[CCU] The Neuroscience of Change

In this issue: what do new discoveries in the field of
Neuroscience tell us about how to make changes more easily?

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF CHANGE

Recently I happened
upon a copy of Strategy + Business,
the flagship offering of Strategy consulting firm Booz,

Hamilton, Allen, Inc. I was intrigued by an article titled, "The Neuroscience of Leadership" — since I’m interested in both leadership and the mind.

When I read it, it struck me that the simple process for
change that was suggested therein, for leaders, could be applied by anyone, to
almost any change.

I want to share that simple but powerful process with
you.

Let’s start by understanding what Neuroscience is . . .

Wikipedia defines neuroscience this way: "Neuroscience is a scientific discipline
that studies the structure, function, development,
genetics<!–
D(["mb",", biochemistry,\nphysiology,\npharmacology,\nand pathology\nof the nervous\nsystem."\n\n
\n

Phew! \n \n

Essentially neuroscience focuses on understanding how our\n\’nervous system\’ functions and how that functioning affects our body, mind -\nand vice versa. Recently, as Wikipedia notes, "the scope of neuroscience has now broadened to include any systematic\nscientific experimental and theoretical investigation of the central and\nperipheral nervous system of biological organisms." \n \n

In fact, the tools neuroscientists use now range from\ndetailed genetic examination to complex brain scans. These new tools allow\nscientists to examine the operation of the brain – and of particular interest\nto us, what happens in the brain when we attempt changes. \n \n

In a moment, what Neuroscience tells about how to make\nchanges easier . . . \n \n

\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d \n
QUOTATIONS \n \n

"Glorify who you are today, do\nnot condemn who you were yesterday, and dream of who you can be tomorrow." -\nNeal Donald Walsch \n \n

"You\’re perfect the way you\nare." – Kathy KolbeÂ \n”,1]
);

//–>, biochemistry,
physiology,
pharmacology,
and pathology
of the nervous
system."

Phew!

Essentially neuroscience focuses on understanding how our
‘nervous system’ functions and how that functioning affects our body, mind –
and vice versa. Recently, as Wikipedia notes, "the scope of neuroscience has now broadened to include any systematic
scientific experimental and theoretical investigation of the central and
peripheral nervous system of biological organisms."

In fact, the tools neuroscientists use now range from
detailed genetic examination to complex brain scans. These new tools allow
scientists to examine the operation of the brain – and of particular interest
to us, what happens in the brain when we attempt changes.

In a moment, what Neuroscience tells about how to make
changes easier . . .

===========================================================

QUOTATIONS

"Glorify who you are today, do
not condemn who you were yesterday, and dream of who you can be tomorrow." –
Neal Donald Walsch

"You’re perfect the way you
are." – Kathy Kolbe
<!–
D(["mb"," \n

As I mentioned, the article in\nquestion focuses on the issue of leaders in corporations and what works best\nfor them to make change happen. After all, leaders (and managers) need to persuade\nothers to actually make the changes the leadership dreams up. So, what have leaders\ntraditionally done? \n \n

If you\’ve ever worked for/in a corporation,\nyou know the \’traditional\’ approach to motivating change and performance\nimprovement. The HR literature actually refers to the most common approach as\n"The Carrot and The Stick". More sardonically known as "Bribe \’em or Beat \’em." \n \n

This approach rose out of the\nwork of B. F. Skinner and others on change via behaviour modification. Isn\’t that what Performance\nAppraisals and the whole salary scheme are all about? "They" try to persuade\nyou to go along with a change by dangling \’carrots\’: the wage increase, new\nperks like a corner office or paid parking, and whatever. And, if that doesn\’t\nwork out, comes the \’Stick\’: poor performance ratings, threats of \’being let\ngo\’, and so on.\nSkinner\’s approach may have worked with\npigeons but not with humans – we are too complex.\n\n

The article also suggests that Behaviourism\’s\ntotal opposite, Humanism, doesn\’t work either. Humanism the brain child of\nMaslow and Rogers focuses leader\’s energy on taking a person-centred approach.\n\n

But, most leaders and managers find it very difficult to master the positive communication skills that humanism requires.

So, how does this apply to you? You orobably don\’t work for a\ncompany any more –YOU are the company. So, how do you motivate yourself to make\nthe changes you need to make in order to succeed? \n”,1]
);

//–>

===========================================================

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF CHANGE

As I mentioned, the article in
question focuses on the issue of leaders in corporations and what works best
for them to make change happen. After all, leaders (and managers) need to persuade
others to actually make the changes the leadership dreams up. So, what have leaders
traditionally done?

