Spark 9 – How to think more strategically: Triune Brains: Example

I tend to deploy this Spark as a checklist when I’m working through a project or matter, and apply it at key concept stages in the work. I didn’t always, and that led to elegant strategies that fell flat. The checklist goes like this: 

1. Address reptilian brain needs: Assess that the thinking explicitly addresses organisational stability and safety. Establish clear structures and protocols that provide this sense of security. 
2. Engage the limbic system: Focus on emotional intelligence within your thinking, hypothesis and solutions. Acknowledge the ability of emotions to enhance or derail the strategy. This step is crucial for maintaining high morale and motivation, which are essential for effective collaboration and stakeholder engagement. 
3. Leverage the neocortex: Stress-test whether you are using enough critical and analytical skills in your thinking. This involves not only data analysis, but also long-term visioning and innovative problem-solving. 

By systematically addressing each layer of the triune brain, you create strategies that are secure and stable, emotionally resonant and intellectually sound, ensuring a well-rounded and effective approach to any strategic challenge. 

How to think more strategically: embed ‘Triune Brains’

For those keen to embed this knowledge into their strategic arsenal, several psychological tools and practices can be instrumental: 

• Neurofeedback training: Originally used to treat conditions like ADHD, this technology can provide real-time data about brain activity. By understanding and witnessing how different parts of the brain activate under various stimuli, one can tailor strategies to appeal to those specific areas. 

• Immersive role-playing: Role-playing games, especially in virtual reality, can offer experiential insight into different decision-making processes. By placing oneself in various scenarios, you can observe which parts of the brain you naturally tap into and which you might be neglecting. 

• Sensory deprivation tanks: These tanks, also known as float tanks, deprive you of sensory input, forcing different parts of your brain to become more active. It’s a meditative experience that can heighten awareness of your primal instincts and emotions. 

• Interactive workshops with actors: Employ professional actors to enact scenarios based on primal instincts, emotional responses and rational deliberations. This can vividly illustrate the triune brain’s reactions in real-time, providing deeper insights. 

• Experimental decision-making retreats: Attend or create retreats where participants make decisions under various conditions – extreme stress, emotional duress or using pure logic puzzles. This helps illuminate which part of the triune brain is dominant and under what circumstances. 

• Neurological apps: Apps like ‘Brainwell’ or ‘Peak’ offer games designed around neuroscientific principles. These can sharpen specific parts of the brain, making you more attuned to how each part responds to different stimuli. 

Remember, while these tools can offer deeper insights into the workings of the triune brain, it’s essential to approach them with an open mind and a pinch of scepticism. What works profoundly for one might not resonate as deeply with another. Always seek to balance experiential learning with foundational knowledge.