson’s stories were truly inspiring and the advice he gave on how to reframe stressful situations and how to cope with stress were also readily applicable to all of our busy media workplaces.
Lauren Bauer, Business Director, This is Flow Sydney
Leigh’s review of the Excitement Curve really peaked my interest as I have often felt at the top of my game, ready and energised, only to then fall off the excitement curve entirely and into the dangerous territory of anxiety & fear. Leigh's tips on how to ‘trick the physical to spur on the mental’ were incredibly insightful & useful in how I coach my team through stress.
Dr Kristy's mention of Digital Dementia was definitely an uh-ha moment for me! In a world where we are overstimulated, too available and always switched on, I feel a lot of guilt when being forgetful, so her micro habits around digital breaks and how to facilitate them really resonated with me – to the point where I’ve bought an old school alarm clock to keep my phone out of the bedroom!
Another point that resonated with me was around the impacts of lingering stress, and how the longer we hold onto it, the worse it gets! As human beings we are built to feel and then deal with stress, however it becomes dangerous when it lingers.
Harry Brownbill, Associate Strategy Director, Spark Foundry Melbourne
It’s not every day you get to hear from someone on the ground in the paramedic field who deals with life and death. Some of the situations Leigh had encountered were eye opening. The lessons of the day were how to cope with stress and how we can use stress positively and usefully to get through any task or situation we face. It was an inspiring and at times confronting session. I loved it and it really put a lot of things into perspective.
Explore and learn more in the speaker’s books:
The Paramedic Mindset, Leigh Anderson: Flourish under pressure. Calm over stress. Thrive in the face of adversity.
Dear Digital, We need to talk, Dr Kristy Goodwin: A guilt-free guide to taming your tech habits and thriving in a distracted world