If you’ve ever worked for/in a corporation,
you know the ‘traditional’ approach to motivating change and performance
improvement. The HR literature actually refers to the most common approach as
"The Carrot and The Stick". More sardonically known as "Bribe ’em or Beat ’em."

This approach rose out of the
work of B. F. Skinner and others on change via behaviour modification. Isn’t that what Performance
Appraisals and the whole salary scheme are all about? "They" try to persuade
you to go along with a change by dangling ‘carrots’: the wage increase, new
perks like a corner office or paid parking, and whatever. And, if that doesn’t
work out, comes the ‘Stick’: poor performance ratings, threats of ‘being let
go’, and so on.
Skinner’s approach may have worked with
pigeons but not with humans – we are too complex.

The article also suggests that Behaviourism’s
total opposite, Humanism, doesn’t work either. Humanism the brain child of
Maslow and Rogers focuses leader’s energy on taking a person-centred approach.

But, most leaders and managers find it very difficult to master the positive communication skills that humanism requires.

So, how does this apply to you? You orobably don’t work for a
company any more –YOU are the company. So, how do you motivate yourself to make
the changes you need to make in order to succeed?
<!–
D(["mb"," \n

I don\’t know about you, but I\’ve\noften read this kind of advice from the self-help gurus: "Set goals. Give yourself a\nreward when you achieve them". Doesn\’t that sound like the old \’Carrot\’?\n\n And, how many of us are real\nmasters at "beating ourselves up", using the \’Stick\’ on ourselves, when we\ndon\’t achieve our goals? I find many of my clients are really, really good at\n"being hard on themselves". \n \n

But, as the article in Strategy\n+ Business shows, these approaches don\’t work! In fact, examination of brain\nscans reveal that fear and punishment simply don\’t result in true, lasting\nchange. \n \n

So, what does? What simple steps\ncan you take, that take advantage of learnings in neuroscience, to more easily\nmake the changes you want and need to make? \n

The answer in a moment . . . \n \n

IT\’S NOT OPRAH BUT . . . \n \n

I hope you\’ll join me for a powerful new series of Tele-Interviews. \n \n

I\’m going to be interviewing "Slightly Famous" and\nincredibly talented Genre Busters^(TM) who will share their struggles, successes,\nand learnings about what it takes to create and live successful lives and\ncareers when you are multitalented, eclectic, and creative. \n \n

I have the first speaker lined up with more on the way. Our first speaker will be:Â \n \n

Dr. Barry Morris\n- former family physician, prison physician, and now writer and marketing muse\nto freelance writers.Â \n \n

There are more interesting speakers to come! \n \n

I\’m just confirming dates and times with Barry — but reserve your\nspace early because there is limited space on the calls. \n \n

To reserve your space\nsend a blank e-mail to “,1]
);

//–>

I don’t know about you, but I’ve
often read this kind of advice from the self-help gurus: "Set goals. Give yourself a
reward when you achieve them". Doesn’t that sound like the old ‘Carrot’?

And, how many of us are real
masters at "beating ourselves up", using the ‘Stick’ on ourselves, when we
don’t achieve our goals? I find many of my clients are really, really good at
"being hard on themselves".

But, as the article in Strategy
+ Business shows, these approaches don’t work! In fact, examination of brain
scans reveal that fear and punishment simply don’t result in true, lasting
change.

So, what does? What simple steps
can you take, that take advantage of learnings in neuroscience, to more easily
make the changes you want and need to make?

The answer in a moment . . .

IT’S NOT OPRAH BUT . . .

I hope you’ll join me for a powerful new series of Tele-Interviews.

I’m going to be interviewing "Slightly Famous" and
incredibly talented Genre Busters^(TM) who will share their struggles, successes,
and learnings about what it takes to create and live successful lives and
careers when you are multitalented, eclectic, and creative.

I have the first speaker lined up with more on the way. Our first speaker will be:

Dr. Barry Morris
– former family physician, prison physician, and now writer and marketing muse
to freelance writers.

There are more interesting speakers to come!

I’m just confirming dates and times with Barry — but reserve your
space early because there is limited space on the calls.

