Martina Muttke - Build Better Brains: A Leaders Guide to the World of Neuroscience

Build Better Brains

Build Better Brains

A Leaders Guide to the World of Neuroscience

Dr. Martina Muttke

Build Better Brains: A Leaders Guide to the World of Neuroscience

Copyright Business Expert Press, LLC, 2020.

Cover design by 100 Covers

Interior design by Exeter Premedia Services Private Ltd., Chennai, India

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations, not to exceed 400 words, without the prior permission of the publisher.

First published in 2020 by
Business Expert Press, LLC
222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017
www.businessexpertpress.com

ISBN-13: 978-1-95253-856-8 (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-1-95253-857-5 (e-book)

Business Expert Press Service Systems and Innovations in Business and Society Collection

Collection ISSN: 2326-2664 (print)
Collection ISSN: 2326-2699 (electronic)

First edition: 2020

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America.

Abstract

Build Better Brains is a fascinating story of applying news from neuroscience to understand our brain and improve our leadership. In a time where Maslows basic needs are fulfilled, expectations of the modern workforce demand different leadership concepts. The challenge leaders face is to understand whats going on in their peoples brains, and how this knowledge can make them more successful.

Leadership and our minds are complex domains. Build Better Brains connects the puzzle pieces and shows how by combining the two worlds we can build an environment of trust, motivation, and purpose. By integrating our organs, literally, into the game, leadership is evolving from sociological models to a science of biologythe biology of leadership.

The newly introduced GMC model integrates individual leadership styles and neuroscience. Exploring a leaders natural tendencies to be a gardener, magician, or captain is key to learn how we can Build Better Brains and help others build their own better brain.

Build Better Brains lets the reader discover what lies inside the box on top of our head. By providing scientific but not difficult, fascinating but not esoteric, entertaining but not for-dummies information for leaders, it shows how our brains can be built for success.

Packaged into reasonable pieces with plenty of real-life stories, tools, tips, and tactics, Build Better Brains is ready to demonstrate that leadership has become measurablenot with psychological instrumentsbut through neuroscience!

Keywords

neuroscience; leadership; management; brain; business; performance; effectiveness; systems; purpose; trust; coaching; neurohacking; generations; psychology; motivation

Contents

This is an extraordinary achievement, written in a unique and very personal style, super rich, inspiring, exciting! Recommended for everyone in a leadership position.Gunther Schwarz, Former Senior Partner & Managing Director The Boston Consulting Group, Germany

Creativity is about bringing different things together. By integrating lessons from her experiences in the contrasting disciplines of medicine and leadership, Martina created a unique way to impart practical wisdom thats much needed in the modern erain a manner thats fun and refreshingly simple to read. This book certainly opens up new avenues for tapping into our very own potential to meet the generational challenges of this century.Dr Timothy Low, Board Director for Farrer Park Hospital and past CEO for Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore

Congratulations for such a fine accomplishment. I read the book with much interest. It reads smoothly, is entertaining in most parts, and personal in the sense that you get a feel for the person behind the book, which I appreciated a lot.Peter Muller, Professor Emeritus, Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii

As a busy CEO, I am so glad I invested time in reading this pioneering leadership book. As well as learning how to unlock the latent potential within myself and the brains of those around me, I found that, page by page, I was picking up game-changing techniques that have made me a more effective leader!Guy Foxell, CEO, One YMCA, UK

Martinas book is the next best seller in Leadership. Making neuroscience knowledge and research simple and applied would appeal to every reader not just those with a particular interest in Leadership.Alexia Papageorgiou, Professor of Clinical Communication, University of Nicosia Medical School, Cyprus

Exceptionally researched and written book that provided immediately actionable advice. This helped me as a CEO to boost my teams motivation and performance in a matter of weeks. This is truly the first leadership hand book that you should keep on your desk for quick reminders on building a better brain.Prtel Tomberg, CEO & Founder of Bondora, Estonia

Writing this book was a spontaneous decision inspired by a couple of people and incidents.

I thank the chair of a scientific symposium in Beijing for congratulating me on my presentation with the words you should be a teacher.

I thank my mother, who actually was a teacher, for making me wish to be able to explain difficult topics in a simple manner.

I thank my father, who some day told me about the book he always wanted to write, titled Managing by Gardening. The gardener somehow got stuck in my subconscious mind.

I thank Kim and Kemal, the leaders in my book who really inspired me with their magician style.

I thank Debbie Jenkins, who as my book coach made it possible to organize my thoughts, structure my writing, let me dream and laugh and tell stories, and taught me how to write a book in the first place.

I thank my publisher for believing in the work of an unknown German who wasnt even on Facebook and Twitter.

I finally thank my partner Joo and Milly the Cockapoo, for loving me and caring for me so well that I trusted myself to do this.

Be aware that as you read you will change your brain.

As you continue to read you will change your brain even more.

One of the fascinating and scary insights from neuroscience is that all of our experiences, relationships, behavior, and activities constantly change our brain.

I spent six years studying medicine, then pursued and completed a business education at Harvard, served as a leader in large corporations, and have been coaching other leaders and their teams for almost 25 years. But the truth is, I always felt confused by the flood of leadership books, concepts, and theories. I couldnt figure out how to match Systems 1 and 2 with concepts around Emotional Intelligence, Strengthsfinder, and Myers-Briggs, while making sure I Lean In the right way and dont lose my Grit.

Most leadership concepts are either too complex for my liking, too simplified, or they seem to be missing something. I observed that every leader is different depending on the generation he or she belongs to, their culture, individual style, goals, needs, and so on, and that all our brains react differently. This observation led to my fascination with neuroscience, encouraging me to investigate it further, and suddenly I was able to connect many dots.