How sleep impacts leadership - Part 2: Better sleep drives more rational decision-making

This is part two of our series: “How sleep impacts leadership,” where we explore how sleep actively impacts the skills and qualities that make leaders more effective in six main ways.

• For the previous post in our series see: “Part 1: Better sleep enables leaders to plan long-term amid uncertainty.”
• For the full playbook, including insights on how to implement Sleep Leadership at your organization, see here.
• Coming soon: “Part 3: Better sleep enables leaders to navigate change.”

How Sleep Impacts Leadership - Part 2:

Better sleep drives more rational decision-making

As a leader, it's essential to stay calm and composed when making decisions, particularly in times of stress and uncertainty.

But when you're sleep deprived, this can be challenging.

Studies show that people become more impulsive when they are sleep deprived.

This is because sleep is necessary for emotional regulation.

Brain scans indicate that when sleep-deprived, areas of the brain that control impulsivity become more active, and areas of the brain that control rational decisions become less active.

This is why you might experience substantial shifts in emotions and difficulty making level-headed decisions when tired.

According to Dr. Maiken Nedergaard from the University of Rochester Medical Center, during sleep, metabolic waste is cleared out from between neurons in the brain - essentially washing the brain and paving the way for more rational, level-headed decision-making.

For the full list of how sleep impacts leadership, and how you can apply the findings to become a more effective leader, check out the full playbook here.

Coming soon: “Part 3: Better sleep enables leaders to navigate change.”

About Chorus

Chorus is an employee wellbeing and sentiment platform with two components for an integrated approach. We tackle employee burnout through improved sleep and more accurate HR sentiment analysis.

First, the employee side is a mobile app and coaching program that helps employees and their families sleep better.

Second, the employer side is a measurement tool that allows HR leaders to collect objective, anonymous data that measures the health and sentiment of their employee base.

🧩 If you're an HR or business leader interested in learning more about supporting your organization with better insights and reduced burnout, please reach out!