You Have Three Brains? Understanding How Your Mind Drives Leadership Behavior

How Your Three Brains Shape Your Emotions, Habits, and Leadership Decisions

Most leaders don’t realize they rely on three distinct “brains” every day—and only one of them can actually think. The others just react. We have three separate brains within us.

The first, called the reptile brain, is deep-seated, quick to react, and very slow to change. It controls our basic functions, drives us to reproduce, and is in charge of the “fight or flight” response. When we react with fear or anger, this is the brain taking over. It doesn’t think. It only reacts.

The second brain is the mammalian (or dog) brain. It’s more complex and layered. This is where our emotions live. It’s also where habits are formed. This brain controls hormones and temperature—but again, it does not think. It also only reacts.

The third brain is our human brain, and it’s enormous—taking up roughly 5/6 of our cranial cavity. This brain separates us from every other species. It’s the reason we can do mathematics, music, abstract art, language, and reasoning. Interestingly, it’s also the place where we invent excuses and plan our deceptions. This is the brain that thinks instead of reacts.

Your Subconscious Brains Quietly Run Most of Your Day

The first two brains operate subconsciously, processing thousands of pieces of information per second. Most of what you do—your routines, your reactions, your daily functioning—is driven by habits stored in these subconscious brains.

And yet, we have this enormous thinking brain waiting to help…if we train it to lead the other two.

What This Means for Leadership

From a leadership standpoint, recognizing how you respond under stress is crucial.

Ask yourself:

• Are you a total reactor?

• Do you fall back on habit—especially under pressure?

• Do you snap in anger or emotionally shut down?

• Do you find yourself repeating unhelpful patterns?

If so, you’re operating from your two basic brains, cutting out the only one equipped to think your way through a challenge.

Considering that humans are 85% habit-driven, it becomes even more essential to train your human brain to be the decision-maker.

Emotions Aren’t Bad—But They Aren’t a Strategy

Emotions aren’t the enemy. They simply shouldn’t be the driver of your leadership behavior.

Because emotions and habits stem from the same part of the brain, they reinforce each other. To break unhelpful habits, we must intentionally engage our higher-level thinking.

This means questioning old processes, stepping out of your comfort zone, trying new ideas, and intentionally improving your critical thinking skills.

Living a Life of Intent

Engaging the human brain requires living with intention.

This means:

• Questioning the status quo

• Challenging old habits

• Searching for better ways

• Being curious

• Trying new approaches

• Strengthening problem-solving skills

• Becoming aware of emotional triggers

Other ways to activate the human brain include:

• Taking things apart to see how they work

• Playing strategic or creative games

• Exploring “what if” scenarios

• Practicing new skills

• Putting yourself in new environments

Your Three Brains Need Balance

When the human brain disengages, we become prisoners to our emotions—trapped in habits we hate but can’t seem to break.

Balance requires thinking more, questioning more, and being more.

It starts with intent.

If you want to better understand your emotional reactions, habits, and leadership decisions, emotional awareness is the first step. Our Emotional Intelligence Workbook gives you clear frameworks for self-awareness, self-management, and balancing your “three brains” in real leadership situations.