DOES LEARNING ABOUT THE BRAIN HELP BETTER MANAGE UNCERTAINTY?

DOES LEARNING ABOUT THE BRAIN
HELP BETTER MANAGE
UNCERTAINTY?

 François Bogacz - CEO

Who I am

Race
WEIRD

Companies Country

Family &
Generation
Education

© 2013 – François Bogacz- All rights reserved 2

Activity

Je n’en cyriaos pas mes yuex mias je
pvuiaos cmoperdnre ce que je laisis.
En uintslitat les icenyalbros cpitaéacs
Typede mon cavreeu, peu iromtpe si les
tagline here
lretets d’un mot snot dnas le bon
odrre, ce qui cpotme est que la
permèrie et la dèrienre lretet sinoet à la
bnone pcale.

Activity

I cnduol't bvleiee taht I culod aulaclty
uesdtannrd waht I was rdnaieg. Unisg
the icndeblire pweor of the hmuan
mnid, aocdcrnig to rseecrah, it dseno't
mttaer here
Type tagline in waht oderr the lterets in a
wrod are, the olny irpoamtnt tihng is
taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the
rhgit pclae.

Source: D. Radecki


The comfort zone

Panic Zone (anxiety)
Internal Tension

Stretch Zone (optimal discomfort)

Comfort Zone

Source: Tal Ben-Shahar, 2009, based on Bednar & Peterson, 1995


Why we need mental patterns : the principle
of glucose efficiency

 The more energy-efficient you
are, the stronger the chance of
survival in a world where Brain
resources (food and nutrients)
are scarce
 Human beings were able to
develop a high-quality diet 
more energy available for the
brain compared to chimps
 We rely by default on “non-
effortful” processes, which Heart
require and consume
relatively low amounts of Liver
glucose compared to
“effortful” ones

Source: Raichle, M.E., 2010


New situations are like a piece of cheese to us

Triangle
=½xrxh

Square
=hxh

Rectangle
=rxh

“We don’t see things are they are,
we see things as we are”
Anais Nin

NEURO-PRINCIPLE # 1 :
WE USE PATTERN-BASED
THINKING AS OUR
DEFAULT MODE TO
MINIMIZE OUR BRAIN
RESOURCES
CONSUMPTION

MEMORIES SERVE AS AN
IMPERFECT BASIS FOR
PREDICTION

A brain-based framework to better manage
uncertainty

High Just right
Novelty

Yes High
S Enough Glucose Outcome
Data? level Valence +
T
R
E
S GOOD
S


uncertainty

High Just right
Novelty

Yes High
T
R Low
No -
E
S GOOD
S


The impact of stress on our cognitive
capacities depends on DA and NE levels


Our brain in the “just right” stress condition

Type tagline here

Source: Arnsten, 06/09


Our brain under too much stress

Type tagline here

Source: Arnsten, 06/09


OUR BRAIN NEEDS A
“JUST RIGHT” LEVEL OF
STRESS TO FUNCTION AT
ITS PEAK EFFICIENCY

uncertainty

High Just right
Novelty

Yes High
T
R Low
No -
E
DA & Just right
S GOOD
NE
S


uncertainty

High Just right
Novelty

Yes High
Data ? level Valence +
T
R Low
No -
E
Just right
S DA &
GOOD
NE
S
Mindfulness
Too low


What is mindfulness?

 “The ability to
experience the
present moment in
its entirety,
mindfulness involves
paying attention to
internal and external
phenomena as they
unfold, moment by
moment” – Kabat-
Zinn, 1994

Mindfulness

 5 facets
 Observe what’s going on inside and outside of you,
be curious and open
 Describe: label your inner experience

 Act with awareness: don’t be on autopilot

 Non-judge: whatever happens inside of you, don’t
blame yourself
 Non-react: let it go and accept your inner
experience
 “The anxious, stressed or depressed state of
mind is the distracted state” – C. Hassed
© Neuroawareness Consulting Services – 2011 - 20123 - All rights reserved 19

Mindfulness and professional practice

 Mindfulness-based self-monitoring is essential to
avoid biases of automatic pilot e.g.
 Confirmation bias
 Anchoring bias
 Etc.
 Benefits
 Early recognition of cognitive biases
 Avoidance of technical errors
 Awareness of emotional reactions
 Facilitation of self-correction
 Development of better relationships
Source: Epstein, R., 2008.


Classic stress-performance curve

Performance

Peak performance
Poor performance
/ burnout

Stress
Inertia

Source: Craig Hassed


The alternate stress-performance curve

Performance
“The zone”
= Restful
Peak performance
alertness
Poor performance
/ burnout

Stress
Inertia

Source: Craig Hassed


MINDFULNESS
SUPPORTS SELF-
REGULATION

uncertainty

High Just right
Novelty

Yes High
T
R Low
No -
E
Just right
S DA &
GOOD
NE
S
Mindfulness
Too low High
Low
BAD

Developing your mindfulness: some ideas

 Find the right exercises for
you
 Short exercises are better for
beginners
 http://astore.amazon.com/neu
roawarenes-
20/detail/1591794293
 Mindful eating


10 neuro-principles summary: emotional +
social + cognitive
1. We use pattern-based thinking as our default mode to
minimize our brain resources consumption
2. Memories serve as an imperfect basis for prediction
3. Our brain needs a “just right” level of stress to function at
its peak efficiency
4. Mindfulness supports self-regulation
5. …
6. …
7. …
8. …
9. …
10. …


Our conclusion

 Learning about the brain can help
executives be more alert to universal,
individual and cultural drivers and to
 Think more efficiently
 Feel more mindfully

 Behave more positively and more

contextually


List of additional themes we could cover

 Better manage your goals, emotions and stress and
avoid burn-out
 Make better decisions
 Better motivate and grow your team by giving feedback
in a "brain-friendly" way
 Better collaborate with others and better prevent and
manage conflict
 Negotiate with your whole brain to achieve better deals
 Maximize learning
 Better manage sustainable change and innovation
 Better manage gender, age and/or cultural differences


Questions, comments & discussion


THANK YOU !
 Please subscribe to our newsletter
“Brainflash” if you are interested in
learning more about the brain:
http://www.neuroawareness.com/publi
cations/subscribe-to-our-newsletter
 If you have any follow-up question
 fb@neuroawareness.com

DOES LEARNING ABOUT THE BRAIN HELP BETTER MANAGE UNCERTAINTY?

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DOES LEARNING ABOUT THE BRAIN HELP BETTER MANAGE UNCERTAINTY?