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Have you ever been in a meeting and suddenly felt tense, misunderstood, or even shut down without really knowing why? This will make sense of that moment. 

When uncertainty or conflict puts us in “threat mode,” our brains can sabotage trust and connection. In this episode, we’ll explore the SCARF model and learn simple strategies to shift out of threat and into reward—so you can lead, communicate, and respond with clarity instead of reactivity.SCARF = Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness. These are 5 domains that influence human social interactions and can trigger a threat or reward response in the brain.

Episode topics: 

• The brain’s threat response can hijack your ability to listen, process, and connect. 
• Understanding the model helps you manage your own reactions AND lead others more effectively.
• Threat State: Amygdala activates → fight, flight, freeze, or fawn which leads to: narrow focus, reduction in creativity and are less inclined to collaborate.
• Reward State: Dopamine/oxytocin release → open, curious, collaborative, creative; broader perspective, higher trust, better problem solving.
• Key Insight: We can intentionally shift from threat to reward with awareness and small adjustments.
• Examples for how each of the 5 domains: Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness can be triggered and what to do to shift from threat to reward
• Tips for the in moment emotional regulation.
• Summary of 4 things to keep in mind to keep people in more of a reward state.

Coaching Prompts: 

1. Which of the 5 areas are you most triggered by?
2. Where in your work do you unintentionally trigger threat states for others?
3. What’s one new strategy you can implement or practice to support moving people toward reward states?
4. Notice your triggers this week and experiment with one shift.

Resources | Links: 

Test: SCARF Assessment

The NeuroLeadership Institute 

The Grow Effect Coaching Model 

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