Trump vs. Harris: Who Will Build the Best America? A 3 Brains Intelligence and Jim Collin’s Good to Great Analysis

Oct 20, 20248 min read

The Washington Mail Christoffel Sneijders

As the 2024 U.S. election draws closer, voters face a stark choice between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Both leaders offer drastically different visions for the country, but understanding their leadership styles through the 3 Brains Intelligence model reveals more profound insights into how they make decisions and the kind of future they might create.

The concept of 3 Brains Intelligence is scientifically proven: we have three distinct brains—the gut, heart, and head—each of which is responsible for different aspects of survival and decision-making. These brains aren’t just metaphorical; they are biological systems with specific roles:

The Gut Brain is focused on self-preservation and manifests in fight, flight, lying, or deception behaviours. It’s instinctual and egocentric, prioritising personal survival at all costs.
The Heart Brain governs social survival, driving empathy and the need for social connection. It emphasises fairness, compassion, and the well-being of others.
The Head Brain handles logic, strategy, and rational decision-making. While it can solve complex problems, it can also lead to procrastination or doubt if not balanced with the other brains.

Jim Collins's Good to Great model clarifies successful leadership based on his research of companies that outperformed for over a decade. Level 5 leadership, a crucial part of the Good to Great framework, combines humility and fierce determination. According to Collins, great leaders focus not just on short-term gains but also on sustainable, long-term success.

Using these two models to analyse Trump and Harris's leadership gives us a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and whether they can make America great again.

Donald Trump: Gut-Driven Leadership Focused on Self-Preservation

Trump’s leadership is deeply rooted in his Gut Brain, which prioritises bold, instinctual actions and self-preservation above all else. His most famous slogans—“Make America Great Again, Again” and “America First”—speak directly to the Gut Brain’s instinct for protection and survival. Trump’s leadership reflects the Gut Brain’s drive for immediate results, which can be effective in certain situations but dangerous when it comes to long-term planning and sustainability.

Gut Brain Focus: Self-Preservation and Bold Action

One of Trump’s signature phrases, “I built the greatest economy in history, and I’ll do it again,” showcases his gut-driven confidence. His Gut Brain is wired for bold, immediate action—he doesn’t dwell on analysis or reflection. His approach to trade wars and corporate tax cuts reflects his belief in the power of instinctual, decisive action.

In Good to Great, Collins emphasises the importance of Level 5 leadership, which blends humility with fierce resolve for sustained greatness. Trump’s leadership diverges from this principle: his gut-driven decision-making often lacks the humility and long-term vision Collins describes. Rather than fostering collaboration and long-term growth, Trump’s leadership often revolves around self-promotion and gut instinct. These bypassing strategic, inclusive approaches could unite the nation for the long haul.

Trump’s focus on instinct comes at a cost. Leaders dominated by the Gut Brain often struggle with humility and empathy. Trump’s reaction to opposition reflects the Gut Brain’s fight-or-flight response: cut ties with those who challenge you. His behaviour towards Michael Cohen, William Barr, John Kelly, and Mike Pence illustrates this point.

After cooperating with federal investigations, Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, was discarded.
William Barr, Trump’s attorney general, faced rejection after refusing to support Trump’s election fraud claims.
John Kelly, once Trump’s trusted Chief of Staff, was cut off after becoming a critic of Trump’s leadership.
Mike Pence, perhaps the most telling example, was abandoned after he refused to block the certification of electoral results following the January 6 Capitol attack. Despite rioters chanting for Pence’s execution, Trump reportedly said, “I don’t care, Mike deserved it.” This extreme egocentrism is typical of the Gut Brain, where self-preservation trumps loyalty and even common decency.

Therefore, Trump’s leadership operates with a self-centred survival instinct, driving him to take bold, instinctual actions but also leading to recklessness and a tendency to dismiss anyone who doesn’t align with his narrative.

This tendency to reject dissent contrasts Good to Great leadership, encouraging leaders to confront brutal facts and engage in open dialogue to foster sustainable success. Trump’s leadership leans toward short-term, instinctive decisions prioritising survival over broader, lasting growth.

The Missing Heart Brain

While Trump’s leadership is gut-driven, the influence of the Heart Brain—the brain that governs empathy and social connection—is notably absent. Trump’s policies, rhetoric, and actions rarely reflect compassion or social survival. His Gut Brain’s focus on self-preservation and loyalty to his base doesn’t extend to a broader sense of care for the wider community or marginalised groups.

This lack of Heart Brain leadership means Trump is often perceived as divisive, uncaring, and driven solely by personal gain and instinct. His policies may achieve short-term results, but without empathy or concern for long-term consequences, they risk further dividing the country and undermining its social fabric.

Kamala Harris: Heart-Driven Leadership with Strategic Vision

In contrast, Kamala Harris leads from the Heart Brain, focusing on empathy, fairness, and inclusivity. Her leadership style is grounded in social connection and a deep sense of responsibility toward marginalised communities. Her slogans, “For the People” and “Economic justice for all,” reflect her commitment to fairness and social survival, key functions of the Heart Brain.

