Synopses & Reviews
Praise for
Tame the Primitive Brai"Who's in charge of you? It's not your rational mind, oh nodon't believe for a minute what it tells you. It's your primitive brain. So learn now in this book how to tame the lizard, and get smarter, have more impact and, what's more, have more fun."
MICHAEL BUNGAY STANIER, Senior Partner of Box of Crayons, the first Canadian Coach of the Year, Rhodes Scholar, and author of Do More Great Work
"Bowden has done it! This book sets you on the path of understanding the why and how of human behavior. Its applications not only apply to the business world but also the larger environment of interpersonal relations. The 'golden nuggets' presented in each chapter are introduced in a thought-provoking and immediately usable manner. I will encourage others looking for this edge to read on."
DR. DEAN TRIPP, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Queen's University; Awarded the Canadian Pain Society's Excellence in Interprofessional Education Award
"Useful. Useful. Useful. This is neuroscience for the rest of us. Well researched, clear, and insightful, Tame the Primitive Brain is a toolbox of smart ideas that help foster you and me relating to one another effectively. Managers, leaders, and lay persons will find practical, easy-to-practice, clearly delivered information on every page."
JOHN KING, cofounder and senior partner of CultureSync and coauthor of Tribal Leadership
"I really enjoyed this bookfound it immediately accessible and readable and fun as well as genuinely informative and useful. As a physician and psychiatrist with 25 years' experience teaching communication skills to doctors and medical students, I would recommend this book to any professional who is keen to communicate more effectively."
DR. JULIAN BIRD, MD, Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Physicians and coauthor of The Medical Interview
"I believe there is no greater source of joy and happiness in this life than having a simple and honest connection with another human being. In Tame the Primitive Brain, Mark Bowden captures the essence, and highlights the importance, of the human connection and brilliantly reveals how to best achieve itboth in and out of the workplace."
KINVARA BALFOUR, a leading authority on what's hot (and what's not) in the world of fashion, beauty and pop culture, culture-hawk and commentator of cool
Synopsis
A new and simple system to understanding and controlling the behavior of othersNoted body language, behavior and communication expert Mark Bowden offers a totally practical, easy-to-read guide to understanding the impulsive actions of others, along with the best tools to manage them. A number one anxiety in business is dealing with problem people. In Tame the Primitive Brain, Mark Bowden's fresh approach is the fastest and most effective way to understand why someone acts towards you the way they do; why you react to their behavior in the way you do; and most importantly, what exactly to do about it to achieve the right outcomes.
- Brings new and fresh perspectives to business readers for dealing with tricky behaviors
- Explains how to effectively manage those around you at any level in an organization
- Shares the latest evolutionary behavioral theory, neuroscientific evidence, and the tried and tested tools and tricks based on these premises
This simple model of how we humans can and do relate to each other brings increased depth of understanding and expands your toolset to better manage yourself and others to achieve anything.
Synopsis
A number one anxiety in business is dealing with problem people. Unfortunately, try as you might, you can't fix othersbut you
can manage your reactions to their behavior. When you tame your most impulsive, primitive reactions to the crazy situations you face every day, you'll help others do the same.
Tame the Primitive Brain offers a new and simple system to understanding and controlling the behavior of others. Noted body language, behavior, and communication expert Mark Bowden explains the fastest and most effective ways to understand why someone acts toward you the way they do; why you react to their behavior in the way you do; and most important, what exactly to do to achieve the right outcomes. With these proven tools and tricks, you'll gain enhanced confidence to deal with tricky behaviors and effectively manage relationships at any level in an organization.
Over the course of 28 days, you can learn how to become more influential and persuasive in every situation, giving you a competitive advantage in navigating a myriad of difficult behaviors. Bolstered by the latest evolutionary behavioral theory and neuroscientific evidence, Tame the Primitive Brain details a step-by-step system for understanding the behavior of others and the best tools to manage them, including:
- How your primitive brain quickly categorizes new people and how this affects your interactions with them
- How to go beyond more comfortable one-on-one relationships to establish connections with a group of team members
- How to identify tribal behaviors and change a problematic tribal reputation
- How asserting organizational values can direct team members' behavior better than simply laying out a set of rules
Your instincts will never change, but you can learn to manage your impulses better, and in effect, manage the knee-jerk reactions of others. Tame the Primitive Brain dives deep into our reptilian brain and shows you how.
About the Author
MARK BOWDEN is a noted body language expert and creator of TRUTHPLANE, a unique training model for anyone whose success depends upon communication that builds strong and trusting relationships. His techniques are used by top executives and organizational and political leaders around the globe, including CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and leaders of G8 powers. A sought-after keynote speaker and trainer, he delivers speeches and seminars worldwide on persuasive and influential verbal and nonverbal communication to stand out, win trust, and profit.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Preface xi
Introduction 1
WEEK ONE YOU 9
Day One Shared Instincts 11
Day Two Snap Judgments 22
Day Three Default to the Negative 32
Day Four Best-Fit Thinking 40
Day Five Friend, Enemy, Sexual Partner, or Indifferent 49
Day Six Moods and Emotions 59
Day Seven The Spice of Life 73
WEEK TWO RELATIONSHIPS 85
Day Eight Relationships Are Dyadic 87
Day Nine Opposites Attract 95
Day Ten BFFs 105
Day Eleven Enemies 114
Day Twelve Indifference 125
Day Thirteen Moods Are Contagious 132
Day Fourteen The Four Stages of Relationship 141
WEEK THREE TRIBE 151
Day Fifteen We Are Tribal 153
Day Sixteen Tribal Nurture 161
Day Seventeen Hierarchy 168
Day Eighteen Tension 176
Day Nineteen Values 187
Day Twenty Diversity 196
Day Twenty-One Changing Tribes Is Expensive 206
WEEK FOUR NEW YOU 215
Day Twenty-Two Suspend Judgment 217
Day Twenty-Three Be Curious 225
Day Twenty-Four Open Your Heart 235
Day Twenty-Five Give 243
Day Twenty-Six Manage Your Disappointment 250
Day Twenty-Seven Values Trump Rules 257
Day Twenty-Eight Expand Your Tribe 267
Conclusion 275
Further Reading and Resources 278
About the Author 282
Index 283