Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

If it could … your working memory would incite your brain’s basal ganglia into ruts every time. How so?

Imagine this exchange between a working memory and a basal ganglia … and you’ll see your brain’s tug-of-war between rejuvenation and stubborn ruts.

WM – Ok … I’m tiny as a thimble … but you’re a big lazy lug!

BG – True … but ditch me and you’ll lose your way to work … or get there naked.

WM – I’ll concede to small … if you’ll see how I grow … whenever I can push you out of my way … to take risks.

BG – Grow? You got me on that one!  I've no routines … memories … or boring habits ... to stir up growth.

WM – Ah … my point! You store facts till they stink like dead fish … while I risk and grow new aromas daily!

BG – Have to admit ...  I’ve got ruts and routines up the gazoo. They even bore me at times ... and you'd have to agree ... I don't bore easily.

WM – True. Since we’re talkin’ problems though … facts fly at me far too fast at times … and if not acted upon … they flee just as fast ... to make room for new fads flying in.

BG – Old replaced with new? Replacing old fish ... I mean facts ... I cannot grasp these concepts. It doesn’t even appear near my big comfort zone.

WM – I get mighty uncomfortable with so many new ideas at times. Could it be … we really need one another?

BG – Ok … I’ll toss in a lifetime of facts, routines and habits … but that’s all I can offer.

WM – Great … as long as you remember I’ll constantly try out new ideas … that reshape or replace old … worn out memories.

BG – New ideas? What are those?

WM – I’ll dump old news daily … to make space for new insights that fly into my very limited room.

BG – Fine … but do remember … they don’t call me packrat for nothing.

WM – Pack rat?  That’s a foreign term to me.

BG – Just to let you know … I fight back ... with my old comfortable ruts as my shield … whenever I feel threatened.

WM – Threatened?

BG – Oh … and further … I have lots of empty space left … in spite of a lifetime of stored stuff.

Which side will win in your brain today? Will you step out and risk the discomfort of new ideas in exchange for a life-giving adventure? If so … your working memory holds the lead.

Or will you remain in your routines and keep comfortable while you juggle facts and figures without much that differs from yesterday? That choice shows your basal ganglia snaring you yet again today.

Considering the daily back and forth between basal ganglia and working memory … how would you rate  your organization’s working intelligence?