New findings about the physiology of the human brain are
reshaping traditional views of organizational structure and
behavior. Last year, we explored this emerging body of knowledge
in “The Neuroscience of Leadership,” published in the Summer
2006 issue of strategy+business and then discussed in an s+b
online seminar. The response to the seminar was so enthusiastic
that there wasn’t enough time to address all of the audience
questions. Here, we take on some of the unanswered queries. How
can recent developments in neuroscience be applied to
organizational management? One of the biggest challenges
organizations encounter is how to thrive when faced with
constant, disruptive change. The study of neuroscience has
provided us with a deeper understanding of why people find
change so unsettling. It offers valuable insight into the way
people approach new tasks or manage upheaval and helps us
understand how the human brain utilizes mental resources to deal
with ambiguity, resolve conflict, or find creative solutions