the brain, leadership and change

If you want leading edge research and implications about how the brain works, check out the offical site for the emerging NeuroLeadership field, The Global Neuroleadership Summit .   What is Neuro Leadership you ask?   It is a new field of study fo­­cused on bringing neuroscientific knowledge into the area of leadership development, management training, education, consulting and coaching.  David Rock, author of Quiet Leadership , Six Steps to Transforming Performance at Work and Founder/CEO of Results Coaching Systems, is one of the key people leading the charge to marketing and promoting Neuroleadership worldwide.  Good on ya David! 

Hear interview with David Rock on NeuroLeadership and the Global NeuroLeadership Summits. Learn how to apply the latest in neuroscience to the art of coaching and leadership Brain-Based Coaching and Leadership.  Listen to why change is so hard from a physical perspective from the teleseminar Insights about the brain that change everything.   Learn about companies that brought in and built a coaching culture report significantly reduced staff turnover, increased productivity, greater happiness and satisfaction at work.

And just to keep things a little in balance, here is a healthy dose of skepticism on the value of Neuroleadership….Is Neuroleadership More Than Reinventing Wheels?

tiltability

Essentially everything in our universe strives to reach a state of   equilibrium or Homeostasis.   This principle applies to single individual entities to massive complex systems either metabolically, physicaly, socially or psychologically.    Paradoxically, while the drive or equilibrium is ongoing, there are always some other forces tilting the system off balance into a state of disequilibrium or change.  The result is a dynamic interconnetion between these two opposing yet complimentary states of equilibrium and change.  They are two sides of a same coin where one cannot exist without the other where the purpose of change itself is to reach a new state of balance and harmony. 

When it comes to poeple, by and large the preference is for the known or equilibrium over that of change.  In fact, it is fairly safe to state that people generally have difficultly with change.    It is part of why there is so much focus and time dedicated to the study for effectively managing change.   It is relatively simple to change situations when people are not involved, but the more people are impacted by a change, the more difficult change becomes.    Ironically, while people and beliefs, expectations, assumptions, concerns and hopes can present a significant obstacle to change, they are also the solution.   for withiout them, realizing successful sustainable change would be impossible. 

As a business and organizational development consultant and coach, I am acutely aware of the challenging phenomenon change presents for people.   It is for this reason why my my passion and primary area of practice is focused on facilitating positive change within and through people and people-driven systems.   Driving change, whether it’s personal, professional or organizational, requires some form of catalyst, either internally or externally imposed, to overcome the inertia inherent in people’s homeostatic circumstances.  The catalyst may be some political, environmental, sociological, technological, market or other force that inevitably tilts people and organizations out of their comfort zone and into wobbly uncertainty.  By empowering people with the necessary functional and soft skills of leadership, emotional and social intelligence, they are better equipped to positively manage change.   The best of who they are is expressed and shared, enabling a collaborative search for and implementation of sustainable options for transitioning more easily to a new changed state of equilibrium.     

No Magic Answers

 To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.” – George Orwell  

People never cease to amaze me.   Rather than looking inside to who or what we know is true, we believe there is some ‘Silver Bullet’ or ‘Magic Answer’ out there – somewhere – just waiting to be found.  That somehow, if we keep searching long and hard enough, in new places and with new people, the answer(s) will simply and magically appear.

Ironically, I believe if we have the courage to face the truth, we probably already know the answer or know someone who can help us find it.   However, we are just as quick to dismiss these solutions using a myriad of self-rationalizations.  Reflecting on this, I wonder what motivates us as human beings to behave this way.  What are we pretending not to know?

Pondering this question, I admit that I too will often reject what I know to be true.  When I am honest with myself, I know I choose to do so because it serves my purpose.  I make this choice, either consciously or unconsciously, as a way to dodge accountability for the results in my life.  I can continue to pretend I’m not responsible for what happens to me.   I can play the victim and am therefore blameless for the bad things that happen to me.    Unfortunately, I am also unable to claim the joy for the good things in my life; my achievements, dreams and brilliance.      

That said, the truth is that I am the only one totally responsible for me.  And I support myself with my ability and will.  Ability is the ‘can do’ part of the equation.   Like a car motor, ability represents the capacity to move; having the knowledge and skills to take subsequent required action.  Will is the inspirational aspect, analogous to the fuel for a car motor.  It is the power, motivation, desire, yearning, longing, aspiration, etc., to do whatever it takes to make our goals and dreams real. 

Taking responsibility inevitably requires answering the simple question, “Can and will I do what it takes to step up and realize my life dreams?” It requires effort to not only work hard, but smart. It requires continual vigilance to care-giving rather than care-taking – to set boundaries between my responsibilities and the responsibilities of others. I am not as skilled as I would like at recognizing when I have crossed the boundary. But I know the only way of improving is by setting limits as difficult as it may be. Will I make mistakes? Absolutely! And through them I will learn priceless lessons to build upon, grow, realize dreams and live the life I want.