The Herrmann Brain Theory And The Star Trek Officer Team
Everyone has a different make-up that influences how they take decisions. Ned Herrmann’s extensive research in this field led to the “Herrmann Brain Theory”.
There are four parts of the brain. As well as the familiar parts (the cerebral brain) – Left (realistic) and Right (idealistic) – there are also the less familiar (Limbic) parts – Top (thinking) and Bottom (doing) [based on the work of Sperry and McLean].
Components Of The Brain:
A (upper left) Logical, analytical part
B (lower left) Form, process, organisational part
C (lower right) Emotional, feeling part
D (upper right) Abstract, visioning part
The Herrmann Brain Theory
The best performing groups have a balance between the four components of the brain, as is the case with the Star Trek officer team:
• Captain Kirk is the visionary leader ‘D’ and provides the spatial thinking
• Mr Spock is logical ‘A’ and puts the ideas into logical order and context
• ‘Bones’ McCoy expresses feelings ‘C’ and provides the emotions
• ‘Scotty’ is the pragmatic engineer ‘B’ and effects the decisions (‘I canna break the laws of physics!’)
The balance between the characters enables viewers, depending on their own character type, to empathise with one of the officers. This partly accounts for the TV programme’s success.
It is important, therefore, to understand the type of person you are asking to make a decision. You have to play to his or her style. With groups you have to play to the members. People with similar profiles working together are a dysfunctional group. You will never get the best decisions as members will compete. If, for example, all were ‘Ds’, they would spend their time generating ideas but take no decisions
Finally - Group Dynamics
Rarely are important or critical decisions taken by one person. Usually several people are involved, whether through a hierarchical process (e.g. Japanese companies) or in a group, team or committee.
Group dynamics are different from individual dynamics. Members of a group will have group objectives but also their own agenda – their own goals and characteristics.
Each individual’s personal goals …
• Rational
• Political
• Emotional
… must be understood and addressed.
Emotional:
“What will I get out of this?”
“What will the impact be on my life?”
Rational:
“What does it cost and what is the benefit?”
“Will it work and how long will it take?”
Political:
“Will I look good in the organisation if I support this?”
“Will it advance my career?”
That’s it for another week, time to put the keyboard away and get a life! I am keeping a watchful eye on the voting in the Best Leadership Blog poll and sad to report, I am lying in second place, with just a week to go. If you enjoy my efforts, I would be so grateful for a vote - it could make the difference!
Have a great weekend and be sure to come back on Monday - JF
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