
Mastering Stress Responses - Part 1: A Leader’s Guide for Tech & HR - Jahmaal Marshall
Listen Then SpeakShow Notes
In this solo episode, we dive into the science of stress responses and how they impact decision-making, leadership, and workplace culture in the fast-paced worlds of tech and HR. You’ll learn about the one of the eight primary stress responses—and how it manifests in high-pressure environments.
We’ll explore how leaders can recognize their own stress triggers, regulate emotional reactions, and cultivate resilience to stay effective under pressure. Plus, I’ll share practical strategies for creating a psychologically safe work environment that helps teams navigate stress without burnout.
Tune in to gain actionable insights on managing stress with clarity, composure, and confidence—so you can lead with impact, even in the most challenging situations.
More from Listen Then Speak
Are you always ready for a fight at work? The fight response is one of the 5 stress responses, and in high performers it rarely looks like rage. It looks like control, micromanaging, perfectionism, and needing to win every conversation. In Part 3 of our series on the 5 stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, flop, and fawn), Jahmaal Marshall breaks down how the fight-or-flight stress response shows up in successful leaders. You'll learn how fight shows up differently in men and women, the three root causes behind anger and control in leadership, and three practical steps to calm your nervous system and lead with strength under control. If you're an executive, leader, or HR professional who gets defensive with feedback, struggles with anger at work, or can't turn off "fight mode" at home, this episode is for you.
In this week’s episode, Jahmaal explores how the flight response can hide behind busyness, perfectionism, and the constant drive to achieve. He looks at where the pattern can begin, why it can lead to burnout, and how to start breaking the cycle by noticing what you’re avoiding, practicing stillness, and facing the beliefs underneath the urge to keep moving.
Even high-performers can have issues that stem back to their childhood affecting their career (and who they are) today! Jahmaal breaks down how we can begin to recognize and deconstruct our own "root cause".
Pastor Aaron Graham joins me to discuss Unshakeable Faith and how we can work through grief, fear, and doubt without losing our convictions. We also explore racial justice, political division, online outrage, and the importance of leading with both courage and compassion.