The Push and Pull of Conversations
When we are out to win at all costs, we operate out
of the part of the primitive brain called the amygdala.
This part is hardwired with the well-developed instincts
of fight, flight, freeze or appease that have evolved over
millions of years. When we feel threatened, the amygdala
activates the immediate impulses that ensure we
survive. Our brains lock down, and we are no longer
open to influence.
On the other side of the brain spectrum is the prefrontal
cortex. This is the newest brain, and it enables
us to build societies, have good judgment, be strategic,
handle difficult conversations, and build and sustain trust.
Yet when the amygdala picks up a threat, our conversations
are subject to the lockdown,