The brain’s tendency for the threat response to be activated – and there are about five times more neural networks that scan for threat – means that leaders who don’t work with the brain in mind are less likely to be able to minimise this, or better yet, to activate reward responses.

In this current COVID-19 world, the VUCA world (a world that is Volatile-Uncertain-Complex- Ambiguous) intermingles with a BOCA world (a world described as having Blurred boundaries, Overloaded with more work than people can manage, Complex, and Addicted to technology and continuous stimulation from a knowledge-based economy).

This is our new operating norm.  So, leaders of the next generation need to be savvy about the current paradoxes these challenges bring about.

In the brain savvy leadership space, this brings about paradoxes like maintaining control, while letting go of control.  Or, stressing continuity while stressing change. Enough to give many leaders a ‘brain ache’!   Those operating in old ways are going to suffer the age-old challenge of trying to fix problems with the thinking that caused them.

In the systems savvy space, this brings about paradoxes like managing organisational performance in a rapidly changing environment, building organisational capability when the capability demands are shifting and changing, or balancing demands for high quality, responsive services with the need for a culture of failing fast in innovating and delivering new products and services.  We are seeing this in aged care, disability, health, education, justice, defence, and utilities, just to name a few sectors!

The world is dynamic and changing.  So are organisations. And so is the brain.  We need to operate in savvy ways in both spheres to ensure that we don’t suffer from stagnation or overload.

This is a virtual one-hour session where we will start to unpack what it means to be brain and systems savvy. We will also outline how you can learn more where you feel this might be helpful to you as a leader and/or to your organisation.

For more information, please contact Julie Cunningham via email julie.cunningham@interfaceconsultants.com.au.