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In this conversation on Making Waves at C Level, I sit down with Eliz Greene, a renowned stress researcher, author, and sailor who learned hard lessons about uncertainty after surviving a rare heart attack while seven months pregnant with twins. Eliz reframes stress as a natural reaction to our environment, not a moral failing, and shows leaders how to bring heart rates down, clear cortisol, and think clearly when the waters get rough.
We explore her Border Collie and Iguana recovery styles, a memorable way to help teams honor that people refuel differently. Some need activity and structure. Others need quiet and space. Great leadership makes room for both. Eliz connects those ideas to sailing on Lake Michigan, where preparation and practice turn unpredictability into something the brain can recognize. Life jackets go on before you need them. In business that means systems, communication, checklists, and visible markers of progress so people feel secure during change.
One story that will stick with you is our discussion of Capacity Optimism. Many of us believe we have more capacity than we do. Eliz discovered her fuel tank held 30 gallons when the label promised 36, and that twenty percent gap mirrors how leaders and caregivers overestimate time, energy, and staffing. Capacity Optimism shows up when we take on a full workload while raising kids, supporting aging parents, and managing a team. The fix is not superhuman effort. The fix is reducing load where possible, and routinely refueling with sleep, movement, real breaks, and friendships that allow you to say the hard things out loud.
We also talk about building your bench. Eliz and I share how our long running mastermind functions like a Bat Signal. When someone calls, we answer. Leaders who model that kind of connection build resilient cultures. Practical tactics include noticing your personal stress indicators, using intentional breathing, scheduling recovery time, and, most importantly, communicating early and often so uncertainty does not hijack performance.
If you lead people in a high change environment, or if you are a high performer who quietly carries too much, this episode delivers language, tools, and stories you can use today.
Learn more about Eliz Greene at https://elizgreene.com
Learn more about Thom Singer at https://thomsinger.com
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