The 3 nervous system states and how to diagnose yours


Reader,

I'm about to tell you something that sounds strange but explains everything about why your business feels chaotic even when your systems look good on paper.

Your business has a nervous system. Not metaphorical. Measurable.

Let me show you what I mean:
How fast information moves between departments = processing speed
How your team responds to unexpected problems = regulation capacity
How decisions get made under pressure = stress response patterns

Sound familiar? That's because businesses operate exactly like human nervous systems.
And just like humans, business nervous systems exist in one of three states:

1. HYPERVIGILANT (Threat Mode)

This looks like:

  • Micromanaging everything
  • Controlling every decision
  • Unable to delegate without anxiety
  • Constant firefighting
  • Everyone walking on eggshells (whether you know it or not)

The "tone-setter" (CEO, Business Owner) is operating from chronic stress, so the whole system reflects that tension.


2. SHUT DOWN (Freeze Mode)

This looks like:

  • Slow decision-making (We just have to think about it for a minute...)
  • Bureaucratic processes that protect against risk
  • "That's how we've always done it" culture
  • Risk-averse leadership
  • Innovation dies before it starts

The "tone-setter" (CEO, Business Owner) is overwhelmed, so the system shuts down to avoid more input.


3. INTEGRATED (Trust Mode)

This looks like:

  • Responsive to changes without panic
  • Adaptive to new information
  • Resilient under pressure
  • Clear communication flows
  • Delegation works smoothly

The "tone-setter" (CEO, Business Owner) is regulated, so the system can function at its highest capacity.


Here's what I've noticed after 14 years running a multi-location business:

Most CEOs focus on org charts and processes.
"We need better systems." "We need clearer roles." "We need more accountability."
And they're not wrong. But they're treating symptoms, not the root cause.

I focus on a different question:

What nervous system state are we operating from?

Because here's the truth: You can have perfect systems and still fail if the collective business nervous system is dysregulated.

I've seen it over and over, beautiful org chart, detailed processes, clear KPIs...
And the business still feels chaotic because the "tone-setter" is hypervigilant, so everyone else is too.

Or the "tone-setter" is shut down, so decision-making crawls.

The work isn't just fixing the systems. It's regulating the nervous system running those systems.

That's why my approach integrates both:

  • Strategic systems redesign (the operations)
  • Nervous system capacity building (the state)

When both shift together, transformation sticks.


So here's my question for you:
A. How would you describe your company's nervous system right now?
B. Hypervigilant? (Controlling, micromanaging, exhausting)
C. Shut down? (Slow, risk-averse, stuck)
D. Integrated? (Responsive, adaptive, resilient)

Reply and tell me. I'm genuinely curious.

And if you're realizing your business is operating in hypervigilant or shut-down mode, that's not a failure—it's a diagnosis; it's information. And a diagnosis is the first step toward transformation.

Warmly,
Donnalynn Riley, CBS
The Business Alchemist

P.S. What if you don't know your diagnosis? Find out exactly where your business nervous system is breaking down by taking The 7-System Operations Assessment™. It diagnoses the specific systems creating chaos in your business—and shows you what to fix first. Free, and quick: https://7syops.com/






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