Neuroscience of Business

Expert guide to the new science behind leadership, presented in a uniquely practical way Leadership can be learned: new evidence from neuroscience clearly points to ways that leaders can significantly improve how they engage with and motivate others. This book provides leaders and managers with an accessible guide to practical, effective actions, based on neuroscience.

Neuroscience is revolutionizing our understanding of human psychology and behavior. By showing how to apply this new understanding to how you recruit, manage, and develop your people, Brann is enabling you to deliver a step change in organizational performance and individual achievement.

Behavior change is hard, but O'Mara shows that by adopting strategies that are well-founded in the science of brain and behavior individuals and organizations can adapt to the demands of the modern world. The brain matters in business. The problem is that our brains have many biases, heuristics, and predilections that can distort behavior and decision making. The good news is that we know more about how these work than ever before. O'Mara's starting point is that, as our behavior arises from the structure and function of our brains, careful examination of a series of brain-based ("neurocognitive") analyses of common aspects of human behavior relevant to business and management practice reveals lessons that can be used at work. He begins by looking at neuroplasticity and how it enables a shift from a restrictive "fixed mindset" to an enabling "growth mindset." He shows how this changing mindset approach - where the focus is on task and improvements based on effort - is scalable within organizations. Next, as the brain is a living organ like the heart and lungs, O'Mara shows how to keep it physically in the best possible shape before examining how we exercise control over our behavior, build resilience and create positive brain states. He also considers the implications for business of our brains wiring for status and illustrates how research shows that it is possible to de-bias assumptions about gender and race - and the impact that this has on performance.