Your Brain’s Secret Office Staff: Executive Function Skills Explained
If you’ve ever felt like your brain is trying to run a busy office with half the staff out sick, you’re not alone.
If you’ve ever felt like your brain is trying to run a busy office with half the staff out sick, you’re not alone.
Executive function skills are the behind-the-scenes operations that help us plan, focus, regulate emotions, get things done, and adapt when life throws curveballs. These skills are especially tied to the prefrontal cortex - the part of your brain right behind your forehead. Think of your prefrontal cortex as the CEO of your brain.
The concept of executive function skills has been described by many experts over the years. My work draws especially on the framework created by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare in their book series, Smart but Scattered. Over the years and in my clinical work with clients of all ages, I have found myself returning again and again to their framework because of it’s clarity and practicality. Other authors and researchers categorized executive function skills into other buckets. While different models emphasize slightly different skills, they all circle around the same core truth:
These skills are what help us manage daily life. And they are SO much more than just trying to be more “productive.”
Whether you’re juggling a career, family, household responsibilities (or for lots of us, all three) your brain depends on a team of these skills working together smoothly.
But let’s be honest…sometimes someone on the team forgets to show up. Or they get distracted, or overwhelmed, or are just plain feeling burnt out. And that’s when things start to feel chaotic.
That’s why I like to personify these skills. Instead of abstract definitions, let’s imagine your brain as an actual office - we’ll call it PF Cortex Consulting for fun - with a team of staff members, each responsible for an essential function. When they’re in sync, everything flows. When they’re not…well, it’s like Monday morning after your toddler kept you up all night and you dropped your coffee on your lap on the way to work..
Welcome to the team…
Patricia Foster Coolidge: CEO (Prefrontal Cortex)
The fearless leader of PF Cortex Consulting. Patricia keeps everyone on the same page, makes the big-picture decisions, and coordinates the work of the entire team. When she’s well-rested and supported, the office hums along beautifully. But when life gets hectic (hello, perimenopause, stress, or sleepless nights), it’s harder for her to manage the crew.
Skill Alignment: Oversees all executive function skills
Fun Fact: She loves her color-coded planner and brainstorming sessions.
Rita Irwin: HR Director (Response Inhibition & Emotional Control)
Rita’s job is to help the office pause before reacting. She’s the one reminding the team not to hit “send” on that snarky email or impulsively buy three new planners you don’t need. She also plays a big role in keeping emotions steady so the team can stay focused and share their thoughts and ideas clearly.
Skill Alignment: Response inhibition + emotional regulation
Real-Life Impact: Think before acting, manage emotions in the moment.
Wendy Malone: Executive Assistant (Working Memory & Sustained Attention)
Wendy is the keeper of the mental to-do list. She remembers what’s on deck, keeps track of directions, and holds the details of the day so the rest of the team can do their jobs. She’s also the one who helps keep attention steady, even during long or boring tasks.
Skill Alignment: Working memory + sustained attention
Real-Life Impact: Holding info in mind, focusing long enough to finish tasks.
Penelope Pastor: Project Manager (Planning & Prioritizing)
Penelope sets the roadmap. She decides what order tasks should happen, what can wait, and what needs to move to the top of the list. She’s also great at seeing what could go wrong and setting the team up for success.
Skill Alignment: Planning + prioritizing
Real-Life Impact: Breaking down goals, sequencing steps, managing time wisely.
Tina Ingram: Team Lead (Task Initiation & Follow Through)
Tina’s job is to get things started and make sure they get finished. She’s the one handing out fresh coffee, opening up the files, and saying, “Let’s do this.” She’s also the first to struggle when procrastination creeps in.
Skill Alignment: Task initiation + follow through
Real-Life Impact: Starting projects, pushing through resistance.
Theresa Martin: Operations Manager (Time Management & Organization)
Theresa keeps the office from descending into chaos. She creates systems, manages schedules, and makes sure the coffee mugs end up back in the cabinet (instead of piling up in the sink). When she’s overwhelmed, you’ll feel it everywhere.
Skill Alignment: Organization + time management
Real-Life Impact: Creating and maintaining systems, keeping structure.
Madeline Montgomery: Quality Assurance Manager (Metacognition & Self-Monitoring)
Madeline is the team’s internal mirror. She watches how things are going, notices what’s working (and what’s not), and suggests adjustments. When she’s tuned in, the team learns and adapts. When she’s offline, mistakes pile up fast.
Skill Alignment: Self-monitoring + metacognition
Real-Life Impact: Self-awareness, learning from patterns, adaptive problem-solving.
Sydney Frederick Thompson: Customer Service Manager (Flexibility & Stress Tolerance)
Sydney handles it when things don’t go as planned. She helps the team stay flexible, recover from setbacks, and manage stress when deadlines change, plans shift, or something unexpected happens (which is…often).
Skill Alignment: Flexibility + stress tolerance
Real-Life Impact: Adaptability, resilience, managing frustration.
Why These 7 Executive Function Skill Clusters Matter
A lot of executive function skill frameworks have many more than 7 clusters to focus on. I’ve adapted these frameworks into 7 core team members (plus our fearless leader, the CEO), combining overlapping skills so it’s easier to understand and apply in real life.
This approach honors the research while making it practical, relatable, and dare I say…fun. Because when you can imagine your executive function skills as real people in a workplace, it’s easier to:
Notice which “staff member” needs support
Understand how they interact
Build strategies to help them thrive
When your PF Cortex Consulting team is balanced and supported, your brain runs like a well-oiled office. When someone’s out to lunch or overwhelmed, everything else has to work a little harder. And that’s okay- it just means we need to support the team by leveraging our strengths and building skills in our areas for growth.
Coming Up Next in the Series
This post is just the kickoff. Over the next several months, I’ll introduce each team member one by one- sharing how they show up in daily life, what happens when they’re struggling, and practical strategies to help them get back on track.
We’ll explore how these skills affect working women in real life, and how to build systems that work with your brain, not against it.
Stay tuned as we get to know the characters.
And in the meantime, take a moment to think:
🥳 Which of your team members is thriving right now?
🆘 And who might need a little extra support?
Don’t miss a thing- be sure to sign-up for my newsletter to find out when I post a new blog or offering. I have lots of stuff in store for you in the coming months. Or contact me today if you have questions or want to drop a line. But for now…take a minute and reflect on which of your brain office staff members is in need of an improvement plan.
Disclaimer: While Dr. Liz is a licensed psychologist, the information provided herein is intended solely for educational purposes. Services offered by Empowered Focus, LLC are not to be considered a substitute for mental health therapy. Individuals requiring mental health therapy are advised to seek support from a qualified mental health provider in their respective localities. A valuable resource for locating such providers is Psychology Today.