Excitement about neuroscience is high among business experts. Neuroleadership, which is based on research into the brain activity of leaders and potential leaders, has been a fast-growing area. For decades experts have seen managers as interchangeable. Then researchers started to identify the different types and mindsets of executives and what impact their behaviour has had on their companies.

Now, ‘I read everything I can about neuroscience,’ says Abbie Smith of Chicago Booth business school, who is looking at the benefits for companies that appoint ‘frugal’* executives. ‘We take as a given that these behaviours indicate mindset. But the question is: what can change?’

Brains can. Last week Dr Tania Singer presented research which showed that intensive exercises in empathy can break selfish habits and change ‘the brain’s hardware’ so people become more altruistic. If we can work out how to change executives from one ‘type’ to another, it could open up whole new possibilities for training and development.