The Science of Success:Using Brain-based Principles to Get the Best From Yourself and Others

Part 2: Application of Brain-Based Principles

1. Practical application of brain principles to maximize efficiency, assess risk, and reduce distractions when working.2. Understanding resistance in others and what you can do about it3.Helpful memory techniques4. Questions

What will my brain get out of this?

• The Brain has a finite amount of energy in the form of glucose

• Certain brain structures use more energy than others

• There are ways to use energy more efficiently

The PFC is heavily involved in making decisions, prioritizing and problem solving.

Due to the complexity of it’s role, it uses a tremendous amount of Energy.

Question: How many people check email first thing in the morning?

Responding to emails first thing in the morning is extremely taxing on the brain often leading to a tired, burned-out brain.

Every time you read an email, you have to make a decision- act, respond later, trash, forward it… all of these decisions use PFC energy.

Therefore, use the first part of your day to plan and prioritize your tasks

The prefrontal cortex is also involved in multi-tasking which is task switching in disguise.

 Here’s why:

Task 1 recruits resources via the PFC

Task 2 has to disengage from Task 1 and recruit for new task

Each time you switch, the brain loses energy!

The basal ganglia stores and repeats patterns. A simple example would be drinking a glass of waterA more complex pattern would be riding a bicycle.

It allows you to do two things at once…within limits.

So if you get help from your basal ganglia, you can “multi-task.”

A few examples of task switching:

• Having multiple windows open on a computer

• Switching from cell phone to computer

• Returning emails immediately

Interrupting someone’s train of thought used to be very bad but now we do it to ourselves everyday!

The anterior cingulate cortex gets fired up when distractions are present!The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex inhibits distractions!

It is the devil versus the angel!Shall I? Shan’t I?

When you focus, remove external distractions.

Inhibit distractions early on before they take on momentum.

Meditation can help create awareness around distractions. Am I getting off track?

Remedies:

New research from Dr. Dario Nardi, a professor at UCLA suggests there is certain types of EEG brain activity associated with psychological type.

One way psychological type is defined is the by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

• The ENFP/ ENTP personality type is overrepresented in the entrepreneur population

• Strengths include creativity via transcontexual thinking….ideas, ideas, ideas!

• Weaknesses include burn-out and poor follow-through on ideas

Brain activity associated with ENTP/ENFP personality types leading to creativity but also burn-out and poor follow-thru.

Ways to work with a “Christmas Tree Brain”:

• Meditation (Builds awareness)

• Set daily objectives at the start of your day

• Eliminate distractions

• Have a colleague help you stay on task!

Memory: There are many types of memory

One type of memory is working memory or the ability to hold a number of items in the mind at once and manipulate them.

Working memory uses considerable brain energy and sometimes makes creative solutions difficult

The MORE information you can take out of working memory and physically place on cards, idea boards, notes etc… the more brain energy you have to work the problem.

One last brain topic: Understanding resistance in others

Dopamine, the neurotransmitter of desire. It creates a toward response rather than one of avoidance.

Each time an individual is forced to comply rather than led to comply by way of a personal insight or motivation, you are unlikely to get cooperation because….

The brain gets no reward!

So how you frame a question or request makes all the difference!

What have you done in the past that has really worked? (YES!....Dopamine for the brain!)

vs.

What did you do that messed that up? (NO! No dopamine! )

***As a general rule, negative feedback/problem orientation puts others in a defensive/resistant mood

Top 3 Points to Remember:

1. Fear/Avoidance is largely due to an overactive amygdala/basal ganglia response. It kept our ancestors safe but it keeps us from taking risks.

• Take a few deep breaths to calm your system then find a solution.

2. The prefrontal cortex is the most sophisticated part of the brain but it uses the most energy.

• Avoid frequent task switching.

• Prioritize your day before you do anything else!

3. Your brain has structures that serve to create interest as well as inhibit unwanted stimuli.

• Eliminate distractions.

• Meditate to create awareness around loss of attention and increase the capacity to refocus.

• Move toward the positive rather than avoid the negative!

More reading to deepen the learning

Your Brain at Work by David Rock

Written by a workplace coachPractical solutions The author uses the metaphor

of a stage production to describe the brain.

Choke : What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have toBy Sian Beilock

Whether you want to make a great first impression or lower your golf score, this book is loaded with useful strategies.

By the way… the author is a partan grad!

Contact Information:Annholm@Annholm.net651-483-5310 (o)612-670-3019 (c)

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