Our way of thinking is steered by intuition and instinctive judgment, not only logic

In the past we used to believe that all thoughts are formed rationally, hence we were sure that when we had formed an opinion, we were “right”.

Advances in cognitive neuroscience and moral psychology have helped us understand some of the complexity of our mind, specifically the fact that our brain usually takes “short cuts” and makes approximated assumptions in order to save energy.

These approximated assumptions are usually called “heuristics” (intuitive answers to a complex problem by way of approximation.

Whenever a Heuristic give us a correct interpretation of reality, we call it an Algorithm (e.g. we approximate the result of a complex arithmetic operation by indicating order of magnitude rather than a detailed results).

Our Way of Thinking is usually formed by a number of Heuristics, some of which can be Biased Assumptions (for example, I might “assume” that always agreeing with my boss will protect my job, whereas disagreeing at time and standing up for what is right might actually be a better strategy to help the business and protect the job).

Getting sound processes in place and managing them might be complex, but improving the way to deal with each other is a lot more complicated.

In today’s world we need to share, influence, learn from each other and collaborate in a way that is unprecedented in the history of human development.

In a nutshell we need to mobilise others irrespective of “position”.  We need to develop a positive power of personal influence.

Today’s leadership skills are trust-based, not fear-based. They involve listening, disclosing, learning and co-creating, not pushing, convincing and winning.

This requires a major transformation, because our DNA is tainted by memories of fear-based relationships (being on the alert and distrusting feels safer than trusting).  We might go an automatic pilot behaving based on intuitions and assumptions (Mindset) tac tare no longer appropriate or productive.

When we understand our deep instinctive mindsets and challenge them.

The journey into our individual and collective mindsets can open rich opportunities to grow as humans beings and to shift the way we collaborate with others: it can strengthens our influence, leadership and sense personal fulfillment.

It is like “fertilising our mind”.