The Neuroscience of Personal Resilience Paul McGinniss & Robin Bowyer February 21, 2013
Presentation overview 1. About NeuroLeadership 2. Neuroscience of personal resilience 3. Operationalizing the neuroscience research 4. Next steps 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 2
1. About NeuroLeadership
NeuroLeadership Institute" Annual summit Journal Certificate, Post- Graduate & Masters Programs Informing HR, OD, L&D, Change Management and related communities 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 4
NLI Research & Education" Organization 3. Applied Studies 2. Summary Frameworks 1. Laboratory Studies Davis & Rock, 2012 Davis & Rock, 2012 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 5
Purpose Transform thinking & performance 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 6
Track record IP in development since 1997 Operations in 39 cities in 24 countries Delivering large scale leadership initiatives since 2005 Global partnerships with Ericsson, American Express, Booz & Co, Juniper Networks, Accenture, & Nokia Siemens Networks 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 7
NLG Solutions: Four Practice Areas" Personal Resilience Quality Conversations Grow Talent Lead Change 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 8
NLG Solutions: Four Practice Areas" Personal Resilience Quality Conversations Grow Talent Lead Change 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 9
2. Neuroscience of personal resilience
Four surprises 1. The rational is overrated 2. We've got emotions backward 3. Social issues are primary 4. Attention changes the brain
Personal resilience aims to Improve conscious problem-solving Increase non-conscious problem-solving Deepen self-regulation Increase mindfulness Build social cognition 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 12
Neuroscience underpinnings We are predisposed to threat Threat reduces cognitive functioning Threat also reduces our ability to have insights We can learn to regulate low level threats We can also learn to regulate bigger threats We can grow our direct experience 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 13
We are predisposed to threat Away Threat Toward Reward Faster acting Stronger Longer lasting More likely Adrenaline up a lot Dopamine down Slower acting Milder Shorter Less common Adrenaline up a little Dopamine up 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 14
Threat reduces cognitive functioning 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 15
Threat reduces our ability to have insights Friedman & Förster 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 16
We can learn to regulate low level threats Emotional labeling "This region (Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex) goes on when we label and there is a correlated reduction in activity in the limbic system, including the amygdale, the cingulate, and the insula." ~ Matthew Lieberman, Head of Social Neuroscience, UCLA 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 17
We can also learn to regulate bigger threats Arousal Situation Selection or Selection Modification Attention Deployment Expression Suppression Cognitive change Emotional Engagement Time James Gross 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 18
We can also learn to regulate bigger threats Suppression Optimism Reappraisal Environmental Mastery Positive Relationships Life Satisfaction James Gross, 2005-50 + 50 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 19
We can grow our direct experience Direct experience: Paying close attention to the present in an open and accepting way 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 20
Direct experience: definition Is direct experience measurable? Kirk Brown s Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) Brown & Ryan, (2003) 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 21
Direct experience: definition Is mindfulness just relaxation? Yi Yuan Tang study Tang & Posner (2008) 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 22
Direct experience: definition So what "is" direct experience in the brain? Farb et. al. paper Farb & Segal, (2007) 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 23
The Director Narrative circuits: Story, concept, past, future, threat, reward Direct experience circuits: Data, in the present, directly Farb & Segal, (2007) 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 24
Direct experience: exercise Practice What did you notice? What changed? What s the value? 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 25
Personal resilience: a summary We are predisposed to threat Threat reduces cognitive functioning Threat also reduces our ability to have insights We can learn to regulate low level threats We can also learn to regulate bigger threats We can grow our direct experience 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 26
3. Operationalizing neuroscience research
NLG approach to training" Brain-based objectives Real-play demonstrations Real-play practice Embedding actions Measurement 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 28
Thomson Reuters: Personal Resilience! Goal of giving early career HIPO's good development early on 20 participants across India, China, Philippines in one group 90-day program of HIVE learning, with brain training alongside 6 x 90-minute events with structured assignments 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 29
Thomson Reuters: 3 Key objectives! Significantly increase self and social awareness Lay the foundations for sustained individual performance Deeply impact people both professionally and personally 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 30
Thomson Reuters: Participant feedback! This program helped me to take control of situations, prioritize my work, work differently and think differently under different situations. Everything about the training has been very helpful to us in different ways. It's been a life changing experience. This program teaches you the skills and techniques of maximum utilization of your brain at day-to-day work. This helps to transform you into a better person in both personal and professional life. 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 31
Customized initiatives - internal delivery" To customize learning that facilitates real behavior change in personal resilience we: 1. Partner to create three measurable program objectives. 2. Design a set of training modules based on the specific areas you want to achieve real behavior change in. 3. Deliver at scale via in-person and/or virtual (HIVE) training. 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 32
Flagship programs Maximize Your Brain: April 8 th (6 telecalls) - Special Early Bird discount for registration before March 22 The SCARF Experience: May 3 rd (4 telecalls) 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 33
4. Next steps
Resources" Visit www.neuroleadership.com/global/content/resources Book: "Your Brain at Work" Videos: Your Brain at Work Google Tech Talks and SCARF model- influencing others Case Study: "Personal resilience" 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 35
Connect" For more information on customized scalable training solutions contact: desiraepalma@neuroleadership.com For more information on public programming contact: robinbowyer@neuroleadership.com 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 36
Connect" For more information about our programs please visit: www.neuroleadership.com You will receive an email with this webinar recording, resources and contact information for the team in your region. 2013 NeuroLeadership Group 37
Thank you!