It turns out that a lot of what we previously thought about the brain
isn't true.
We've discovered, for example, that the brain continues to grow well into
our later years through a process called "neuroplasticity." Our brains
help us keep learning by producing new neurons, cells that help transfer
information. With physical training, your body responds to demands by strengthening
muscle groups. Similarly, the brain will expand (or not) depending on the
challenges you tackle. That's the good news. The bad news? If you don't
use it, you'll lose it.
We've also learned that neurons need not die as we age. In fact, several
regions of the brain that control motor behavior and memory can actually
expand their complement of neurons as we get older. This process is called
"neurogenesis." Neurogenesis is profoundly affected by your lifestyle.
Your experiences and interactions can help strengthen your brain's neural
networks and cognitive abilities.
Brain-imaging studies indicate that acquired expertise in diverse areas—playing
the cello or speaking a foreign language—helps expand our neural systems.
In other words, you can physically change your brain by learning new skills.
In a November 2007, Harvard Business Review article, professors Roderick
Gilkey and Clint Kilts describe the benefits of cognitive fitness for leaders:
The more cognitively fit you are, the better you will be able to make decisions, solve problems, and deal with stress and change. Cognitive fitness will allow you to be more open to new ideas and alternative perspectives. It will give you the capacity to change your behaviors and forecast their outcomes in order to realize your goals. You can become the kind of person your company values most. Perhaps more important, you can delay senescence for years.
The 11 following strategies can help you maintain an engaged, creative
brain:
Expand your experiences. There are two parts to this step:
First, learn more about your area of expertise. Second, learn more about
outside areas. The brain stores knowledge through exposure to experiences.
The more emotional the experience, the more you remember and retain.
Learn through observing. "Mirror neurons," activated when
we observe someone performing an action, help us learn new tasks and behaviors.
Athletes often acquire skills by watching teammates drill, score and fumble.
Read the signs. Mirror neurons can also pick up on facial
expressions, gestures and signals. You develop empathy by learning how
to read other people's body language.
Learn through mentoring. Being mentored by others helps
you acquire some of their knowledge and experiences. Conversely, you fortify
your own learning when you teach others.
Use case studies. When you read a case study that describes
real customers and their experiences, you activate your mirror neurons
to raise your level of understanding. The human brain is social, finely
tuned to seek opportunities to connect and understand.
Take advantage of direct experience. One of the most powerful
ways to gain direct experience, while also flexing your cognitive muscles,
is taking a "walkabout" (also known as "management by walking around").
Taking time to talk with staff is one of the smartest leadership practices
and well worth the invested time. When you share experiences, you gain
a more comprehensive understanding of what happens at other organizational
levels.
Use both sides of your brain. Leadership involves both
brain hemispheres. The left hemisphere is the primary source of neural
information for routine tasks. The right deals with novelty and innovation,
including experiences and data that are less structured. The right hemisphere
is more image-based and operates in the realm of metaphors. Think of this
division as big-picture vs. small-picture thinking. You'll need to master
both hemispheres to successfully navigate complex business systems, even
if you prefer one way of thinking over the other.
Use pattern recognition. Your brain scans your environment
for patterns, discerns order and creates meaning from large amounts of
data. Your organization depends on you to sift through this data quickly
and assess the situation so you can determine appropriate actions. Superior
pattern recognition is a major competitive advantage for consolidating
learning and simplifying information (without being simplistic).
Play as hard as you work. If you're not enjoying yourself,
you won't stay with a task long enough to master it. Find ways to bring
enjoyment to your work. Studies show that being in a good mood sets the
stage for enhanced creativity and decision-making. Play improves your ability
to reason and make sense of the world.
Seek out new experiences. The right brain is dedicated
to discovery, exploration and processing of new experiences. Newly acquired
knowledge is transferred to the left hemisphere, where it is organized,
encoded and made available for routine use. The more you actively engage
in new experiences, the more proficient you become at learning, thus preserving
cognitive fitness. When you're receptive to novelty and innovation, you
tend to be better in a crisis because instead of panicking, you spot opportunities
for growth.
Develop a beginner's mind. Practice stepping back from
current thinking and conventions to cultivate new solutions. When you don't
feel compelled to have all the answers and allow for doubt, you encourage
fresh perspectives.
Make an ongoing commitment to immersing your management teams in new systems
and new ways of thinking. Cognitive fitness can prove to be your most sustainable
competitive advantage.
Promote a rich working environment where healthy brains thrive and your
people can achieve their full potential.