Fear is often seen as something leaders need to control or eliminate. But what if it’s actually one of the most valuable tools we have? In this interview, Dr Brian Gregory explores how fear and other emotions directly influence the decisions we make — particularly in high-pressure environments. Drawing on his PhD research and experience in both academia and leadership, Brian explains why fear sharpens awareness and decision-making, how emotions drive behaviour more than logic alone and the role of trust and compassion in high-performing teams, and how strong networks are built through “unrequited reciprocity”. This conversation challenges the idea that emotion is a weakness in leadership — and instead positions it as a critical part of performing well under pressure.

For leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers, the insight is clear:understanding emotion is key to making better decisions. Part of the Leader-Connect series on leadership, performance and decision-making.