The Brain We're Still Ignoring (And Why It Matters Most)
I watched a clip from Good Morning Britain last week. Cat and Ben were talking about the gut brain, the enteric nervous system, our "second brain" that helps us make decisions beyond pure logic.
I felt two things at once.
Celebration. Relief, even. Finally, popular culture is catching up. We're moving past the outdated belief that we're just highly sophisticated head brains on legs.
And mild frustration.
Because whilst we're celebrating the gut, we're still overlooking the brain doing the most work.
The Heart.
We've Been Teaching This for a While
I've been working with the three-brain model in my practice for a few years now, long before it became a trending topic. In 1-2-1 coaching, group workshops, and most recently in a masterclass I delivered for the COO Round Table community, where I walk leaders through how our three intelligence centres operate.
Head. Heart. Gut.
Each plays a distinct role. Each answers a different question.
But what I hear consistently from every founder, every COO, every senior leader I work with:
Surprise. Relief. Sometimes even grief.
When I invite them to include their Heart in decision-making, something shifts. Not because it's novel or warm or feel-good. But because it works.
And because for years, they've been told there's no room for emotions in the boardroom and being effective leaders is about strategy and logical, smart choices.
That belief has cost us more than we've measured.
The Three Brains: What They Actually Do
Let me be precise about what we're working with.
Head: I call it ‘The Analyst’
This is your logical command centre. The Head analyses, plans, thinks critically, and makes sense of information. It's focused on data, logic, and ROI.
It answers the question: What is the smartest move?
Heart: I named it ‘The Custodian’
This centre is chronically underutilised, but it's the powerhouse of engagement and purpose. The Heart connects, cares, empathises, and aligns with values. It drives relational intelligence, stakeholder buy-in, and culture.
It answers the question: What is the right move?
Gut: This is ‘The Navigator’
Your oldest, quickest intelligence. The enteric nervous system is doing real-time risk and safety assessment. The Gut acts, decides, senses danger or opportunity, and moves you into motion. It's focused on execution momentum and courage.
It answers the question: What is the courageous move?
All three matter.
But the Heart does an outsized amount of the work when it comes to sustainable, aligned decision-making.
Why the Heart Does More
Here's what happens when you leave the Heart out of the loop:
You make a smart decision that feels hollow.
You execute quickly, but your team doesn't follow.
You hit your targets, but you lack a sense of satisfaction.
The Head can build a brilliant strategy. The Gut can move you into action. But neither can tell you whether that strategy honours what actually matters. Neither can build the relational safety required for teams to perform under pressure.
That's the Heart's job.
And when leaders skip it - or dismiss it as soft, slow, or irrelevant - they end up stuck. Procrastinating. Second-guessing. Experiencing internal conflict that no amount of analysis will resolve.
The Head will spin.
The Gut will freeze or react.
The Heart is what brings coherence.
The Sequence That Works: Ht-Hd-Ht-G-Ht
The most effective sequence for making decisions with total conviction is not Head-Gut. It's not Gut-Head.
It's this:
Heart → Head → Heart → Gut → Heart
This order isn't random. It's the natural process high-performing leaders and wisdom teachers use to anchor strategy in purpose before they commit to action.
Let me walk you through it.
1. Start with the Heart (Ht1): Set the Foundation
The Custodian opens by asking: What matters most here?
You start with your values and purpose. Not as a box-ticking exercise. But as the foundation that ensures the decision is meaningful and will drive genuine engagement from you, and from your team.
2. Move to the Head (Hd2): Create the Plan
Now the Analyst steps in: What is the clearest, most logical plan to achieve this?
Your creativity and logic flow from a foundation of purpose. The Head isn't working in a vacuum. It's building something that already has roots.
3. Return to the Heart (Ht3): Check the Fit
The Custodian checks the plan: Does this strategy still feel right? Does it honour our values and inspire the team?
This is where you reinforce emotional buy-in. Not just yours but the team's too. Because if the plan doesn't land here, it won't land in execution either.
4. Move to the Gut (G4): Commit to Action
The Navigator delivers the verdict: What specific action feels courageous and aligned?
This provides the execution drive and momentum. The Gut won't move until the Heart and Head are aligned. That's not weakness. That's wisdom.
5. Complete the Loop at the Heart (Ht4): Final Integrity Check
The Custodian closes: Do I accept full accountability and purpose for this move?
A final layer of integrity. A moment of closure.
This is what conviction feels like.
Try This Now
Next time you're facing a decision - strategic, operational, relational or personal - pause before you default to the Head.
Ask yourself:
Heart (Foundation): What matters most to me here? What values are at stake?
Head (Plan): What's the clearest, most logical path to achieve this?
Heart (Alignment): Does this plan still feel right? Does it inspire me and the people I lead?
Gut (Action): What's the first courageous step I can take?
Heart (Integrity): Do I accept full accountability for this choice?
Notice where you get stuck.
Notice which brain’s voice seems to be the quietest, listen intently for the whisper.
Notice which brain you've been skipping all together.
Most leaders I work with realise they've been living Head-Gut on repeat. Smart plans, fast action, hollow outcomes.
The Heart is what's been missing.
We Are More Than Logic on Legs
I'm glad the gut brain is finally getting airtime. Truly, I am.
But let's not stop there!
We aren't what we think. We are what we embody.
And the body has three intelligence centres, not two.
The Heart isn't soft. It's structural.
It's the piece that transforms a good decision into one you, and your team, can actually stand behind.
Pause and consider: Which brain have you been ignoring? How would it be to invite that missing voice into the conversation?
With much love and alignment,
Dags
