Why do I get defensive at work?

Why do difficult conversations make otherwise intelligent people become defensive, reactive, dismissive or withdrawn? The answer may have less to do with communication skills and more to do with your nervous system. In Episode 10 of Unapologetic Edge, psychosocial safety specialist Philippa Scott explains what is actually happening in the brain and body during difficult conversations, workplace conflict, leadership discussions, performance reviews and emotionally charged interactions. Because your nervous system is not designed to be rational under threat. It is designed to survive. The challenge is that modern workplaces trigger threat responses every day in situations that require our highest level thinking, emotional intelligence and leadership capability. In this episode you'll learn: ✔ Why difficult conversations feel threatening ✔ What happens in the nervous system during conflict ✔ Why leaders become defensive ✔ How threat responses impact communication ✔ Why regulation is not the same as staying calm ✔ The connection between nervous system regulation and psychological safety ✔ How workplace stress changes leadership behaviour ✔ What organisations need to understand about psychosocial safety RESOURCES 👉 Take the Free Burnout Audit https://link.ashleyshaw.ca/widget/qui... 👉 Book a Psychosocial Safety Strategy Call https://calendly.com/pippa-fantasticf... #NervousSystemRegulation #Leadership #PsychologicalSafety #DifficultConversations #ConflictResolution #PsychosocialSafety #WorkplaceCulture #BurnoutPrevention