Heart Brain Focus: Empathy and Social Justice

Harris’s Heart Brain-driven policies emphasise empathy, compassion, and inclusivity. Her focus on raising the minimum wage, expanding healthcare, and ensuring economic justice reflects her desire to uplift those who traditional economic systems have left behind.

Her clean energy investments and long-term economic reforms show that Harris doesn’t just seek short-term wins; she prioritises sustainability and social equity, ensuring that future generations benefit from her policies. These policies align with Level 5 leadership’s humility and commitment to creating lasting change.

In stark contrast to Trump, Harris’s Heart Brain is fully engaged. She has demonstrated empathy and emotional intelligence by championing policies to level the playing field for marginalised groups. Harris’s leadership combines Heart Brain compassion with Head Brain strategy, making her an ideal candidate for Good to Great’s sustainable leadership model. Harris demonstrates her long-term thinking and strategic planning by focusing on clean energy investments and progressive taxation. Her policies aim to address immediate needs and transform the economy for future generations—a hallmark of Level 5 leadership.

Strategic Loyalty: Balancing Heart and Head

However, Harris doesn’t lead solely from the heart. She effectively blends her Heart Brain’s empathy with her Head Brain’s logic. Her strategic approach to policy-making reflects her ability to think long-term and address complex issues with well-thought-out solutions. Her support for progressive taxation and her focus on clean energy investments exemplify how she balances compassion with practical, forward-thinking policies.

During the 2020 Democratic primaries, Harris criticised Joe Biden for his past policies on segregation. Yet, when the opportunity arose to work alongside him as his running mate, Harris reconciled with Biden, showing her ability to move past conflict for the greater good. Now, as she runs for president herself, Harris has chosen not to throw Biden under the bus, demonstrating Heart Brain loyalty. While this showcases her compassion and commitment, it could also tie her to the potential weaknesses of Biden’s presidency—a balance she must carefully navigate.

Unlike Trump, who rejects dissent, Harris’s willingness to engage in strategic partnerships and foster collaboration aligns with the Good to Great leadership model, which emphasises building long-term relationships and maintaining a humble approach to challenges.

Who Will Build the Best America?

When viewed through both the 3 Brains Intelligence and Good to Great lenses, we see stark differences in the leadership styles of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris:

Trump’s Gut-Driven Leadership: Trump’s self-preserving, instinctual leadership prioritises bold actions and short-term results. His reliance on the Gut Brain leads to decisive but reckless decisions. His rejection of dissent and lack of humility show a fundamental divergence from Level 5 leadership. While Trump’s leadership may lead to quick wins, it lacks the compassion, humility, and long-term vision necessary for sustainable success.
Harris’s Heart-Driven Leadership: Harris’s leadership reflects Heart Brain empathy balanced with Head Brain strategy. Harris leads with the Heart Brain, focusing on empathy, inclusivity, and social justice. Her leadership style is grounded in compassion, but it’s also balanced with a Head Brain strategy. Harris’s ability to combine empathy with strategic planning makes her a more well-rounded leader. Her policies are designed not only to address immediate needs but also to build a sustainable, equitable future. Unlike Trump, Harris embodies many traits of Level 5 leadership, such as humility, determination, and a focus on long-term success.

It’s a Clear Choice according to Good to Great and 3 Brains Intelligence

Jim Collins’ Good to Great emphasises the importance of humility, strategic thinking, and long-term focus—traits more evident in Harris’s leadership than in Trump’s. Harris’s heart-driven empathy and head-driven strategy align with the principles of Level 5 leadership, which prioritises sustainable, collective success over individual wins. Meanwhile, Trump’s gut-driven leadership prioritises immediate results at the expense of empathy, humility, and long-term collaboration, diverging sharply from the Good to Great model.

Through the lens of 3 Brains Intelligence, Trump’s leadership is focused on gut instinct and survival, while Harris’s leadership centres on empathy and strategic vision. Harris’s approach offers a more sustainable path for building an America that prioritises equity, justice, and long-term prosperity.

At the heart of the 2024 election is a choice between two very different leadership styles:

Trump’s Gut Brain leadership is focused on self-preservation, instinct, and bold action but often reckless and divisive. While his leadership has effectively mobilised his base, his lack of empathy and long-term vision limits his ability to create lasting positive change.
Harris’s Heart Brain leadership: focused on empathy, social justice, and long-term reform. While her compassion and emotional intelligence make her a leader who can unite and uplift, her continued loyalty to Biden’s presidency could tether her to his political challenges.

Conclusion: Trump vs. Harris: Who Will Build the Best America?

The 2024 election presents voters with a clear choice between two drastically different leadership styles. Trump’s Gut Brain leadership is driven by instinct and self-preservation, resulting in bold but often divisive decisions. In contrast, Harris’s Heart Brain leadership focuses on empathy, inclusivity, and long-term reform, offering a vision that aligns more closely with Good to Great leadership principles.

Through the combined lens of 3 Brains Intelligence and Good to Great, Harris’s leadership style appears better suited to building a sustainable and equitable America. Her ability to balance compassion with strategy and her commitment to the well-being of all Americans offer a vision of unity and long-term prosperity that aligns with emotional intelligence and effective leadership.elf and others deeper, enhancing personal and professional relationships.

If you would like to know more about leadership or dive deeper Into the 3 Brains

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