Can You Lead With The Brain In Mind? with Michael Platt
Dec 17, 2020
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Michael Platt, a professor specializing in economics, psychology, and neuroscience, discusses the relevance of neuroscience in leadership and workplaces. He explores the brain's craving for certainty, creating effective teams, maintaining social networks while working remotely, and the impact of our brain's processing capacity. He also shares insights on effective communication, accountability, and the brain's response to different leadership styles.
Understanding neuroscience helps leaders grasp human behavior and nature, improving workplaces.
Leveraging the social brain network fosters relationships in teams through presence and nonverbal cues.
Deep dives
The Relevance of Neuroscience in Leadership and Workplaces
Neuroscience provides valuable insights into human behavior, thoughts, and feelings that cannot be accessed or verbalized through traditional approaches like economics or psychology. Understanding what's going on inside people's heads helps leaders gain a better grasp on human behavior and nature, which is essential for understanding customers, leading teams, and improving workplaces.
The Brain, Certainty, and Social Connection
The brain's primary function is to keep us safe, maximize pleasure, and minimize pain. Uncertainty triggers arousal and raises concerns in both humans and animals, leading them to seek information and certainty. Furthermore, humans are wired for social connection and relatedness. Leveraging the social brain network can improve relationships in teams and workplaces. Paying attention to others, utilizing eye contact, and being present in communication are crucial for fostering social connections.
Communication, Positive Focus, and Accountability
Communication is a social event that goes beyond transmitting information. Effective leaders understand the importance of nonverbal cues, social brain synchrony, and eye contact. Challenging situations like accountability conversations require genuine engagement and active listening. Framing is key to creating shared perspectives, and leaders must be authentic, compassionate, and present in their communication. Turning the attention to positive aspects and small surprises helps to enhance well-being and motivation.
Today we're talking to Michael Platt, a Penn Integrates Knowledge professor with appointments in the Department of Neuroscience, the Department of Psychology, and the Department of Marketing in the University of Pennsylvania. Michael works at the intersection of economics, psychology, and neuroscience, and he is a former president of The Society for Neuroeconomics. Michael's work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The Guardian, and National Geographic and his new book is called The Leader's Brain. In this week’s episode, we explore how understanding more about how our brain's work can help us to thrive at work.
Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.
Until next time, take care! Thank you, Michael!
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