Book Description

In his new book, Dr. Heemsbergen shows that the best insights into leadership can come not from what leaders are thinking, but from how leaders think. The author suggests a fresh approach to how leaders can think, and describes the necessary processes and tools required to improve the leader's capability in volatile and complex times. Leveraging extensive research findings and observations, the author makes some unexpected connections between: brain research and how leaders think; the artistic process; our knowledge of the nonconscious; and leadership development. Heemsbergen, a psychologist, university lecturer and developer of leaders has developed new powerful metaphor tools from artistic practice and brain research to help leaders probe deeply into their perceptions, thoughts and emotions and uncover those things that they don't even know, they don't know. There is much that goes on in the mind that we're not aware of, and most of what influences what leaders say and do occurs below the water line of the iceberg at the nonconscious level. That's why need new methods, techniques and tools are required to get at what leaders don't know they know. Leaders also need to develop a "beginner's mind", become better sensors and see things with fresh eyes. Much of what leaders do in organizations is based on the idea of finding the right answer to a question. Unfortunately it is often assumed there is only one right answer, and we do not need to think about the topic further. In real life, much of what is known is in a state of flux, waiting for a new bit of evidence to modify the knowledge. To assist leaders in becoming more effective the author has developed methods and tools based on neuropsychology, psychoanalysis, and artistic practice. He calls it the (H-SAT), the Heemsbergen Sensory Awareness Tools. These tools assist in: uncovering the mental models that guide leadership behavior, illuminating leadership blindspots, and improving leadership decision making capability. Heemsbergen concludes, "the eye, ear and body have been the most important tools for the gathering of information since the dawn of time. Using time tested methods of artistic practice in combination with breakthroughs in brain research opens the possibility for uncovering hidden leadership talent to deal more effectively with a complex and volatile world."