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Vagal Tone in Leadership

Meaning

Vagal Tone in Leadership is a conceptual application that links the physiological health of the vagus nerve—quantified by metrics like heart rate variability (HRV)—to an individual’s capacity for effective, resilient, and emotionally intelligent leadership. A high vagal tone is physiologically correlated with enhanced parasympathetic activity, signifying a greater capacity for self-regulation, emotional flexibility, and rapid recovery from stress. This biological metric provides an objective measure of an individual’s neurophysiological readiness for complex, high-pressure executive roles.