Status threats are sneaky. They show up when someone dismisses our idea in a meeting, when we're left off an important email thread, or when organizational changes make us wonder, "What does this mean for me?"
Status in Dr. David Rock's SCARF model refers to our sense of importance relative to others. It's something our brains are constantly monitoring because social standing was critical to human development. That reality lingers.
For me, I know a status threat has arrived because I get a pulsing rush sensation in my arms. And some brain fog when it's really severe. Do you know the feelings?
These status threats hit us hard for a reason. And Dr. David Rock's brain-aware guidance has been a super-power unlock for me in understanding what to do when they occur.
In the past, I think I've either tried to power through these status threats OR just "shut down" completely. Neither approach is terribly helpful for getting through the moment.
Being "brain aware" is the most important piece of advice: Literally noticing when your status is threatened and recognizing the physiological response happening.
With that foundation, here are some practical approaches depending on what moment you're in:
Prepare for Status Threats
Create your own success metrics What would make you proud regardless of what anyone else thinks? Define personal standards for what constitutes quality work for you. When we internalize our measures of success, we become less vulnerable to external status judgments.
Diversify your status sources A threat in one area has less impact when your sense of status comes from multiple sources. So find sources outside of work where you can experience competence and recognition—professional groups, volunteer roles, side projects, roles at home.
Practice giving others status boosts You actually create status rewards for yourself when you regularly acknowledge others' expertise. Dr. Rock's research shows this activates your own brain's reward networks and reduces your vulnerability to status threats.
Keep a "wins journal" Track your accomplishments. Write down your contributions and growth to give yourself evidence to counter status doubts. Even "small" accomplishments can help maintain perspective when status threats occur. And a "written" record bypasses our limbic system's tendency to distort memories during threat states.
Dealing with Status Threats In the Moment
Name it to tame it "This is my limbic system responding to a status threat." "I'm experiencing a status threat." The simple act of labeling what's happening activates your prefrontal cortex and helps reduce limbic system activation. This creates space between stimulus and response.
Change your physical state Stand up, take deep breaths, sip water, go for a walk. Our mental and physical states are interconnected. So even making a subtle change during the experience of a status threat can send signals to your brain that help shift from threat to reward state.
Ask a genuine clarifying question Our default response is to become defensive. Instead, if you can remind yourself, ask something that helps you better understand the situation. This keeps your prefrontal cortex engaged by redirecting attention to information-gathering rather than threat response.
Create a bit of mental distance Try asking yourself "What would I advise a colleague facing this situation?" or "How will I view this a month from now?" This slight psychological distance can reduce the negative reaction by engaging different neural networks that reduce the immediate emotional impact.
Recovering from a Status Threat
Compare yourself to your past self rather than to others How have you grown? This shifts your brain's natural tendency for social comparison toward a more productive focus. Self-comparison activates different neural networks than social comparison and supports a growth mindset that benefits cognitive function.
Look for opportunities to contribute your expertise in different contexts This might include offering to lead part of a project that showcases your strengths, contributing to the team by documenting processes you understand well, or connecting colleagues who could benefit from each other's expertise. Any action that reinforces your sense of value creates natural status rewards.
Connect with people who value your contributions Spend time with colleagues, friends, or family who appreciate you. Happy hour! These supportive interactions help reset your brain's status perception after a threat.
Reframe the threat as an opportunity When we reframe a status threat as feedback, or an opportunity to learn, or to try something new, we activate different neural pathways that can help us improve.
Finding What Works For You
Different approaches work for different people.
So develop the practice of noticing your brain's status responses and trying the above techniques to find what works for you. Like any skill, your ability to navigate status threats improves with deliberate practice.
To that end, consider how you might regularly check-in with your brain to develop your awareness. For example, ask yourself "How's my brain doing right now?" as you enter a meeting. It may be helpful to do so again half way through the meeting. And once more after the meeting ends. The goal of a practice like this is for self-awareness to eventually become automatic. That will help you identify a status threat as it's happening and make it easier to manage it in the moment.
