How sleep impacts leadership - Part 1: Better sleep enables leaders to plan long-term amid uncertainty

This is part one 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 next post in our series see: “Part 2: Better sleep drives more rational decision-making.”

How Sleep Impacts Leadership - Part 1:

Better sleep enables leaders to plan long-term amid uncertainty

Today, leaders must navigate a lot of uncertainty.

Navigating these unstable times can be difficult, and it's easy to prioritize short-term solutions and find quick fixes for the most noticeable issues, even if it's not the highest priority.

But this is short-sighted.

To thrive amidst ever-changing times and come out on top, you need to be able to plan long-term.

Better sleep helps leaders achieve this by enabling more effective long-term thinking.

Let's explore why.

Effective leadership requires high levels of "executive functioning,"—which is cognitive processes like problem-solving, planning, organizing, and executing plans.

Research shows that executive functioning happens in the brain region known as the prefrontal cortex, and it influences all leadership behavior.

The prefrontal cortex can not function properly without adequate sleep, which is why sleep is so critical for executive functioning.

When you prioritize sleep, you prioritize the crucial brain functions that allow you to plan for and succeed during times of significant uncertainty.

Read more on how sleep impacts leadership in our next post: “Part 2: Better sleep drives more rational decision-making.”

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

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!