Do your best ideas ever spring into actions that improve your 
workplace? If not you’ll enjoy seeing how the human brain builds new neuron pathways for change that lasts. Human brains can adapt for change at work, but they need a little help.
Your brain kicks into gear for lasting changes when ideas move into actions and then into rewards for excellence – that’s the brain’s path to change and improvement in the workplace. It works! So why do we see so little change from the great ideas we raise?
When the brain registers an idea it goes into the short term or working memory. Think of your working memory as a fine wine glass where new wine is poured daily. Your mind’s wine includes exciting ideas you hear, discussions you have or insights you garner from business blogs … or maybe it’s just a reflection beside a quiet stream. Since only a few ounces of wine fit into your wine glass… I mean your working memory … then yesterday’s wine will get washed out or so diluted by today’s. You’ll no longer feel excited by an idea’s possibilities for change unless you move it into action and lead it forward with rewards for excellence. It’s how the brain works to lose or gain business … each time you pour in new ideas or actions that are unrelated to the old ones there, the older ones are replaced. It’s also why multi-tasking may not be a good solution unless these tasks relate to change ideas and actions already in your working memory.
After time, a well reinforced plan or idea will make it’s way to your brain’s basal ganglia which stores your many routines – or things you do with little effort. To do or think from your working memory takes more effort and calls for more creativity. But all your good intentions will simply float away with the next interesting bit of information, because that wine glass holds all those facts and figures you use each day, and cannot wait long for you to replace ideas with actions for change.
Have you ever wondered why people are fired for new ideas after a motivational talk – but then lose their steam the following week? As you sleep your brain completely rewires …based on what you thought or acted on that day…. Have you begun to see why a fast paced workshop tends to wither and die before the week is out…? Or have you noticed why regular follow-up with rewards can fast forward great ideas from the wine glass of working memory into the basal ganglia of routines that improves business. How can news about the working memory … or the human brain’s wine glass … and it’s partnership with the basal ganglia … or your mind’s routine storage files … help your best ideas will translate into lasting organizational change?
Great post, Ellen. As soon as Typepad's up again I'll be tracking back!
Posted by: ann michael | July 12, 2006 6:49 PM | Permalink to Comment