Your Brain at Work

David Rock, co-founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute and pioneer in neuroleadership, joins to explore how to transform mandatory participation into compelling engagement. He shares insights on the drawbacks of enforced attendance, emphasizing autonomy's role in post-pandemic work. Rock discusses the importance of aligning learning with personal goals to boost motivation and introduces innovative tools like AI coaching for enhancing participation. This engaging conversation redefines how organizations can inspire genuine involvement and insight.

Uncertainty surrounds the future of DEI. Many organizations plan to continue their DEI work, yet they’re likely to face a number of challenges along the way. To be successful as we evolve our work, it's important to understand why DEI efforts became a priority in the first place, and whether they’re important enough for organizations to address in other packaging. What are the short- and long-term impacts of rolling back the work? Although DEI programs are sometimes politicized, limiting their effectiveness, there are several reasons why organizations need to address certain quirks of the human brain to achieve their best. Join Drs. David Rock and Emma Sarro as they discuss the core brain processes that make DEI work indispensable. A focus for this discussion will be our cognitive biases — mental shortcuts we’ve evolved to make decisions quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, cognitive biases can also cause us to make poor decisions that negatively impact our employees and business. We’ll explore the major biases that affect our work and how to mitigate them to make better business decisions.

Organizational survival in the midst of accelerating change and complexity depends on employees' sense-making, adapting, and taking risks. Psychological safety can effectively facilitate each of these processes. In fact, psychological safety is the critical foundation for high performance, as it acts as the accelerant for both employees and organizations to innovate and push boundaries. Join Drs. Brigid Lynn, Director of Research Design and Emma Sarro, Senior Director of Research as they discuss its particular importance now, the indicators that can signal environments lacking in psychological safety and the challenges organizations face when working to create environments that foster robust healthy debates. This promises to be a rich discussion that is both science-based and tactical as they offer tangible strategies for organizations to create the innovative and exciting environment that psychological safety enables.

During times of intense uncertainty and change, leaders are often called upon to navigate their team through challenges, provide clarity in the face of ambiguity, and make critical decisions under pressure. In the midst of the chaos, leadership development may be deprioritized, when in fact it is more important than ever. Skilled, well-equipped leaders can ignite their teams' performance and foster organizational grit and resilience. What are the key skills that leaders need to mobilize their teams when facing change? How can we provide leaders with the right tools to develop those necessary skills? And how can we get leaders to engage in the learning – one of the central challenges for HR and talent functions? The NeuroLeadership Institute has developed and refined a neuroscience-based leadership development program that has proven effective in increasing engagement and learning. Join Matt Summers, NLI’s Global Head of Leadership and Culture, and Dr. Emma Sarro, Senior Director of Research, to explore the fundamentals of leadership development, the key skills needed to handle uncertainty and change, and the various ways this learning can be scaled and delivered.

Join Dr. Emma Sarro, a neuroscience expert translating research into workplace solutions, and Matt Summers, a seasoned leadership consultant, as they explore proactive accountability in organizations. They discuss how accountability structures must adapt post-pandemic and the emotional toll on leaders navigating a chaotic environment. Listeners will learn about fostering a culture of psychological safety, transforming punitive approaches into motivating frameworks, and the importance of mental health days in enhancing leadership practices.

Discover the psychology behind human connections and what fosters a sense of unity versus division. Explore workplaces as social experiments and the impact of organizational conditions on performance. Dive into the challenges of communication and rising incivility, emphasizing the importance of emotional regulation. The episode also discusses in-group and out-group dynamics, individual social needs, and the paradox of team diversity. Finally, it highlights how our brains are wired for togetherness, calling for greater empathy and community engagement.

Explore the neuroscience behind why we shy away from tough conversations and how to approach them effectively. Discover strategies that foster psychological safety in the workplace, making feedback feel constructive rather than threatening. Learn about the SCARF model, designed to navigate emotions during high-stress discussions. The podcast also discusses the financial impact of communication, emphasizing that improving dialogue can enhance both employee morale and organizational performance. Transform your tough talks into valuable dialogues!

Dive into the fascinating realm of leadership styles! Discover the key differences between servant and authoritarian leaders, and how these styles shape team dynamics. Learn about the role of humor and adaptability in leadership effectiveness. Explore the psychological impacts of decision-making during crises, and how leadership approaches evolve with workplace changes. The discussion wraps up with insights into fostering ongoing leadership conversations and the science behind navigating difficult discussions.

Listen to a special episode of Your Brain at Work as David Rock interviews comedian Ben Gleib on the importance of bringing humor to the workplace and how to do it well. Humor is arguably one of the easiest ways to boost employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity, especially in times of uncertainty, stress, or crisis. Ben and David discuss the three proven tactics for safely bringing levity and humor into the workplace and why they work so well, from a neuroscience perspective.

In this engaging conversation, Janet Stovall, Global Head of DE&I at the Neuroleadership Institute, shares her insights on creating meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. She discusses the importance of genuine inclusivity over mere representation, highlighting the need for psychological safety. Stovall also emphasizes engaging leaders in learning during turbulent times and the power of storytelling in DEI initiatives. She offers actionable strategies for aligning DEI efforts with business goals, showcasing how effective leadership can transform workplace culture.