《Corporate Sigma 2》.pdf

1 Leadership Sigma: The Brain No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings. Peter Drucker Author, Concept of the Corporation The nervous system is the human body’s decision and communication cen- ter. The central nervous system is made of the brain and the spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system is comprised of nerves. Together, they control every part of a person’s daily life, from breathing to blinking to walk- ing. Sensory nerves gather information from the environment and send that information to the spinal cord, which speeds the message to the brain. The brain makes sense of that message and fires off a response. The motor neu- rons then deliver the instructions from the brain to the rest of the body. Beyond managing information and delivering orders, the human brain is thought to be the source of the conscious, cognitive mind. The mind is a collection of processes related to perception, interpretation, imagination, and memories, each of which a person may or may not be aware. This is where the ability to dream, believe, and lead resides. From a philosophical point of view, the most important function of the brain is to serve as the physical structure underlying the mind. From a purely biological point of view, the most important function of the brain is to gener- ate behaviors that promote a person’s welfare and the survival of the species. Brains control behavior either by activating muscles or by causing secretion of chemicals such as hormones in response to information. If there is a prob- lem processing the information or executing the instructions, that information is relayed and responded to. For example, if a person sees a