What it was:
A talk and interactive session on leadership, held as part of the Future Leaders Scheme at Ashridge in November 2017.
We also completed a ‘leadership dilemmas’ exercise that looks at choices under pressure.
What I learned:
A simple model for how the brain works:
- “Brain 1”, the autonomic nervous system; Sympathetic nervous system, works fast. Controls fear, fight, flight.
- “Brain 2”, Parasympathetic nervous system; Controls rest and recuperation.
- It’s essential to balance sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Without balance, we lose cognitive function, become tired and stupid!
- “Brain 3”, the conscious thinking mind. Brain 3 has not evolved fast enough for us to cope with modern world.
- Under stress, brain 2 perceives threat, activates brain 1, brain 3 shuts down.
Sweet spot between challenge and threat is “correct thinking under pressure”- this is what you should always aim for.
My leadership values, according to my guesses (!?):
- Future leaning
- Integrity
- Honest and open
- Engagement
- Innovation
- “Excitement, adventure and really wild things”
My leadership values, as evidenced by the ‘leadership dilemmas’ exercise?
- Integrity
- Honesty
- Openness
What will I aim to do differently as a result:
- Consider an exercise to reconcile what team say about me and what I said about myself
- Develop and write a “why should anyone be led by you statement”
- Keep momentum on learning and development
- Write this all up!