Resilience in leadership: Rethinking efficiency for better business outcomes

In several of Novare Leadership’s tailored leadership programs, as well as in the Novare Executive Program, Luke Bache is one of our valued partners, offering a different perspective: that true efficiency may not be about moving faster, but about pausing and reconnecting with the body, the breath and presence.

Rethinking Efficiency: The Hidden Cost of a Constantly Activated Nervous System

In today’s corporate landscape, being in a near constant state of fight-or-flight has become something of a badge of honour. Fast decisions and relentless efficiency are often seen as hallmarks of effective leadership. But what’s the cost, at work and at home?

When we operate from a heightened stress state what neuroscience calls sympathetic dominance, we may indeed make quicker decisions. But speed comes with a trade-off, those decisions tend to be more binary, more reactive, and less inclusive.

Balancing long-term health and short-term results

Have you ever come home after a stressful day at work and really missed the mark with your child or your partner because you were still in the fight or flight, and they were on a completely different pace and state of being? High stress impairs our ability to empathise, to truly listen, and to think creatively. The brain becomes less flexible, less able to access higher executive functions.

So, here’s the question: Have company cultures unknowingly sacrificed long-term health and decision quality in pursuit of short-term speed?

Just look at the numbers. In Sweden, burnout often linked to what’s referred to as adrenal fatigue continues to rise. And it’s no surprise. Our adrenal system is central to the fight-or-flight response. Overused, it becomes depleted, leaving individuals physically and emotionally exhausted.

“The times are urgent, we must slow down”

As Bayo Akomolafe says, “The times are urgent, we must slow down.” I would add, not only slow down, but reconnect with the body, the breath, and the nervous system. On average, a person breathes over 20,000 times a day. How many of those breaths are you aware of? And more importantly, what is a healthy breathing habit?

When I work with leaders, I always begin with the breath. Every breath influences the nervous system, shaping how we think, feel, and act. Simply asking, “How is my breath right now?” before stepping into a meeting brings the prefrontal cortex online, the part of the brain responsible for clear, considered thinking and quiets the reactive amygdala.

By pairing breath awareness (top-down regulation) with healthy breathing practices (bottom-up input), leaders can create a powerful positive feedback loop. This grounds them in the ventral vagal branch of the nervous system, the state where we are most resourceful, present, and socially engaged.

And this is where true leadership happens.

Becoming a grounded leader

So yes, it might take a minute longer to pause and breathe before making a decision. But if that minute results in a more grounded leader, one who can genuinely listen, evaluate, and collaborate, then isn’t that the true definition of efficiency?

And more importantly beyond the boardroom, this ability to shift state means walking through the front door in the evening as a calmer more present, parent, partner or friend- not just carrying the momentum of the day, but actively choosing how you want to show up. That too is leadership, in fact that’s real Self-leadership. And perhaps it all starts with something as simple as the breath.

Written by Luke Bache

Luke is a somatic therapist, integrative health practitioner, and facilitator specializing in nervous system regulation, embodiment, and deep personal transformation. His work is rooted in a deeply personal journey, shaped by over two decades of exploring healing, resilience, and human potential – both within himself and through his work with others.

Together with Luke Bache, and grounded in neuroscience, we explore how leaders can understand and actively work with their resilience through the nervous system. – Petra Wigh, Partner & Learning Expert at Novare Leadership