Teams are not just groups of people performing tasks; they are networks of nervous systems influencing one another moment by moment.
Mammals at Work
How Your Nervous System Shapes the Way You Work, Lead, and Team
Mammals at Work offers a fresh way to understand what’s really happening beneath the surface of our work lives: we are mammals first, and our nervous systems come to work with us.
We’ve all experienced moments when work gets the better of us—the meeting that leaves us rattled, the colleague who immediately puts us on edge, the mounting stress that makes it harder to think clearly, or the team that seems stuck in the same unproductive patterns. But what if we understood these experiences not simply as personality problems or workplace dysfunction, but through the lens of the nervous system?
Drawing on polyvagal theory, leadership research, and the science of teams, Susan Amundson, Ph.D., brings together more than 30 years of experience across occupational therapy, leadership, and organizational consulting to reveal how our mammalian neurobiology shapes the way we show up at work.
Through real client stories and practical, body-based tools, Susie helps readers see their own neural patterns and develop the skills to Recognize, Resource Up, Recalibrate, and Respond. Rather than remaining stuck in automatic reactions, readers learn to befriend and work with their nervous systems, creating more flexibility and choice in how they navigate the challenges of everyday work.
But Mammals at Work goes beyond the individual. Our nervous systems are constantly influencing one another, which means the environments we create at work matter, too. Susie explores how leaders and teams can build more generative workplaces by bringing greater Connection, Context, Clarity, and Choice to the way they work together—strengthening relationships, supporting psychological safety, and creating the conditions for people and teams to flourish.
With warmth, humor, science, and practical guidance, Mammals at Work invites us to see ourselves, and the people we work with, a little differently. When we understand and support the nervous systems we bring to work every day, we create more possibilities for ourselves, our teams, and the work we do together.
Who This Book Is For
Mammals at Work is for anyone who wants to better understand what’s happening beneath the surface at work, and use that understanding to create healthier ways of working, leading, and teaming.
People Navigating Workplace Stress
For anyone who has felt overwhelmed, reactive, shut down, or simply depleted by work. Learn to recognize what your nervous system is telling you and develop practical tools to move through challenging moments with greater clarity and choice.
Leaders and Managers
For formal and informal leaders who want to better understand how their own nervous system influences the people around them. Discover ways to lead with greater connection, context, clarity, and choice creating the conditions for people to do their best work.
Coaches and Workplace Practitioners
For coaches, consultants, facilitators, and other professionals interested in bringing a nervous-system lens to their work. Gain an accessible framework for understanding workplace dynamics and practical approaches that can support individuals, leaders, and teams. Because no matter your title or role, we all bring a nervous system to work.
Teams and Colleagues
For people who want to understand why some teams click while others get stuck in cycles of tension, miscommunication, or disengagement. Explore how our nervous systems influence one another and what helps teams build stronger, more generative ways of working together.
You'll Find Inside
Part I: Meeting Your Nervous System
Discover how your nervous system shapes the way you think, feel, and interact at work. Learn to recognize your neural patterns, understand your stress responses, and build greater self-awareness to navigate workplace challenges with more clarity and resilience.
Part II: Resourcing Up
Part III: Teaming with Mammals
