A New Study Every Leader Should Know About

A recent King’s College London study found that viewing original art reduced stress hormones by 22%. It involved measuring stress levels using cortisol, heart rate, and inflammation markers. That’s not a “feel-good” claim; it’s biological proof that calm is measurable. If art can lower stress by 22%, imagine what strategic stress regulation could do for your leadership.

 

When Stress Hijacks Leadership

Under sustained stress, your body reroutes blood flow away from your thinking brain (the prefrontal cortex) to your survival brain (fight, flight, or freeze). Perfect for escaping lions. Not so useful for leading a board meeting.

When stress levels are consistently heightened:

·      You’re operating on intensity, not clarity.

·      You confuse exhaustion with productivity.

·      You think you’re coping, but your body is silently protesting.

Stress is like an invisible handbrake – you’re pushing harder but going nowhere faster.

 

The Lesson Hidden in the Art

The study’s point isn’t that every CEO needs to live in a gallery (though honestly, worse ideas exist). It’s that your nervous system thrives on authentic focus and recovery. When you learn to activate calm on demand, you make better decisions, sustain energy longer, and stop mistaking chaos for drive. Calm isn’t comfort. Calm is capacity and competency.

 

From Theory to Practice: My One-to-One Leadership Coaching

I work privately with SME leaders and executives to translate this research into daily performance habits.

This isn’t mindfulness fluff or vague “self-care.” It’s high-functioning physiology applied to leadership.

You’ll learn how to:

·      Identify your stress triggers and shut them down before they hijack your focus.

·      Switch from survival to strategy mode in under two minutes.

·      Build recovery loops that fit real life (no retreats required).

·      Stay mentally sharp all day without hitting the wall by 3 p.m.

Clients often say the same thing: “I didn’t realise how much stress was costing me until I started seeing Paula and it stopped controlling me.”

 

The ROI of a Regulated Leader

Calm leaders think faster, decide clearer, and retain people longer. In short, less drama, more delivery. Let’s be honest: nobody wants to follow a leader who looks one spreadsheet away from combustion.

 

Ready to Lead Without the Adrenaline Hangover?

If you know stress is chipping away at your performance, it’s time to get practical. Book a Private Leadership Resilience Session with me. In 60 minutes, we’ll map your personal stress triggers and design a science-based strategy so you can perform at your best, leaving you calm, clear, and in control.