Silly illustration of brain lifting weights with heart and gut

In the fast-paced world of business, executives and leaders are constantly bombarded with decisions to make, often under tight deadlines and with limited information. The pressure to make the right choice can be overwhelming, leading to stress, indecision, and ultimately, suboptimal outcomes. However, by mastering holographic thinking, leaders can enhance their decision-making skills and feel more confident in the choices they make.

What is Holographic Thinking?

Graphic depicting head, heart, and gut connection as a triangle

Often referred to as the “Three Brains Theory,” holographic thinking is a holistic approach to thought processing and decision-making that requires consideration of multiple perspectives and dimensions. It's about seeing the big picture while also understanding the nuances and intricacies of the situation.

When I explain this concept to clients, I like to use a triangle with their head, heart, and gut at each corner to represent the different aspects of decision-making. I then explain that most people naturally lead with their head, heart, or gut and often block out the other two in the process. To be a mindful leader, one must create space to consider logic, emotions, and intuition, rather than focusing on just one aspect.

Further, when leaders make decisions using holographic thinking and the three brains theory, they promote a more holistic, balanced, and mindful approach to leadership, and tap into their full range of cognitive and emotional resources. This ultimately leads to a more well-rounded and thoughtful decision-making process and fosters greater self-awareness and mindfulness, as leaders become more attuned to their thought processes and how they influence their decision-making.

The Three Brains Theory

The Three Brains Theory proposes that humans have not one, but three "brains" or neural centers that influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. These three brains are commonly referred to as the head brain (neocortex), the heart brain (limbic system), and the gut brain (enteric nervous system). Each of these "brains" has its unique functions and intelligence, and they work together in complex ways to shape our decision-making process and overall well-being.

By understanding and harnessing the power of these three interconnected systems, we can gain deeper insight into our behavior and make more balanced and holistic decisions in our personal and professional lives.

The Head Brain: Grounded in Logic and Intellect

Your head-brain is the command center for processing information, analyzing data, and making rational decisions. It's the go-to resource for leaders engaged in strategic thinking, problem-solving, and unraveling complex issues.

If you want to strengthen your head-brain, dedicate time to sharpening your analytical abilities, staying informed about industry developments, and harnessing technology to augment your decision-making capabilities.

While many leaders favor the head-brain for its ability to sidestep emotions and vulnerability, it's important to recognize that decisions, regardless of their logical basis, inherently carry emotional implications for those involved. This is why it’s important to consider all three brains in the decision-making process.

The Heart Brain: Moved by Emotions

Your heart brain is the emotional epicenter that influences how you connect with others, inspire your team, and build meaningful relationships. As a busy executive, your ability to understand and manage a broad spectrum of emotions is crucial for effective leadership and decision-making.

Acknowledging the emotional depth of human nature is crucial, as overlooking these signals can result in decisions devoid of empathy or human understanding. The heart brain enables you to embrace empathy, intuition, and interpersonal finesse, empowering you to motivate teams, resolve conflicts, and nurture a positive workplace environment.

To strengthen your heart brain, prioritize activities such as active listening, embodying empathy, and fostering emotional intelligence among your team members.

The Gut Brain: Pulled by Instincts and Intuition

Humorous comic depicting head heart and gut arguing — Photo credit: The Awkward Yeti

Intuition, often likened to a "gut feeling," guides us with a sense of knowing beyond conscious reasoning. While it may seem mysterious or unreliable, our gut instincts are rooted in years of experience, observation, and pattern recognition, allowing us to make quick decisions in complex situations.

Embracing and trusting our intuition empowers us to navigate uncertainty with conviction, making decisions confidently.

For busy executives immersed in high-stakes environments, the gut brain becomes a vital ally, aiding in stress management, focus retention, and sustained peak performance.

The best way to strengthen your gut brain and leverage your intuition is to journal. Through writing, we cultivate profound self-awareness, discerning the messages our gut conveys and the rationale behind them. Additionally, practicing mindful body scans heightens sensitivity to physical cues, amplifying our ability to heed intuitive signals.

Tips To Improve Your Holographic Thinking Skills

Mastering the three brains means recognizing the interconnectedness of rationality, emotions, and intuition in your decision-making process. By tapping into the strengths of each brain and striking a balance between logic, empathy, and instinct, you can enhance your leadership effectiveness.

Here are some practical tips to help you master holographic thinking and improve your decision-making skills:

Photo of person in deep thought sitting on a rock in a large lake at sunset

Create Space for Reflection

Carve out dedicated time in your day to step back, pause, and reflect on the decisions you're facing. Use this time to consider the logical, emotional, and intuitive aspects of the situation, and how they might influence your decision-making process.

I often encourage my clients to take out a piece of paper and draw three columns, each representing a different brain. They can use this framework to organize known logic and data, current emotions and potential emotions resulting from decisions, and any gut feelings they, or their team members might be having. This exercise creates space to look at each column objectively, ultimately using all three as the basis for the decision they make.

Seek Diverse Perspectives

Surround yourself with a diverse team of colleagues, advisors, and mentors who can offer different viewpoints and insights. Encourage open dialogue and debate, and actively seek out perspectives that challenge your own assumptions. By considering a wide range of opinions and experiences, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the decision at hand and make more informed choices.

You can also use the “three column” exercise in team meetings. If you use this approach, I’d encourage you to allow each team member to fill out the three columns individually before compiling a master list. This method of brainwriting, as explained by Adam Grant, ensures that you truly will get diverse perspectives that are not influenced by, or filtered out by the group dynamics.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, can help you cultivate awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. It has been scientifically proven that by practicing mindfulness regularly, you can become more attuned to your inner world and better equipped to recognize and manage the various factors influencing your decision-making process.

Not a fan of meditation? Here are my three favorite alternate mindfulness practices.

Trust Your Instincts

Learn to trust your intuition and listen to your gut instincts, especially when facing uncertainty or ambiguity. Executives who trust their intuitive instincts are more likely to act decisively and confidently. By acting on intuitive feelings and observing positive outcomes, you will strengthen the neural connections between your conscious and unconscious minds. This trust in oneself builds resilience and will empower you to make bold and effective decisions in times of uncertainty.

Monitor Your Energy Levels

Energy management is crucial for busy executives seeking to enhance their intuition. Pay attention to how different people, situations, and activities affect your energy levels, and notice which activities drain your energy and which replenish it. By prioritizing tasks and interactions that energize you, executives can optimize their mental and emotional well-being, fostering a conducive environment for intuitive insights to emerge.

Final Thoughts

By incorporating holographic thinking and mindfulness practices into your daily routine, you can enhance your decision-making skills and feel more confident with the choices you make as a busy executive or leader.

Mastering holographic thinking and tapping into your three brains takes continuous practice and refinement. By embracing the Three Brain Theory and the Head, Heart, and Gut framework, you can unlock new levels of insight, creativity, and effectiveness in your decision-making process, ultimately driving greater success and fulfillment in your professional endeavors.

Working with a certified coach is a great way to improve your leadership skills, and discover how you can implement new decision-making strategies such as holographic thinking. To learn more about working with me, or to explore additional resources that will help you become a more influential and mindful leader, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, and connecting with me on social media: LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.