The chemistry of performance

In my coaching work, I frequently introduce clients to the four “happy chemicals”: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins. These naturally occurring neurotransmitters shape how we think, feel, and lead.

If you’ve seen Pixar’s Soul, you’ll recognise the idea that there’s more to performance than productivity. The film beautifully captures what happens when purpose, presence and passion come into alignment - like the impact of your internal chemistry when it’s working with you.

The science is solid and the applications are practical. But what makes this framework truly powerful is that it works on three levels: for the self, for teams and, at the highest level, for those who’ve integrated it so fully that it becomes central to how they navigate the world.

I often compare this framework to a diamond: clear, multifaceted and remarkably effective. And when leaders learn to work with these chemicals rather than against them, they can experience profound professional and personal shifts.

Level 1: Self-Awareness - Understanding your own chemistry

At the foundational level, it’s important to understand what each hormone does and how it influences your emotional and physical state.

Dopamine, for example, is the chemical of motivation and reward. Achieving a small goal, ticking off a task or progressing a creative project are moments that generate dopamine and fuel momentum. If you’re a high performer who thrives on progress, dopamine-awareness helps you stay energised without tipping into burnout.

Serotonin, on the other hand, supports mood stability and calm focus. It’s often low when you feel anxious, irritable or off-balance. A few simple actions can bring it back online, like sitting in the sun, practising gratitude or even taking a short “walk and talk” between meetings.

Oxytocin is the connector. It deepens trust, enhances collaboration and makes space for empathy. Many leaders are surprised to learn that something as quick as a moment of recognition or a shared laugh can change the entire tone of a conversation.

And endorphins? They’re your body’s natural stress-relief system. Laughter, music and movement are your allies, especially when you’re under pressure.

This stage is similar to the early scenes in Soul, where the main character is still trying to understand how much of his internal experience influences his movement through the world.

Once you begin recognising your own patterns, you’re able to make small, consistent shifts that have an outsized effect on your mood, clarity, and resilience.

Level 2: Supporting Teams - Creating chemistry for others

Leadership isn’t only about what’s happening within, but also about what you generate around you and how it influences others.

Here we explore how to build environments that stimulate healthy neurochemistry across teams. For example:

• Celebrating small wins boosts dopamine.
• Creating a culture of gratitude and appreciation stimulates the release of oxytocin.
• Encouraging regular rhythms, outdoor breaks and calm workspaces supports serotonin release.
• Bringing lightness into meetings – even in the form of five minutes of fun – offers a safe space for endorphins to do their magic.

These are micro-interventions that shift energy, improve trust and raise the collective baseline. It’s the neuroscience of culture, made personal.

Like the mentorship moments in Soul, this level helps others to discover what lights them up and to make space for that spark to grow.

Level 3: Transcendence - Living the knowledge

At the highest level, this becomes second nature.

Once you’ve moved through the first two levels, you begin applying these insights intuitively. You no longer think about which hormone to target – you feel it, sense it, and respond in ways that align with what’s desirable in the moment.

You walk into high-stakes meetings grounded, sensing when your team needs lightness or an individual is losing momentum, and design workflows and rituals that are as supportive as they are strategic.

And you do it all without overthinking.

This is the “Zone” in Soul – the rare, resonant place where knowledge, embodiment and purpose converge. When your chemistry aligns, flow follows.

A biological life hack

What I love about this framework is its adaptability. You can use it to rewire your approach to mornings, design recognition rituals for global teams or even build it into your onboarding process.

Next time you feel a bit flat, a little disconnected or off your game, remember that these happy chemicals are grounded in your biology. All you have to do is act according to your chemistry.

About the author

I’m Dorothée Oung, Executive Coach and Neuroleadership Consultant. I work with senior leaders and executive teams to apply neuroscience in practical, results- driven ways. My goal is to guide emerging and established Neuroleaders through deliberate, evidence-based practices that elevate how they lead, think and show up in the world.