Some of the most interesting leadership literature I’m reading lately centers around neuroscience / brain physiology and the implications for effectiveness both individually and collectively in a modern workplace.
In short, our brains are organs that need dedicated attention and specific usage in order to be of maximum utility to us. I’m not talking just about retention or other tangible output, but more esoteric notions like the power of perception and habits. When people say leadership starts from the inside-out, they’re not kidding.
Neuroscientist David Rock suggests a few things we can do within the workplace to keep our brains at optimal health and functioning:
- Shut down for at least a few days at a time
- Give yourself dedicated uninterrupted time to go “deep” on a topic
- Connect with others for inspiration, celebration, meaning, etc.
- Play and enjoy life’s rich moments for hobbies, exploration, exercise, etc.
One of my favorite coaching tips lately has been to remind my clients about the ratio of reflective moments of gratitude. The brain is like Teflon to positive thoughts and like velcro for negative thoughts; this comes out of our brain structure, in particular, the Amygdala, which is the center of our fight, flight, or freeze survival instinct. Negative thoughts are 5-7 times more powerful, i.e, retained, in our consciousness than positive thoughts. People have no problem running for 30 minutes to exercise the heart, but it seems crazy to think about exercising our brain. What ratio of negative to positive thoughts do you think your brain processes on a daily basis?
By exercise I mean retraining through a dedicated focus on appreciating what went well in your day so that your brain learns to notice the positive things in your life. I encourage people to set an alarm on their phone and each day simply take down notes for yourself (I literally use the Notes Application on my iPhone, iPad, and iMac) about 3 things you’re grateful for in the day. Sounds simple, but I’m actually finding it somewhat challenging to not ignore the alarm and to actually remember what went well in the day.
Let me repeat that: I find myself challenged to easily bring up the things I appreciate throughout the day. It’s not impossible, but it’s not where my brain has been trained to go as I’m used to focusing on deficits. When I actually do it, I feel more relaxed and optimistic about the next day, and I tend to sleep better. My intention is to use this foundational shift to enjoy the act of experience of work and play as much as the accomplishments themselves.
Take a moment and reflect how you’re addressing your brain’s health and functioning, and the implications for your leadership in the world. What if everyone in your organization did the same thing; how would your collective experience and results change?
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Adaptive Talent is a talent consultancy designed to help organizations achieve amazing results and ongoing adaptability. Founded in 2008 and based in Vancouver, Canada we offer retained search, assessments, total rewards consulting, training, leadership coaching and development programs, and culture & organizational development consulting.