Under pressure, capable people don't lose their skills — they lose access to them, as fear shuts down the brain's decision-making centre. That's according to leadership advisor and psychotherapist Errol Amerasakara, owner of Bluestone Edge, who has spent almost two decades working with executive teams and elite sporting organisations on trust and performance. 

Errol unpacks his concept of "adaptive safety", explaining how teams stay honest, connected and capable of learning when stakes are high, and why psychological safety is too often confused with comfort. He shares the micro-behaviours that build or erode trust in thirty seconds, how leaders should read silence in a room, and why the best teams debrief weekly rather than waiting for the next offsite. 

Takeaways  
Fear physiologically shuts down the brain's skills and decision-making centre. 
Teams unconsciously mirror each other's stress through nervous system contagion. 
Psychological safety means willingness to speak up, not mere comfort. 
Adaptive safety must be built continuously through small daily behaviours. 
Micro-behaviours in any given moment build or erode team trust. 
Debriefing weekly builds a team's muscle for honest self-reflection. 
Leaders should stay curious about silence rather than rushing decisions. 
Shorter gaps between insight and action signal stronger team safety. 

Follow Errol Amerasekera 
https://errolamerasekera.com/  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/errol-amerasekera-a254154/ 

Errol’s book
From Fear to Flow: The Adaptive Safety Revolution https://link.amazon/B0aNthDCI 

Books recommended 
The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World by Ronald A. Heifetz https://link.amazon/B0gKTELR5 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners 

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ 

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO 
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. 
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. 
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life) 

Follow me: 
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth 

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Under pressure, capable people don't lose their skills &mdash; they lose access to them, as fear shuts down the brain's decision-making centre. That's according to leadership advisor and psychotherapist Errol Amerasakara, owner of Bluestone Edge, who has spent almost two decades working with executive teams and elite sporting organisations on trust and performance.&nbsp;
Errol unpacks his concept of "adaptive safety", explaining how teams stay honest, connected and capable of learning when stakes are high, and why psychological safety is too often confused with comfort. He shares the micro-behaviours that build or erode trust in thirty seconds, how leaders should read silence in a room, and why the best teams debrief weekly rather than waiting for the next offsite.&nbsp;
Takeaways &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Fear physiologically shuts down the brain's skills and decision-making centre.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Teams unconsciously mirror each other's stress through nervous system contagion.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Psychological safety means willingness to speak up, not mere comfort.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Adaptive safety must be built continuously through small daily behaviours.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Micro-behaviours in any given moment build or erode team trust.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Debriefing weekly builds a team's muscle for honest self-reflection.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Leaders should stay curious about silence rather than rushing decisions.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Shorter gaps between insight and action signal stronger team safety.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Follow Errol Amerasekera&nbsp; <a href="https://errolamerasekera.com/">https://errolamerasekera.com/</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/errol-amerasekera-a254154/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/errol-amerasekera-a254154/</a>&nbsp;
Errol&rsquo;s book From Fear to Flow: The Adaptive Safety Revolution <a href="https://link.amazon/B0aNthDCI">https://link.amazon/B0aNthDCI</a>&nbsp;
Books recommended&nbsp; The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World by Ronald A. Heifetz <a href="https://link.amazon/B0gKTELR5">https://link.amazon/B0gKTELR5</a>&nbsp;
Watch the episode on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners">https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners</a>&nbsp;
Newsletter &ndash; each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/</a>&nbsp;
Books &ndash; Learn more about our books&nbsp;<a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/made-to-thrive/"> Made to Thrive:</a> The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded/">Onboarded:&nbsp;</a>How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded-for-managers-book/">Onboarded for Managers:</a> Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/bigger-isnt-better/">Bigger isn&rsquo;t Better, Better is Better:</a>&nbsp;Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)&nbsp;
Follow me:&nbsp; on <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles">https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles</a>&nbsp; on <a href="https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth">https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth</a>&nbsp;
Enjoying the show? Leave a review&nbsp;

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.

The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.
The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

The Evolution Partners

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.

We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.
We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.