Your Nervous System Influences Advancement—Power, Poise and Promotion
Sun Feb 01 2026
If you’re feeling the weight of more responsibility—at work, in business, or elsewhere in life right now—this episode offers a grounded way to think about performance and forward movement through a nervous system lens, without burning yourself out.
In this episode of Leadership, Life, Health & Happiness, I’m talking with Lizette Warner, PhD—neuroscience-based executive coach, former healthcare Chief Science Officer, and author of Power, Poise, and Presence—to explore the often-overlooked role the nervous system plays in sustainable performance, from leadership presence to advancement and promotion.
In our conversation, we talk about the fact that leadership advancement is influenced by far more than skills, credentials, or effort. Lizette shares how her own experience with burnout and organizational upheaval reshaped her understanding of performance—and how nervous system regulation became central to how she works with executives today.
Some of the important points she brings up include:
Executive presence is closely tied to how safe and regulated the nervous system feels
Chronic stress limits access to executive function, decision-making, and clear communication
Many high performers stay stuck in “stretch and grow” mode without integrating recovery
Recalling and reinforcing past wins can become a usable internal resource under pressure
Ending the day depleted is not a requirement for high achievement—and often a signal something is off
We also talk about Lizette’s practical “recipe card” approach, where leaders identify what power, poise, and presence feel like in their own bodies—and how learning to access those states intentionally changes how they show up in high-stakes situations.
This episode is especially relevant if you're in a place of increasing responsibility and you want to grow, advance, and be seen as ready for the next level—without sacrificing your health or energy in the process.
You can find more about Lizette here:Trustandleadership.comLinkedIn.com/LizetteWarnerInstagram.com/LizetteWarner
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If you’re feeling the weight of more responsibility—at work, in business, or elsewhere in life right now—this episode offers a grounded way to think about performance and forward movement through a nervous system lens, without burning yourself out. In this episode of Leadership, Life, Health & Happiness, I’m talking with Lizette Warner, PhD—neuroscience-based executive coach, former healthcare Chief Science Officer, and author of Power, Poise, and Presence—to explore the often-overlooked role the nervous system plays in sustainable performance, from leadership presence to advancement and promotion. In our conversation, we talk about the fact that leadership advancement is influenced by far more than skills, credentials, or effort. Lizette shares how her own experience with burnout and organizational upheaval reshaped her understanding of performance—and how nervous system regulation became central to how she works with executives today. Some of the important points she brings up include: Executive presence is closely tied to how safe and regulated the nervous system feels Chronic stress limits access to executive function, decision-making, and clear communication Many high performers stay stuck in “stretch and grow” mode without integrating recovery Recalling and reinforcing past wins can become a usable internal resource under pressure Ending the day depleted is not a requirement for high achievement—and often a signal something is off We also talk about Lizette’s practical “recipe card” approach, where leaders identify what power, poise, and presence feel like in their own bodies—and how learning to access those states intentionally changes how they show up in high-stakes situations. This episode is especially relevant if you're in a place of increasing responsibility and you want to grow, advance, and be seen as ready for the next level—without sacrificing your health or energy in the process. You can find more about Lizette here:Trustandleadership.comLinkedIn.com/LizetteWarnerInstagram.com/LizetteWarner