To reserve your space
send a blank e-mail to <!–
D(["mb","gb-interest@aweber.com\n \n

You\’ll receive a link to the audio for the program\n"Successful Careers for Genre Busters^(TM)" And, I\’ll send you detailed\ninformation on my buddy Dr. Barry Morris this week.Â \n \n

Let me be upfront. Many people, maybe even you, will read\nthe following and say that something so simple can\’t work. Well, it does! And,\nbrain imaging studies prove it! \n \n

Just give the following 3-step process a shot. What could you lose? What\ncould you gain? \n \n

1.Â Â Â Stop focusing on problems and start focusing on\nsolutions, \n \n

It seems that the traditional\nproblem-focused approach really doesn\’t jibe with the way the brain is wired. Instead it\’s better to focus on solutions. I tried this\napproach recently with a client. We had been focusing on their \’stuckness\’ – and\nmaking slow progress. So, instead I asked a series of solution-focused\nquestions to get them thinking about their natural strengths and how they could\nuse them to move in the direction they wanted. Voila! A breakthrough. \n \n

2.Â Â Â Find your own answers, \n \n

Advice is great. But, you can\’t\ntake the advice of others as is. Instead, you need to \’tailor\’ that advice to\nyourself – to your situation, your needs, and your way of doing things. Make\nothers\’ ideas your own. Go inside and ask your Inner Guidance mechanism what\nyou need to do. \n \n

3.“,1]
);

//–>gb-interest@aweber.com

You’ll receive a link to the audio for the program
"Successful Careers for Genre Busters^(TM)" And, I’ll send you detailed
information on my buddy Dr. Barry Morris this week.

==========================================================

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF CHANGE

Let me be upfront. Many people, maybe even you, will read
the following and say that something so simple can’t work. Well, it does! And,
brain imaging studies prove it!

Just give the following 3-step process a shot. What could you lose? What
could you gain?

1. Stop focusing on problems and start focusing on
solutions,

It seems that the traditional
problem-focused approach really doesn’t jibe with the way the brain is
wired. Instead it’s better to focus on solutions. I tried this
approach recently with a client. We had been focusing on their
‘stuckness’ – and
making slow progress. So, instead I asked a series of solution-focused
questions to get them thinking about their natural strengths and how
they could
use them to move in the direction they wanted. Voila! A breakthrough.

2. Find your own answers,

Advice is great. But, you can’t
take the advice of others as is. Instead, you need to ‘tailor’ that advice to
yourself – to your situation, your needs, and your way of doing things. Make
others’ ideas your own. Go inside and ask your Inner Guidance mechanism what
you need to do.

3.<!–
D(["mb","Â Â Â Keep focused on your insights \n \n

Once you have an idea of where\nyou want to be and how you want to get there – keep focused on it. Find ways to\nGENTLY remind yourself when you move off track. That means, stop beating\nyourself up when you go off the rails. Simply acknowledge the drift, and move back\non track. \n \n

One great way to work through\nthis powerful process is to hire a coach. A coach who knows how to use Solution-focused methods to help you find those strengths, discover your own answers, and help you stay focused. \n \n

Until next time, \n \n

Lyle Lachmuth MSOD, CDP, CRT(Honours)

The Unsticking Coach^TM

Your Talents > Your Career >> Your Life\n>>> Your Way!^(TM)\n\n

Turning Point Strategies \n
\n\nBox 72140 RPO Glenmore Landing | \n\nCalgary, \nAB \nCANADA \nT2V 5H9\n
E: LyleTLachmuth [at] Gmail.com \n \n

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

To subscribe to this newsletter, send a blank e-mail to\nccu-ezine@aweber.com \n \n

PRIVACY POLICY:Â I\nwill not rent, trade, or sell your name and contact information to anyone, at\nany time, for any reason! \n \n

CAVEAT: CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED and its publisher, are\nnot engaged in providing therapy. This newsletter is provided for informational\npurposes only. \n \n

CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED may be reproduced and\ndistributed in its entirety only, including copyright, legal, and contact\ninformation only with live links intact. \n \n

Â \n

\n
\nTurning Point Strategies, Box 72140 RPO Glenmore Landing, Calgary, AB T2V 5H9, CANADA\n

“,1]
);

//–> Keep focused on your insights

Once you have an idea of where
you want to be and how you want to get there – keep focused on it. Find ways to
GENTLY remind yourself when you move off track. That means, stop beating
yourself up when you go off the rails. Simply acknowledge the drift, and move back
on track.

One great way to work through
this powerful process is to hire a coach. A coach who knows how to use
Solution-focused methods to help you find those strengths, discover
your own answers, and help you stay focused.

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

To subscribe to this newsletter, send a blank e-mail to
ccu-ezine@aweber.com

PRIVACY POLICY: I
will not rent, trade, or sell your name and contact information to anyone, at
any time, for any reason!

CAVEAT: CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED and its publisher, are
not engaged in providing therapy. This newsletter is provided for informational
purposes only.

CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED may be reproduced and
distributed in its entirety only, including copyright, legal, and contact
information only with live links intact.

October 16, 2006 | News, Uncategorized

Contact

Lyle T Lachmuth
The Unsticking Coach

[CCU] The Neuroscience of Change

Contact