In the brilliant book, The Whole Brain Business Book, authors Ned Herrmann and Ann Herrmann-Nehdi do an excellent change describing why it is so difficult for individuals, teams and organizations to change.

In the must-read chapter Making Change Work, the authors cite the following reasons why changing people’s mind is so difficult:

  • Mindsets are powerful – The authors write that, “Deeply held mindsets can be so intensely anchored in your memory that you may feel that no amount of persuasion would change your mind.”
  • Our natural brain biases can get in the way – The brain has two systems: one that we control and one that we do not control. The Herrmanns write, “System 2 represents the instinctual mental processes that allow us to make quick decisions with little mental energy. We could not survive without System 2, and yet it often causes us to make errors in specific situations because of the natural brain biases that exist.”
  • Although it is possible, forming new connections in the brain requires effort and motivation According to the Herrmanns, “Change also frequently requires that we challenge our existing mental maps and form new connections in the brain. This is difficult because our mindsets are firmly ingrained in the brain”.
  • Thinking habits and mental maps change the brain – The authors write that, “The cumulative weight of knowledge and experience and the mental maps have formed make it very hard for you to change your mind. For many of us, our thinking preferences have become mental habits that we have to change in order to tap into other available thinking. On the positive side, findings now show that while the formation of new synaptic connections (neurogenesis) is difficult, it is possible through learning”.

The Whole Brain Business Book offers two Whole Brain Thinking “Walk-Arounds” to help others get on board with change and even embrace it. For example, the authors present us with some tips to help people with different thinking preferences better accept and embrace change:

  • A Quadrant – Be realistic. Get the facts and the research behind the change.
  • B Quadrant – Make sure you and your team have or seek out the resources to make the change.
  • C Quadrant – Look for elements of the change that connect with your values. How can this affect you and others positively?
  • D Quadrant – Describe the change in as many ways as possible, using as many different mindsets to explore what it is about and its potential impact.

The Whole Brain Business Book offers a fascinating look at the human brain and offers many practical tips on how to use Whole Brain Thinking to become more effective leaders.