Have you ever tried to sell an idea and watched as the meeting suddenly derailed itself? Our auto brains are wired to use mental shortcuts to process information quickly, and these shortcuts can lead to biased, faulty thinking.

You can go off the rails following that popular “Be yourself“ advice we hear everywhere. Why? Because leadership success depends on understanding the difference between “being authentic” and being at the mercy of unconscious, hardwired traits and reactions, which can sabotage us as good leaders.

Armed with a few simple facts about how your brain works can make your workday world easier. It all comes down to the auto-brain. Your mind is either concentrating (focused-brain) or on autopilot (auto-brain).