Coaching World Issue 11: August 2014 | Page 6

Since the 1950s, the literature on leadership has highlighted the differences between task-oriented leaders and social-emotional leaders, with conventional wisdom dictating that a leader must be one type or the other. However, new research from Case Western Reserve University suggests the opposite may be true. In an article in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Richard Boyatzis, professor of organizational behavior at CWRU’s Weatherhead School of Management; Anthony Jack, assistant professor of cognitive science and Kylie Rochford, a doctoral student in organizational behavior, describe two capabilities in the normal human brain that impact leadership in very different ways. Researchers found the brain contains the Task Positive Network (TPN), which is task-oriented and analytical, and the Default Mode Network (DMN), which is empathetic and social. Furthermore, they found that leaders are at their best when they can switch back and forth between the two capacities. Through functional magnetic resonance imaging, Jack found the TPN and DMN tend to suppress one another when presented with technical or social problems to solve. “Every normal brain contains both modes, with the flexibility to go to the right mode at the right time,” Jack said. “In the business world right now, the emphasis is more on the task orientation of leaders rather than cultivating empathy. That is partly because it’s easier to assess taskoriented leadership.” According to Jack, the long-term consequences of this bias are damaging. “Emphasizing one side over the other is not the best way to promote good leadership.” 6 Coaching World — Abby Tripp Heverin Prezoom.nl/Shutterstock.com BrAt82/Shutterstock.com Keeping Current Balanced Leadership Leadership development and succession planning initiatives also tend to “confuse the ability to be effective in both [modes] by focusing on one,” Boyatzis said. For example, the usual stepping stone to becoming a school principal is serving as an assistant principal. “The assistant principal focuses on tasks and operations and discipline within the school, which are often lousy preparation for relationship development,” Boyatzis said. “But the role of the principal is to develop relationships with the parents and community.” However, Boyatzis said there’s reason for optimism: “The fact we have these two distinct neural domains suggests it is possible to cultivate both sides, and we do see that