Phil Dobson on Cognitive Leadership

Phil Dobson on Cognitive Leadership

From The Human Risk Podcast by Human Risk

April 4, 2026 · 1h 10m

About this episode

Phil Dobson discusses cognitive leadership and the importance of understanding how our brains work to improve performance and decision-making.

We tend to assume that if we’re working hard, we’re working well. But what if that isn’t true? Episode Summary My guest on this episode is Phil Dobson , author of The Brain Book and founder of Brain Workshops , about what he calls 'cognitive leadership': using neuroscience and psychology to help people sustain performance, think more clearly, and navigate uncertainty. Phil explains how a broken ankle led him from music and sales into hypnotherapy, neuroscience, and leadership development, and why he believes most of us are never properly taught how our brains actually work. In a wide-ranging discussion, we explore the difference between productivity and effectiveness, why attention may be our most valuable asset, and how modern working life often undermines flow, creativity, and good decision-making. We also discuss stress, workload, digital distraction, the limits of measurement, and what organisations get wrong when they try to manage people as if more time always equals more value. Discover how leaders can create better conditions for thinking, resilience, creativity, and change; and why understanding the human brain matters far beyond the workplace. Episode Summaruy why most…

People in this episode

Guest: Phil Dobson

Topics covered

  • cognitive leadership
  • neuroscience
  • psychology
  • productivity
  • effectiveness
  • stress management
  • digital distraction

Keywords

  • cognitive leadership
  • neuroscience
  • psychology
  • productivity
  • effectiveness
  • stress
  • digital distraction
  • creativity
  • decision-making

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Brain Workshops

Books & works: The Brain Book

More episodes of The Human Risk Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Human Risk Podcast podcast page.