Transformational Leadership and Neurofeedback: The Medical Perspective of Neuroleadership

• Published in: International journal of organizational leadership 2019-01, Vol.8 (1), p.46-62
• Main Authors: Edmi Edison, Rizki, M. Juhro, Solikin, Farid Aulia, A., Archianti Widiasih, Puti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Biofeedback; Electroencephalography; Leadership; Transformational leadership
• ISSN: 2345-6744; 2383-1103; 2345-6744
• DOI: 10.33844/ijol.2019.60317

The world is now facing such a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous situation known as VUCA that it has generated such new challenges. Therefore, it is imperative that a leader to have competences that always grow. Transformational leadership is a type of leadership deemed superior to anticipate those challenges, where a leader is supposed to always be agile in achieving the organizational goals. This study aimed at analyzing a correlation among leadership aspects (through Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire/MLQ assessment), cognitive functions (through Wechsler Bellevue assessment), and brain activity pattern/brain mapping (through Electroencephalography/EEG). Then, we gave a stimulus through neurofeedback to train the participants’ control over their brain waves. The results revealed that all participants that became the research samples had a transformational leadership type with idealized influence (behavior) and inspirational motivation subtypes. Moreover, the presence of stimulation to the brain (neurofeedback) enabled the participants to control their brain waves when they were conscious. The leaders will be able to perform optimally when they can control their brain waves and when they are conscious.