Brain-based Leadership and the MTL

Presents:

February 27, 2014

Concept of Man/The Nature of Human Nature

“If you understand the brains of people you manage, you are able to manage their behaviors. In many situations, managing behavior without managing the brain forces the brain to rebel.” Srinivasa S. Pillay, Your Brain and Business

…Or become unmotivated

Brain-based Coaching Approaches

Brain-based Leadership

RegionsBrain Regions You Can Coach

Leadership Parameter

Visioning: Visioning is looking to the future and creating an understandable big picture and shared vision. One area of the brain that is heavily involved in visioning is the vmPFC.

Our Friend the Amygdala

• Can be activated in crisis/fight or flight situations (Confrontations at work)

• Can be activated at a low grade, chronic “simmer” (Lack of trust, ambiguity)

• Will substantially override most other brain activity if sufficiently activated.

Or we can coach integrated networks.

Mirror neuron interaction

Leadership Parameter

Building Trust: Building trust is demonstrating confidence in self, knowledge of self, and authenticity. One area of the brain that is highly activated when building trust is the mirror neuron integrated network.

MNS= Mirror Neuron SystemSTS= Superior Temporal Sulcus

How Counter-Mirroring Makes a Difference

Without Counter-Mirroring (Giving Power to the Automatic Brain)

1. You feel anxious and angry2. You defend yourself to yourself.3. You attack and create more rage

in the attacker4. You are involved in automatic

rage exchanges

With Counter-Mirroring (Sharing Power with the Automatic Brain)

1. You observe you feel anxious and angry.

2. You think what the attacker is thinking and identify feeling states and reasons for this.

3. You don’t attack; you take a step back.

4. You become calm and can seek novel solutions that address everyone’s concerns.

Another technique to counter-mirror

• Think of what you’re going to say but don’t say it (take a deep breath)• Think of what you will say instead. (Take a deep breath and don’t say it)

• Think of what you’ll ultimately say and now say it.At this point, you will have calmed the limbic system, responded rationally and not reacted to the mood of the moment

Leadership Parameter

Ability to motivate others: Ability to motivate others is the ability to stimulate others, inspire them to do work, attend to them individually, and motivate them through who you are. The nucleus accumbens and the VTA are essential structures as are the neurochemicals dopamine (creates attention) and serotonin (mood).

Our Friend the Amygdala makes another appearance

First note: People cannot access rewards if anxious or lonely

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Then seek to provide reward:• Reward the behavior you seek (reward risk taking, for example)• Ask employees what is motivating (tangibles, recognition, status…)• Break goals into smaller, rewarded steps. • As a leader, know what rewards you.

Ann's Blog @ ICF MN“Mind Matters”: http://icfminnesota.org/category/the-mind-matters/

Ann's Blog @ International Coaching Federation: http://icfheadquarters.blogspot.com/

Contact Information:

Email: Annholm@Annholm.net

Websites: Annholm.net QueenAnntics.net

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