The Three Brains You're Not Using (And Why That's Costing You)
I was in a meeting this past week and noticed the following phrases used during the 90 minutes the group was together: "Let's be logical about this," "My gut is telling me something different," and, "But how will this make people feel?"
Three different views, yet none were seeing the whole picture.
Most of us have a natural preference toward logic, intuition, or feeling. Certainly, the business world tends to value one over the others. But guess what? Over relying on one source of intelligence and not tuning into the information from the others is costing you as a leader.
The Science of Three Intelligences
Neuroscience has confirmed what ancient wisdom traditions have known for millennia: we don't just think with our brains. Research by the HeartMath Institute and studies in neurogastroenterology reveal that we have three distinct neural networks—the head brain, the heart brain, and the gut brain—each with its own intelligence.
Your head brain excels at analysis, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking. It processes information at lightning speed, evaluates options, and creates logical frameworks.
Your heart brain (yes, your heart has about 40,000 neurons!) specializes in emotional intelligence, empathy, and values-based decision making. Harvard Business Review has repeatedly shown that leaders with high emotional intelligence consistently outperform those who rely solely on IQ.
Your gut brain contains over 100 million neurons—more than your spinal cord. It's your intuition center, your early warning system, and your source of visceral knowing. Studies show it often processes information faster than your conscious mind.
The Cost of One-Brain Leadership
When you favor one intelligence over the others, you're essentially trying to navigate with only one-third of your available data. The purely analytical leader misses the human impact of their decisions. The emotion-led leader may struggle with strategic blind spots. The gut-only leader lacks the framework to communicate why their instincts matter.
In Vedic philosophy, this integration is called "tri-guna"—the harmony of three qualities. Buddhism speaks of wisdom, compassion, and skillful action. Modern neuroscience is simply catching up to what contemplative traditions have taught for thousands of years.
How to Practice Three-Brain Leadership
Before your next big decision, try this: Take three minutes of stillness. Ask your head: What's the logical path forward? Ask your heart: What feels aligned with our values? Ask your gut: What's my instinct telling me?
Notice where they agree. Notice where they conflict. The tension between these intelligences isn't a problem to solve—it's information to integrate.
The most impactful leaders I've worked with don't choose between head, heart, and gut. They've learned to let all three inform their decisions, creating a fuller picture and more resilient outcomes.
What would change if you gave equal voice to all three of your brains?