Neurological research supports some business and learning practices, but it adds new strategies that may even seem counterintuitive at first. When was the last time you changed your basic approach to solve a problem at work?
Researcher Draganski and colleagues showed how new approaches create neuron-plasticity change for increased gray matter and more developed outcomes.
In one experiment adults were taught to juggle, over a few weeks, so they could keep at least three balls in the air. MRI images taken before and after the juggling practice showed increased gray matter in the area of the brain connected to vision and movement. 
Interestingly, when participants stopped juggling, the gray matter decreased back to its normal state.
Ok, so juggling is not likely a skill you need at work this week…. Nevertheless, this research shows us how to keep our eyes open to use more diverse parts of the brain, as the jugglers did. Why? Because neurons in the brain possess biochemical pathways that make them extend and link to other neurons … when they are active.
Try these smart skill tactics to expand your problem solving approaches at work:
1. Journal a response to this question daily for one week. What one learning or leading tip can I take away from another culture to add value to a precise area of work this week?
2. Compare three similarities and three differences between your own style of leading and one other peer at work.
3. Ask two people you communicate with less frequently, for advice on an upcoming project, and then try what they tell you and invite their feedback.
What’s the most unique approach you'll try for the first time this week, and how will it improve your problem solving skills?
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