How can the unconscious mind influence management styles? Is rational thinking a pre-requisite for good ideas? The human brain is an incredibly complex machine which constantly processes vast amounts of data many of us are oblivious to as we go about our lives, but can the information contained within the unconscious mind aid managers within the work place? In the following audio discussion Guy Claxton, a psychologist from the University of Bristol argues that the parts of the psyche that operate independent of conscious reasoning can in fact be used to solve problems in everyday life, but this would require a shift in culture away from traditional management styles. This material forms part of the Open University course BB842 Sustainable creative management.