Leadership is often associated with rational thinking and strategic planning, but it is actually complex, blending instinct, emotion, vision, and rationality. In leadership, the Gut Brain plays a critical role, shaping decisions that are often faster, bolder, and more aligned with core instincts than those made purely through analytical thinking or compassion and empathy. The analysis of the Head, Heart, and Gut and their role in leadership has not been explained in a better way than by Christoffel Sneijders.
Sneijders is an internationally recognized expert in human behavior, coaching, and transformation, with over 33 years of experience. He is the founder of 3 Brains Intelligence, a business built around his groundbreaking 3 Brains Theory – integrating the Head, Heart, and Gut to create a balanced approach to decision-making and personal growth. As an ICF-certified Master Coach and lecturer at prestigious institutions, Christoffel’s coaching programs are highly regarded for their scientific foundation and practical results.
Sneijders examines how Donald Trump and Kamala Harris both exemplify leaders who tap into their gut instincts, yet their strategies diverge due to how they integrate (or neglect) their Head and Heart Brains. By examining how each uses their Gut Brain in various situations—ranging from campaign strategies to managing public perception and navigating scandals—we can see the strengths, pitfalls, and biases of relying on gut-based decisions.
The Gut Brain in Leadership: A Double-Edged Sword
The 3 Brains Intelligence Theory defines the Gut Brain as the centre for survival, quick decisions, and self-protection. It ensures that decisions lead to immediate results, providing a sense of security. However, overreliance on the Gut Brain can lead to impulsivity and a narrow focus, disregarding broader implications. This imbalance often results in unintended collateral damage.
- Strengths: Quick decisions, bold actions, and strong instincts.
- Pitfalls: Impulsivity, disregard for long-term consequences, and lack of strategic alignment.
- Allergies: Gut-dominant leaders have a low tolerance for inaction, ambiguity, and conflicting advice.
Donald Trump: Gut-Driven Boldness and High-Stakes Gambles
Donald Trump’s leadership is widely recognised as instinctive, bold, and often disruptive, a true Gut Brain Dominance. Trump relies on his gut instincts, whether in business or politics, prioritising immediate action over deeper analysis. His leadership style, shaped by an intense need for power and dominance, drives decisions that appear daring and unconventional.
Campaign and Leadership Style: Trump’s Gut Brain guides his instinctual approach, which helped him stand out in his presidential campaign. He broke political norms, spoke directly to his base, and used emotionally charged rhetoric that resonated with voters. This gut-led strategy attracted those who saw him as a fearless outsider willing to disrupt the status quo.
During the pandemic, Trump’s Gut Brain prioritized maintaining control and projecting strength over scientific advice. This gut-driven approach created mixed messages, focusing on short-term economic gains over long-term public health. His response illustrates how the narrow vision of a gut-dominant leader can miss critical information and fail to adapt to changing circumstances.
Pitfalls and Scandals: Trump’s reliance on the Gut Brain led to controversies and legal challenges. His gut instincts told him to double down even when faced with setbacks, resulting in multiple bankruptcies in his business career and twice being impeached during his presidency. His style often alienated allies and ignored long-term impacts, as seen in his handling of the Trump University lawsuits and foreign policy decisions.
Kamala Harris: Measured Gut Instincts Guided by Heart and Head
Kamala Harris’s leadership is guided by a more balanced interplay of the 3 Brains. Her Gut Brain is tempered by the logic of the Head Brain and the empathy of the Heart Brain, leading to more deliberate, value-driven decisions. Harris’s instincts are shaped by her experience and a strong sense of justice, making her approach slower but more thoughtful than Trump’s.
Campaign and Leadership Style: Harris’s Heart Brain is a significant influence, pushing her toward community-focused reforms and systemic change. For example, her decision not to seek the death penalty in high-profile cases as California Attorney General aligned her Gut Brain instincts with her Heart Brain’s values, despite political risks.
Harris’s response to Black Lives Matter protests showed how she integrates the Heart and Gut Brains effectively. Her Heart Brain drove her empathetic stance, while her Gut Brain pushed for actionable reforms. However, when the Head Brain takes over, such as in debates over healthcare policy, her messaging can become muddled, diluting the strength of her convictions.
Pitfalls and Scandals: Harris’s cautious, head-driven style can sometimes make her appear indecisive or inauthentic. During her presidential campaign, her positions evolved in response to criticism, reflecting an overreliance on the Head Brain’s strategic thinking over her natural gut instincts. This cautiousness, while preventing reckless moves, can make her seem hesitant in high-pressure situations.
Two Leaders, Two Approaches: Strengths and Weaknesses
Trump and Harris illustrate the complexities of integrating the 3 Brains in leadership. Trump’s Gut Brain is the dominant force, leading to bold actions prioritising short-term wins but often lacking strategic foresight and empathy. His decisions, while impactful, are often polarising and disruptive, reflecting a lack of balance among the three brains.
On the other hand, Harris shows a more balanced interplay between her Head, Heart, and Gut Brains. Her gut instincts are strong but are frequently filtered through her Head Brain’s logic and her heart brain’s empathy. This makes her leadership style more cautious, focusing on long-term change rather than immediate impact. While this approach helps avoid the pitfalls of pure gut-led decisions, it can sometimes lead to indecision or a lack of clarity.
- Trump: His Gut Brain’s dominance makes him a powerful, instinctive leader who acts boldly, often resulting in polarisation and conflict. His lack of Heart Brain empathy and Head Brain strategy leads to decisions prioritising short-term gains over sustainable outcomes. He thrives in environments that reward bold, rapid decisions but falters when complex strategy or sensitivity is required.
- Harris: Her strong integration of Head, Heart, and Gut Brains creates a more thoughtful, compassionate leader. However, her caution and reliance on the Head Brain’s analysis can make her appear hesitant, which is a liability in high-stakes political environments. Her balanced approach makes her effective in building alliances and pursuing systemic reforms but can slow her down when bold, instinctual action is needed.
Final Takeaway: The Need for 3 Brains Integration
Ultimately, both leaders illustrate the strengths and pitfalls of gut-driven leadership. Trump’s approach is a classic example of gut instincts dominating without the balance of strategic foresight (Head Brain) or empathy (Heart Brain). This can create an immediate impact but often lacks sustainability. While more balanced, Harris sometimes over-reliance on analysis, muting her gut instincts.
The 3 Brains Intelligence Theory shows that true leadership excellence comes from integrating all 3 Brains, allowing leaders to act decisively (Gut Brain), strategise effectively (Head Brain), and lead with compassion and values (Heart Brain). Understanding this balance can help leaders refine their decision-making, ensuring outcomes that are not just bold but also meaningful and enduring.
Sneijders’ unique analysis of the interplay of these elements is just a fraction of his blend of expertise, which includes NLP, Clinical Hypnotherapy, and Psychotherapy. This allows him to help individuals and organizations overcome challenges such as burnout, PTSD, and anxiety. Through his work, Christoffel empowers clients globally to unleash their potential and achieve lasting transformation.
