The Leader and Her Beautiful Brain
Leadership” is a word which is much used nowadays, in many walks of life: politics, business, sports, education, the military, and even the church. According to Eve Poole in this fascinating book, the very use of the word is problematic. It implies a mysterious quality that people either have or don’t have. Instead, she coins the term “Leadersmithing” to indicate her belief that the qualities, skills, and characteristics required of a leader can be learned and honed, just like any trade. Her book is designed to help both current and aspiring leaders – in any field – to do just this.
The book is divided into two parts, the first theoretical, the second practical. Poole encourages her readers to delve into it as they wish, though it does help reading all the way through. Two things struck me from part one. First, she utilizes one of my favorite topics, neuroscience to demonstrate that we learn best in high stress situations, where the heartbeat and breathing are increased. This is why exercise is great before reading or studying because our adrenaline is increased causing our heart rate to go up. [1] As a cyclist, I have noticed for years after I ride and study my body and brain are actually excited to accomplish a task. Of course, the heart rate and breathing are increased if a project needs to be done at a certain time and I think I might not make it. But this adrenaline actually helps us to focus and gives us clarity. Even Camacho mentioned this. “Clarity leads to momentum and a true experience of thriving.” [2]. The memories of these “critical incidents”, as she calls them, are particularly strong and so it is easier for the brain to recall the experiences learned in future such incidents. As the brain recalls these experiences it is flooded with dopamine as a reward telling you to do this again. Do what again? Ride your bike before studying. Wait until the last minute before posting. Feel the anxiety before speaking to your cohort. This is because, “your mind is continuously analyzing your internal and external environment for hints of where rewards are located.” [3].
“Pressure primes your brain to optimize its performance, because it might be a mater of life or death. [4]. In her coaching, Poole simulates these critical incidents with the use of actors; but those without access to her expertise can replicate it by, for example, accompanying a colleague to difficult meeting to experience something of the stress of the situation. The second takeaway from part one was her comparison of “leadersmithing” to the apprentices of old. As an apprentice, you learned from a master at whatever craft; you spent time finding out what the different tools were, and what they are used for; and you would ‘have a go’ at making something before you were fully accepted as a craftsman or woman. All of this can be applied to the craft of being a leader.
Part two then takes us through the various tools and their uses. Poole identifies 52 skills, techniques, or characteristics that are needed by the leader. Each one is assigned to a value of a pack of cards (the ace of diamonds, for example, is knowing your strengths). Diamonds are all about personal resources; clubs relate to your physical impact on others; spades are practical tools and techniques; and hearts are about putting others at ease. I found all of these fascinating, and I agreed with so much that Poole said about them. An appendix helpfully indicates what “hands” of cards you need to deploy for the various “critical incidents” described in part one. To be honest, I felt rather overwhelmed by the sheer number – 52 – of things one needs to master. However, the beauty of Poole’s work is that it can be treated as a workbook, where you can continually go back and brush up on areas which need improvement. Charts at the beginning of each chapter describing the “suits” encourage you to give yourself a score for each “card”.
Poole’s chapter on neuroscience and learning in high stress situations was very good. It might have been helpful to also talk about how neuroscience can help us understand what stress and anxiety does to the body. The circuits of our brain or the way the brain works is shaped by our experiences.” [5]. Once our body becomes stressed there are 4 excellent ways to work out the uncomfortableness.
1.Exercise
2.Sleep well
3.Eat well
4.Community (share with others) [6].
These four will help us to not disconnect from our uncomfortableness but use it to become a whole person. Leaders need to know this.
[1] Kolk, van der Bessel. The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, mind, body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books, New York, 2014. P. 39
[2] Camacho, Tom. Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders through Coaching. IVP, London. 2019. P. 48
[3] Clear, James. Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones. P. 48
[4] Poole, Eve. Leader-Smithing: Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership. Bloomsbury Publishing, London. 2017.P. 41
[5] Pittman, Catherine. Rewire Your Anxious Brain. New Harbinger Publications, California. 2015. P. 6
[6] Levine, Peter. Walking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books. Berkely, CA. 1997.
About the Author
Todd E Henley
Todd is an avid cyclist who loves playing frisbee golf, watching NASCAR, making videos, photography, playing Madden football, and watching sport. He is addicted to reading, eating fruits and vegetables, and drinking H2O. His passion is talking about trauma, epigenetics, chromosomes, and the brain. He has been blessed with a sensationally sweet wife and four fun creative children (one of which resides in heaven). In his free time he teaches at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and is the Founder/Executive Director of Restore Counseling Center.6 responses to “The Leader and Her Beautiful Brain”
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Todd, Thank you for pulling Bessel van der Kolk into the discussion. As you know, fight-flight-freeze is not a comfortable place to be. I struggled a bit with how Poole was using the terminology, but I did understand what she was getting at and how those uncomfortable emotional and physiological feelings are purposeful and motivating. My concern is for those who LIVE in flight-fight-freeze. I know too many people with trauma and addiction who are highly skilled and accomplished in their fields, but never get a break from these overwhelming feelings that become an unhealthy driving force in their lives. How do you hold the tension between healthy fight-flight-freeze vs. the need to calm it down? What cautions could you give leaders to notice when it is leading to problematic behaviors and ways of being?
Hey Jenny, the fact that you “know too many people with trauma and addiction who are highly skilled and accomplished in their fields,” tells me you know a lot of people. When we get to London, I’m going to have you sign my book, “The Body Keeps the Score.” I love your two questions and I will respond to them as soon as I get the chance! Thanks for always keeping me on my toes!
Hi Todd. I’m not surprised you seized the opportunity to affirm cycling as an important leadership activity! I affirm this! Unfortunately, my cycling is taking a serious hit due to this schooling! Like Jenn, I appreciate the nod you give to the ‘unhealthy’ aspects of stress on our body and quality of life. Yes, it can help us learn and grow AND it can become a debilitating way of life that diminishes our capacity as leaders. Your four recommendations at the end of your post are practical and helpful. I, for one, am going to try to do more of #1 and get on my bike today (only to be a better leader!).
Hey Scott! Yes, cycling is an important leadership activity. 😊 My cycling is also taking a hit too due to school. I won’t be able to ride until February 28th! Ouch!
Since you are on your bike often, you are definitely a better leader. Ride On!
Love your post Todd because it resonates with one of my favorite mottos I strive for little by little: “Get comfortable, getting uncomfortable.” We’re wired to run toward pleasure and run from pain, which serves us well a lot of the time, but this need to stay comfortable can also hold us back from adventure, personal growth, transformative experiences, and healthy living! Great stuff man!
Thank you for your review, Mr. Todd.
What impresses me about Poole’s writing is his emphasis on leaders being formed and he places every leader or emerging leader in the status of an apprentice who must always be learning and progressing sooner or later. As a leader and as a sports fan, I believe you have found a correlation between your experience with your hobby and increased wisdom. The more one practices, the more skilled one becomes at mastering something.