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Using Behavioral Science Insights to Better Serve the American People

By Patrick S. Malone

Many of you may have seen the Executive Order recently released by President Obama. This order is good news on many fronts. As noted in the order, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that behavioral science insights are benefiting us, especially in the area of how people make decisions and act on them. We in the Key program have drawn on this field of knowledge for many years in helping our students move from good managers to extraordinary leaders. Reflection, mindfulness, meditation, humble inquiry, self-awareness and much more form the foundation of our curriculum. Coupled with the developments in the field of neuroscience in the last twenty years, we can all continue to draw on behavioral science to make our programs, and our public service, even better!