Industry organisation Consulting Engineers South Africa's (CESA's) School of Consulting Engineering (SCE) has launched a one-day leadership course based on the trust, engagement and competencies (TEC) leadership system.

The course provides a practical, intuitive framework that leaders can immediately apply in their professional and personal lives to enhance leadership at all levels. It leverages the latest neuroscience to simplify and strengthen leadership skills, CESA says.

Managers spend about 80% of their day leading others. Humans' limbic brain, which governs emotions and survival instincts, profoundly influences how people respond to leadership.

For example, fear triggers a shutdown of the rational prefrontal cortex, thereby limiting creativity and problem-solving. Conversely, trust releases oxytocin, the bonding hormone, which fosters cooperation and engagement.

“Understanding these primal brain responses is crucial. Leaders who adapt their style to build trust, engage emotionally and demonstrate competence can unlock the full potential of their teams,” CESA states.

The three interconnected domains of the TEC system together form the foundation of successful leadership, it adds.

“Neuroscience has allowed us to focus on the new basics and produce a leadership system that is intuitive and easier to implement,” CESA SCE training facilitator Ian Rheeder notes.

Specifically, the TEC system focuses on simplicity and immediate applicability. It distils leadership into manageable, actionable elements, helping leaders to build trust through authenticity, transparency and shared values, engage employees with a compelling vision and clear career paths, and demonstrate competence by leading with purpose and expertise, he says.

These elements are reinforced with neuroscience-backed tools, such as emotional intelligence exercises and leadership style assessments. This results in a leadership approach that is easy to grasp, remember and implement and, thereby, delivers almost immediate improvements in workplace dynamics and outcomes, he avers.

This one-day continuing professional development-accredited course is designed for individuals who want to elevate their leadership skills and effectively build and motivate high-performance teams.