Stress doesn’t have to hijack your leadership. Executive coach Tracy Gazelle joins us to unpack the neuroscience of staying grounded when the stakes are high and the room heats up. We explore how clarity isn’t something you chase; it’s what emerges when the mental noise settles and you choose not to engage the inner critic that sounds so convincing in tough moments.

Tracy breaks down her Calm Clarity Operating System into three practical pillars: sleep physiology, mind literacy, and lived experience. We get tactical about 90‑minute sleep cycles, why waking at 3:30 a.m. often means you’re between cycles, and how to fall back asleep by refusing the “thought hooks” that try to wake your brain. You’ll hear actionable routines for better evenings—no blue light, consistent wind‑downs, and smarter choices around food and alcohol—and a simple morning cadence that protects creative thinking before the day scatters your focus.

• clarity as a natural state when the mind quiets
• inner critic as optional noise, not identity
• labeling emotions to shift out of fight or flight
• body cues as early alerts to pause and breathe
• Calm Clarity OS: sleep, mind, lived experience
• 90‑minute sleep cycles and consistent wake times
• falling back asleep without engaging thoughts
• evening routines: light, screens, food, alcohol
• morning creativity time for instinctive decisions
• practical stories of leaders gaining calm authority

From boardroom triggers to body cues, we map exactly how to catch fight or flight before it takes over. Labeling emotions in real time moves processing from survival centers to the prefrontal cortex, restoring reason without draining your passion. Tracy shares a standout client story of a hospital leader who transformed a “bulldog” reputation into calm authority, improved relationships at home, and earned consideration for a CEO role. We also touch on reading habits, Taoist wisdom, and how to build a personal routine that actually fits your life rather than someone else’s template.

If you want sharper decisions, steadier meetings, and more energy for the people who matter most, this conversation gives you a blueprint. Subscribe, share this episode with a leader who needs calm more than caffeine, and leave a review to help others find the show. What’s the first habit you’ll test tonight?

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Tracey Gazel:👇
➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary):https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-gazel/
➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://traceygazel.com/

Connect with The Uncommon Leader:
🚀𝐁𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭 (RSS Feed): 🎙 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1807941/episodes/18654391
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Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team)

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!

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