The 3 most important psychology insights for leaders
As a leader, how well do you know psychology? Your answer to this question strongly determines your influence, productivity and overall success as a leader.
After all, let's not kid ourselves: Your success is largely determined by the extent to which you can understand and influence other people. And you can't do that without psychology.
By the way, I know from my own experience that you can learn all this. Because being an engineer, knowledge of human nature, influencing and leadership were by no means components of my engineering studies.
What it essentially takes is interest and application, especially through coaching or leading others.
Here are three extremely important insights from psychology, from my experience, that most leaders pay far too little attention to:
- Emotion beats logic - every time. How many of our decisions are made purely rationally, logically? The answer: not a single one. In the end, there is always some emotion involved. The same is true for taking action: Only emotions make people act and move. Anyone who has ever wanted to change the culture or collaboration in a team can confirm this.
- Distorted reality. There is no neutral reality that is the same for two people. Yes, there are facts, but they are interpreted differently by everyone. An apt saying from psychology sums up this insight: we don't see the world as it is, but as WE are. Our self-image acts like a prism that distorts "reality" - and it does so differently for each person. Remember this the next time you wonder why others just don't understand what you see clearly.
- Mental exhaustion is real. If you wonder why you or others sometimes can't make sense of things, make poor decisions, or are unproductive, you're probably dealing with mental exhaustion. Like the physical energy in your body, the mental one is limited. You may be able to generate it again, but that first requires awareness of the problem. Managing your mental energy is often an important part of my coaching programs.
If you apply these three insights, your effectiveness and success as a leader will increase significantly.
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