Great leaders draw out the best of human nature.

The dilemma

Evolutionary psychologists tell us that our minds have not altered much since the Stone Age. Our brains are survival machines, programmed to fear change. So, what are managers to do when getting others to change is a major part of their job? When author Mike Mears was the CIA’s Chief of Human Resources, he was posed with this very question.

The solution

In Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation, Mears offers the answer: understand human nature. Work with it rather than pushing against it. Mears draws on neuroscience and psychology—plus compelling stories from his career—to offer practical leadership advice, including:

• Entertaining, science-backed explanations of how our brains think and how our primitive brains are colliding with the demands of the modern workplace

• Actionable feedback, change management, and delegation tools to build an environment of certainty rather than of fear

• Visual prompts to overcome innate change resistance in yourself and others

• Mental prompts to boost leadership insight and inclusion

The results

You want loyalty, trust, and great performance from your team. We all do. With Mears’ guidance, you can identify the limitations and strengths of the human mind and then create positive change by applying that understanding in the workplace.