Overview

Life is messy. Change and uncertainty messes with our heads—and our behavior. Even the most seasoned professionals can find themselves overwhelmed, reactive, or just plain off their game when the ground beneath them starts to shift. That’s not a character flaw. It’s brain science. When we’re faced with ambiguity or disruption, our brains interpret it as a threat—and often send us into survival mode. That’s when judgment replaces curiosity, control replaces collaboration, and self-protection replaces self-awareness.

 

In this engaging and science-rich talk, Dr. Steve offers a powerful yet practical roadmap for navigating those messy moments. Drawing from neuroscience, behavioral science, and decades of experience working with leaders and teams, he unpacks why we tend to be “sucky” when uncertainty shows up—and what it takes to be better humans in those times.

 

This keynote/workshop invites audiences to shift from reactive to reflective, from rigid to adaptive, from guarded to grounded. It’s not just about coping with change—it’s about showing up as someone others can trust, follow, and grow with when it matters most. And that starts in the brain.

 

Whether leading a team, navigating personal uncertainty, or just tired of feeling emotionally hijacked when life gets unpredictable, this keynote gives you the tools to do better— to be better—to be less sucky.

 

Learning Objectives & Takeaways

• The brain treats uncertainty like a threat—and that messes with how we think, feel, and lead: Learn why unpredictability activates our brain’s alarm system, narrowing our thinking and compromising decision-making, and how to shift from reactive survival mode to intentional leadership mode

 

• Our default responses under stress aren’t personal—they’re neural: Understand how stress and ambiguity trigger automatic patterns of behavior and how to recognize those patterns before they derail your effectiveness or relationships.

 

• Emotions are part of thinking, not separate from it: Explore how emotion and cognition are deeply intertwined, and why learning to name, regulate, and work with your emotions is key to better choices, better leadership, and better relationships.

 

• The HERO Skills are your brain’s best tools for messy moments: Practice showing better up with Humility, Empathy, Reflection, and Open-mindedness—four metacognitive skills grounded in neuroscience that help you stay composed, curious, and connected even when the world around you isn’t.