Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

Yesterday I facilitated a symposium on the brain here in Ireland at the Waterford Institute of Technology and one participant asked… “What can we do about the cynic in the workplace?” How would you respond?

My answer … “There’s nothing we can do to change a cynic’s mindset ” … is based on research about the dangerous mind patterns wired in cynics. While cynics tend to blame - rather than respond to problems with solutions, for instance, the human brain is capable of working more toward solutions - when groups sidestep cynics.

Fortunately,  valuable new information about the brain can bring mind-bending benefits to help us deal with deadly bullets that tend to come from cynics. In addition,  brain based strategies help us to recognize cynicism’s role as thief of innovation. How so?

Awareness and pre-emptive tactics help us to capitalize more on creative talent in any group – talent too often lost in the drain and mental energy lost when a team  tackles complains of cynics in its ranks. 

Successful groups in contrast, tend to mine more gems of brilliant thinkers in their midst. No question, that requires a shift in attitude as well as recognition of the potentially dangerous drain the cynic brings to any circle.

Fortunately, new information about the human brain shows us how daily words and actions for solutions tend to wire our brains and rewire patterns for results - while we sleep. What does this have to do with cynicism where you work?

Rather than wonder…Will the cynic add stress to a busy or challenging day?... instead groups might concentrate on doable tactics to prevent slowing our brains down  to the speed of a slug. 

Progressive organizations, such as Wegman’s in New York for instance,  use brain based strategies to harness energy beyond any cynic’s imposed ruts.

Not surprisingly, tactics that energize leaders and workers’ brains also bring measurable results, rarely offered when cynics are allowed to limit a roundtable. With creative  energy no longer sapped, people contribute ideas much like a cascading waterfall flows, in spite of muddy eddies gathered near its base.

Not that simplistic or canned responses will silence the critic. But serotonin, for instance, helps people capitalize more on innovative brain operations – and so move creativity forward at full throttle. How so?

In brain based circles, we still see cynics unable or unwilling to use their own multiple intelligences. In spite of their attacks, though, awareness and tactics will help an organization to work smarter for quality results. Current brain research can offer strategies for positive results at work in spite of a cynic's predictable attacks.  

Most agree that cynics are not going away, yet they need not hold progressive organizations back. In fact, neuroscience offers keys to problem solve for  higher profitability,  with the brain in mind.

What new facts about the human brain, suggest practices improve your workplace, and help creative thinkers to move beyond the cynics patterns for wasted time and talent? Any ideas?