Presentation: Train the Nervous System to Lead the System — Building Calm, Connected, and High-Performing Project Teams
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
Biography: Dr. William Albert Brantley is an award-winning leadership and learning strategist with over 20 years of experience in government, academia, and corporate training. As President and Chief Learning Officer of Brantley Advanced Social Sciences Applications (BAS²A), he specializes in helping organizations build adaptive, human-centered leadership through neuroscience, communication, and project management.
A Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), Dr. Brantley has trained thousands of professionals in leadership, learning strategy, and performance improvement. His work integrates Polyvagal Theory, Psychological Safety, and Agile practices to create emotionally intelligent and high-performing teams.
Dr. Brantley is a frequent conference speaker, author, and 2019 Training Magazine Emerging Training Leader award recipient. His engaging presentations blend research, storytelling, and real-world tools to help leaders “train the nervous system to lead the system.”
