3 Ways Our Brains Undermine Our Ability to Be a Good Leader

The result is that leaders become more “vision-focused” and less concerned with detail.

Rather than just doing the work of today, leaders must constantly scan for what’s next and make sure their teams are prepared. This is at odds with how our brains evolved to value the immediate and short-term future. Indeed, in one study, 27% of Americans say they rarely or never think about what might happen five years into the future.

The purpose of presenting challenges is not to frighten the board but to enlighten them and engage them in the operational and strategic questions that preoccupy the person presenting the material.

Social neuroscientist Matthew Lieberman points out that a leader who is both technically competent and highly personable is somewhat of a unicorn.

One of the biggest conundrums of leadership is the way our brains perceive power. As individuals perceive themselves to be more powerful, they tend to become more optimistic. This often leads to unrealistic targets and inflated expectations, which can cause a disconnect between leaders and their direct reports who are doing the heavy lifting.

Fortunately, research suggests the habit of thinking about and predicting the future is a learnable skill, and it’s one of many cognitive skills leaders can and should learn as part of leadership training. One way to get started is to block off time each month and map out a “future state” for where you’d like your team to be in three to six months.

According to management consultant Elliott Jaques, the higher you go in an organization, the further out you need to think.

However, for leaders who were strong in both results and social skills, the likelihood of being seen as a great leader skyrocketed to 72%.

To be successful, our research at the Neuroleadership Institute has found we must excel across three core domains of great leadership: being future-focused, being good with people, and being able to drive results. And yet, as we develop as leaders, our brains evolve in ways that challenge our ability to excel in these areas.