Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Evidence from neuroscience shows that individuals and organizations are more successful when people are encouraged to take risks, explore new ideas, and channel their energies in ways that work for them. And yet many organizations are filled with bullies, vicious gossip, undermining behaviours, hijacking tactics, political jockeying for position, favouritism and other factors that instil fear and impede productivity. It is no wonder that organizations are actively looking at how they can improve and maintain the psychological health and wellbeing of their employees to the benefit of all concerned. The Fear-free Organization reveals how our new understanding of the neurobiology of the self - how the brain constructs the person - can transform for the better the way our businesses and organizations work.

Academic yet accessible, The Fear-free Organization addresses head on the issue that scared people spend a lot more time plotting their survival than working productively. The book helps leaders understand the neurobiology of fear, face the damage it is doing, and replace it with building relationships, managing energy flow and fostering trust. It guides you in making your workplace one that's full of energy, not adrenalin; focused on possibility, not profit; and generates independent thinking, not obedience so you can promote the psychological wellbeing that is strongly correlated with greater energy, motivation and better cognitive function.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• List of figures (p. xiii)
• List of tables (p. xiv)
• About the authors (p. xv)
• Preface (p. xvi)
• Introduction (p. 1)
• Part 1 The Person (p. 5)
• 01 Fear essentials and the development of the Self (p. 7)
• Introduction (p. 7)
• We are our emotions (p. 8)
• What is the brain? (p. 11)
• Let's get physical: what are feelings? (p. 12)
• Memories (p. 17)
• Becoming a person: Change and adaptability (p. 18)
• Patterns (p. 22)
• Adaptation (p. 26)
• References (p. 30)
• 02 The brain (p. 31)
• Introduction (p. 31)
• Pure imagination (p. 31)
• Welcome to your brain on emotion (p. 32)
• Contexually speaking (p. 33)
• The emotion connection (p. 35)
• So, what makes people different? (p. 43)
• Emotions deep down inside: Your business card (p. 45)
• The leader's low road (p. 47)
• What's trust/love get to do with it? (p. 53)
• Walking on air (p. 55)
• References (p. 56)
• Appendix 2A The triune brain (p. 61)
• Appendix 2B The emotional brain: Key ingredients (p. 63)
• Appendix 2C Left brain/right brain (p. 65)
• Appendix 2D Neurotransmitters and hormones (p. 67)
• 03 Memories are made of this (p. 68)
• Introduction (p. 68)
• What are memories (p. 68)
• Once upon a time (p. 69)
• The faintest ink (p. 70)
• The eureka effect (p. 72)
• Creativity by association (p. 77)
• I remember it well (p. 78)
• What lies beneath (p. 81)
• Epigenesis (p. 82)
• Organizational culture (p. 84)
• References (p. 87)
• 04 Relationships (p. 89)
• Introduction (p. 89)
• Think again (p. 90)
• Make or break (p. 90)
• Being and nothingness (p. 91)
• Cooperation and collaboration (p. 92)
• The business of relationships (p. 94)
• Emotional radar (p. 99)
• References (p. 101)
• 05 Trust (p. 103)
• Introduction (p. 103)
• Attachment: The foundation of trust (p. 103)
• Broken trust (p. 106)
• The gift of fear (p. 107)
• The neurobiology of trust (p. 110)
• The trust game (p. 111)
• In virtual reality we trust (p. 113)
• Trust me... (p. 116)
• The power of trust (p. 117)
• References (p. 118)
• Part 2 The organization, energy flow and profit (p. 121)
• 06 Fear in the workplace (p. 123)
• Introduction (p. 123)
• But first, some definitions (p. 123)
• Fear in the organization (p. 129)
• References (p. 136)
• 07 The nature of energy (p. 138)
• Introduction (p. 138)
• Energy and the brain (p. 139)
• Managing the brain's energy (p. 143)
• Tracking energy in the organization (p. 148)
• The 'mind': A working model (p. 154)
• The fear-free organization (p. 156)
• References (p. 157)
• 08 Leaders and HR (p. 159)
• Introduction (p. 159)
• Who is accountable? (p. 159)
• The role of HR in organizations (p. 161)
• The role of leaders (p. 169)
• Leaders and HR working relationships (p. 172)
• References (p. 174)
• Part 3 The future of organizations (p. 177)
• 09 The role of leadership (p. 179)
• Introduction (p. 179)
• What makes a good leader? (p. 179)
• How do leaders lead? (p. 181)
• Leadership and the Sofi model (p. 184)
• Relationships and communications (p. 185)
• Building a trust-based culture (p. 188)
• Setting strategy and getting commitment (p. 191)
• Being a limbic leader in a brain-focused organization (p. 193)
• Leadership and gender (p. 194)
• References (p. 199)
• 10 Change, adaptability and flow (p. 201)
• Introduction (p. 201)
• Adaptability and change (p. 201)
• Seeing and flowing (p. 203)
• The flow state (p. 206)
• Different ways of thinking (p. 208)
• What is the Self? (p. 209)
• Organizational change programmes (p. 213)
• Change in a fear-free organization (p. 214)
• References (p. 215)
• 11 The fear-free organization (p. 217)
• Introduction (p. 217)
• A useful reminder (p. 218)
• The beginnings of a central unifying theory (p. 220)
• En-couragement (p. 222)
• Proposed design spec for a fear-free organization (p. 222)
• References (p. 226)
• Endnote (p. 227)
• Index (p. 228)