Train the Nervous System to Lead the System — Building Calm, Connected, and High-Performing Project Teams – Brantley
Abstract:
High-performing teams don’t just rely on tools, timelines, or talent—they rely on emotional safety and nervous system stability. When pressure mounts, deadlines tighten, or conflict flares, even experienced project managers can watch team performance unravel.
TILT (Trauma-Informed Leadership Training) gives project leaders a simple, science-based approach to keep their teams steady, focused, and engaged—no matter how chaotic the project environment becomes. Based on Polyvagal Theory (the neuroscience of safety and connection) and Psychological Safety (Amy Edmondson’s research on high-performing teams), TILT shows how to regulate stress, build trust, and sustain collaboration under pressure.
In this interactive session, participants learn how to “train the nervous system to lead the system.” You’ll discover what happens in the body during stress, how to recognize fight-flight-freeze patterns in teams, and how to restore focus and connection through simple co-regulation techniques. The session introduces the Timeframe Training Loop (TTL)—a practical tool for reflection, simulation, and visualization that helps project teams learn faster and adapt to change.
By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for creating project environments that feel psychologically safe, emotionally intelligent, and performance-driven. Because when your nervous system is calm, your communication sharpens, your decision-making improves, and your team follows your lead—with confidence, creativity, and commitment.
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills
