🧠 The Leadership Blueprint Hidden in Your Brainstem

Why Psychological Safety Is Neuroanatomical (and Yes, the Meaning of Life Might Be 42)

We often think of leadership as a mindset—a combination of soft skills, strategy, and self-awareness.
But what if leadership is also anatomical?

Not metaphorically.
Literally.

I've spent years studying how people move, communicate, heal, and connect—from the clinical treatment room to the TEDx stage. And somewhere along the way, I realized something simple but powerful:

Psychological safety isn’t just cultural. It’s biological.

🧬 The Cranial Nerve Crew: The Anatomy of Trust

If you’ve read The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson, you know psychological safety is a core requirement for innovation and collaboration. But how do people actually feel safe?

Answer: Their nervous system tells them so.

Your nervous system scans every facial expression, every vocal tone, every shoulder shrug for signs of danger—or safety. This scanning happens through a very special group of nerves known as the cranial nerves.

Here are the 5 unsung heroes I call the Cranial Nerve Crew—and what each one brings to your leadership table:

🧠 CN V – Trigeminal Nerve

The Sense of Safety Begins in the Jaw
This nerve is responsible for sensation in your face and head. It also controls chewing—and when we’re stressed, it’s often the jaw that clenches first.

👉 Leadership lesson: If your jaw is tight, your body thinks it's time to brace—not lead. Relax your jaw, and you send yourself (and your team) a cue of calm.

🧠 CN VII – Facial Nerve

The Trust Signal Lives in Your Face
Before you speak, your team sees you. And whether you intend to or not, your facial muscles say everything: “This is safe,” or “Don’t go there.”

👉 Leadership lesson: Practice “resting welcoming face.” It’s not fake—it’s felt. Your eyes and eyebrows can build bridges before your words arrive.

🧠 CN IX – Glossopharyngeal Nerve

Your Voice Carries More Than Words
This nerve helps control your vocal tone and swallowing reflexes. It also shapes how your message lands—beyond the words.

👉 Leadership lesson: Soften your tone. Use pauses. Swallow when you're nervous (your glossopharyngeal already knows). These small signals build enormous trust.

🧠 CN X – Vagus Nerve

The CEO of Calm and Connection
The superstar of Polyvagal Theory, the vagus nerve regulates breath, heart rate, and digestion. It's your access point to grounded leadership.

👉 Leadership lesson: 3 slow exhales can change the tone of a conversation—because they change your biology.

🧠 CN XI – Accessory Nerve

The Posture of Power Without Intimidation
This nerve controls your shoulders and neck. Stress lifts them. Safety drops them.

👉 Leadership lesson: Posture isn’t just body language—it’s neuroception. A relaxed leader makes space for a relaxed (and productive) team.

🌌 And Here’s the Nerdy Punchline…

When I added up the cranial nerves most responsible for psychological safety:

5 + 7 + 9 + 10 + 11 = 42.

Yes. 42.

The same number from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy that represents “the answer to life, the universe, and everything.”

Coincidence? Maybe.
But as someone who lives in the Venn diagram of neuroscience, curiosity, and a brain wired a little differently (hello, neurodivergence), it felt like the universe winked.

💫 Why This Matters

I care about these nerves because I’ve felt what it’s like when they misfire—when the body doesn’t feel safe, even in safe environments. When learning feels like drowning. When “just speak up” feels like a physiological shutdown.

And that’s why I’m on a mission to make leadership more human, more intuitive, and more embodied—starting with the biology we all share.