It might be argued that the study of governance of behaviour has taken a ‘neuroscientific’ turn (Jones, Pykett, and Whitehead, forthcoming, 2013). Whilst commentators have been critical of this approach to leadership as manipulative, we can also see a more positive version of neuroscience research. Concurrently we are seeing the rise of the study of the neuroscience behind effective leadership and collaboration in both executive and educational contexts. Leadership is not simply, she argues about ‘a will to power’, but rather an ‘affective’ holding space through which others can flourish. Through her practical experience and training in personal and educational coaching Dr. Maddern will make a case that we should pay more attention to the underexplored ‘affective’ and neurological states involved in effective leadership and authentic collaboration. She will look critically at models and images of effective leaders. By drawing on key literatures from the coaching world, (not least, Nancy Klein’s ‘Time to Think’), this interactive workshop will examine how we can trigger the neurological states best suited to effective collaboration and leadership increasingly pressured neoliberal university environments. Finally, it will consider how the adoption of these alternative modes of leadership at a collective and institutional level can engender rapid organizational learning.