Neuroscience tells us that much of our thinking around leadership is simply wrong.
“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” – H. L. Mencken
I’ve just finished reading a great article by Janine Mace, which appeared in the October 2015 Australian Institute of Management (AIM) magazine. Here are just some of the new and powerful insights it contains.
“There is a big disconnect between how leaders lead and how our brains work. A lot of current leadership practice and structure is designed for the industrial era.” – Linda Ray, Director of the Neuresource Group
“Leaders often put people under pressure to get them to perform, but neuroscience shows (this) makes people less open to innovation and new ways of thinking.” – Sharon Orrman-Rossiter, research scientist and managing director of Clarity Now
“Usually there is a reliance on facts to make decisions. However good-quality decisions also use the social and emotional parts of the brain.” – Sharon Orrman-Rossiter
“Research has shown it is not useful to keep working on a problem. It is better to step away, (thus) allowing your non-conscious mind to work on the problem.” – Corinne Canter, senior consultant at Human Synergistics
“To put in place a new habit or neural pathway takes about six to eight weeks, or four weeks if you do it every day.” – Dr Trisha Stratford
“We all have lots of biases and they can undermine leaders if they don’t recognise the need to develop and apply different types of thinking.” – Sharon Orrman-Rossiter
“You need to understand the base organisational principle of the brain is that it is wired for survival. At the prospect of a problem, the brain moves to redirect resources through a flight-or-fight response. This results in leaders going into a defensive mindset and having a fragmented mind.” – Corrine Canter
“The brain is programmed for novelty and loves rewards, so it is very easily distracted. When you keep pushing yourself, your brain gets tired. But if you switch attention after 25 minutes, the brain gets the novelty reward it needs.” – Linda Ray
What you can do
I think you’d agree that the information presented above is largely self explanatory. Which means that the only thing left for you to do, is to act upon it. However most will find this exercise particularly challenging for the reason that it requires a change in both your current thinking and the way you behave towards others as a leader. But take heart from what Dr Stratford said. That is, stick to repeating the new habit for at least six weeks and voila! It will become second nature to you.
WHAT’S NEXT
- Check out my blogs | http://www.leadingbyinfluence.com.au/articles/
- Check out my YouTube Channel | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg9HLPboV-lI6GRpA8m61vg
- To check me out, visit my Linked profile | http://www.linkedin.com/in/timwilkeleadershipauthor/
- Download (while it’s still free) my upcoming book in the series “100 Tips to be a Great Leader” | http://eepurl.com/bE_n7D
- Purchase my book “Look Inside: Discovering the secret to leadership success” | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017S6BGFG
- Purchase my book “100 Tips to be a Great Leader: Volume I” | https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B074FX3FGT
- To find out about my online leadership-development mentoring program, contact me by clicking this link | http://www.leadingbyinfluence.com.au/contact. Your first instalment is free and without obligation.
- To find out about my in-house leadership development workshop, contact me by clicking this link | http://www.leadingbyinfluence.com.au/contact.
FOLLOW me on
- LinkedIn | http://www.linkedin.com/in/timwilkeleadershipauthor/
- Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/timwilke1
- Pinterest | https://www.pinterest.com.au/tim510514/
- Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/TimWilkeLeadingbyInfluence/
SHARE my posts / videos on
- Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn