There’s a reason we say teams are “in sync.” Because at our core, human beings are rhythmic creatures.

When that rhythm is disrupted—by chronic urgency, disconnection, or fear—the nervous system loses its sense of safety. And when leaders lose rhythm, teams do too.

Most leaders I meet don’t struggle because they lack skill or commitment. They struggle because their nervous systems are running on empty.

We call it burnout. But burnout isn’t just exhaustion or overwhelm. It’s what happens when our bodies stay in survival mode long after the moment of threat has passed.