Business Brains
Business brain brings you articles and reviews on all things the brain and behaviour in business:
Personal Leadership / Team Leadership / Senior Leadership / Organisational Leadership / Decision-Making

The Motivational Paradox
We may think that high motivation is a good thing, and it is. But there are a number of paradoxes such as how motivation can lower ability, increase stress, and lose broad focus, and be difficult to manage.
How To Save (Or Waste) Money
We may think we make good decisions but research over the years and decades has shown there are many ways in which our brains trick us into making suboptimal decisions – particularly in financial scenarios.
You’re an Imposter!
How Imposter Syndrome Plagues Successful People Reading time: about 8 minutesThere has been a resurgence of research into imposter...
How Gratitude between Co-Workers Lowers Stress and Increases Performance
Quick HitsDaily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences ratitude is a nice thing to have, I think we all...
SCOAP In Business
A comprehensive theory of human motivation, behaviour, and well-being SCOAP in Business and Leadership There are many models and...
SCOAP An Introduction
A comprehensive theory of human motivation, behaviour, and well-being What is SCOAP? SCOAP is a complete model of human motivation,...
Team Conflict
Managing conflict is an essential skill – but is having conflict essential? There is a lot to be said about having a good argument. You...
The Power of Positivity
Why being positive might energise your organisation! Positivity is positive, right? Indeed, the research does paint a rosy picture but...
Love Your Company
How employee relationships with organisations impacts performance Organisations want to hire people who can be loyal and dedicated to...
Care for Your Team
Why caring can boost performance There is a lot to be said about caring for your team – the research paints a clear picture – so why is it...
Business Brains 2021 Review
I have reported on plenty of topics in business – there were many from decision-making to diversity issues, to leadership, to change....
Psychological Safety
Why this factor may be the most important factor in team performance A term first used in 1999 has become a popular trend – because the...
Fearful Organisations
And why this is problematic Many leaders and organisations seem to not be able to avoid using fear as a tactic to “motivate” and engage...
Fear and Politics
Fear is a powerful primitive emotion – and no surprise that it is used in politics Fear is a powerful tool and rational and irrational...
The Brain on Goal Setting
And why this builds better brains The leaders as a coach puts the leader into a development role rather than an authoritative role. But is...
Leader as a Coach
And why this builds better brains The leaders as a coach puts the leader into a development role rather than an authoritative role. But is...
Collective Learning
How collective memories form group identity and bonding There are some things that everyone knows within a certain culture or group of...
The Zone of Optimal Development
No pain no gain is a bad expression – the right pain for the right gain is better. The mantra of no pain no gain is present in all aspects...
Brain Synchronisation – the Magic Sauce for Team Performance?
Inter-brain synchronisation correlates with many positive things including team performance We have focused previously on some aspects...
Does Competition Drive Performance?
Does Competition Drive Performance? It seems like a no-brainer. In a competitive world focusing on competitiveness is a good thig. But the...
Look Within Yourself
Awareness and personal awareness can increase performance according to recent research I have reported on research into self-reflection...
Noisy Decisions
Kahneman’s new book focuses not on bias but noise in decisions Bias takes the spotlight in decision-making. As it has done on these pages...
Behavioural Change or Not
Parts of the brain that enable us to change or not Behavioural change is a fascinating topic and one that attracts a lot of attention for...
Social Influence
The conscious and unconscious pull of social constructs on decision-making Reading time: about 11 minutes Some of the earliest research...