A finely tuned brain is essential for success in business. For many business leaders, brain training holds the key to unlocking higher performance ability. The answers to the following 5 questions will reveal if brain training might be right for you:
- Do I have a clear vision? True leaders are visionaries. Others look to strong leaders for inspiration and guidance because they have seen them create desirable destinies through clarity of vision. As it shares the same root word, visualization is essential for creating a clear vision. When we envision something happening, we essentially create the pathways in the brain needed to make these visions a reality. Through coordinated activity in the frontal (higher level thought), temporal (memory) and occipital (visual) regions of the brain, the amygdala (emotional experience), and other key brain regions, what you think repetitively eventually becomes your reality. The more vivid your vision, the more intense the reality of your vision. Remember, this counts for negative thinking as well, so exercise your positive visions only!
- Am I making the most effective decisions? True leaders have an uncanny ability to process information swiftly and then pick the best choices from countless options. Indecision is a fatal flaw in the business world. The process of making decisions, as with many complex cognitive processes, involves a host of brain regions. Exercises that “work out” those areas of the brain can prove fruitful for navigating and excelling in the higher-level business environment. Advanced brain training programs like the Interactive Metronome, neurofeedback and transcranial magnetic stimulation can all help with strengthening our business acumen.
- How well do I communicate with others? Effective communication is very likely the most important trait for business leaders. If you can’t convey your vision, goals, and ethics to your organization, you will very likely not meet or exceed your expectations for success. Your brain is essentially a relay station—it needs to take information in and process it in order to deliver an effective response. Understanding of written, spoken, and visual information occurs primarily in Wernicke’s area, located in the back left part of your brain. Oral (expressive) communication is largely a function of Broca’s area in the left front part of your brain. These areas can in fact be strengthened through targeted neurological exercises once imbalances are identified through neurological evaluation and diagnostic testing.
- How good am I at creating and managing effective relationships? Our “social brain” plays very heavily into our success or failure in business. Effective leaders are very often great builders, connectors, and maintainers of quality relationships. From more primitive roots in protection of a species, to more modern applications of personal and professional growth, our social brain needs to be exercised in order for us to thrive. While the traditional means of socialization such as churches, communities, service organizations, etc. are all vital to sustaining the brain networks involved in socialization, there are more advanced applications to help folks expand their relationship horizons. Neurofeedback, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and certain types of psychological counseling are examples of proven methods for strengthening your social brain.
- How mentally adaptable and flexible am I? Cognitive flexibility is one of the biggest buzzwords in the behavioral and psychological sciences today. The brain’s ability to process multiple thoughts or concepts simultaneously (i.e. multitasking) has been hotly debated over time. One thing we do know is that our brains are increasingly tasked with handling greater and greater loads of information. How can a brain that has lost cognitive flexibility be expected to thrive in the business world? In the worst cases, this overload can result in behavioral and mental disorders. Modalities such as neurofeedback and meditation, along with other targeted brain training strategies, are proving quite effective for enhancing cognitive flexibility.
Sense of purpose, clarity of thought, communication skills, motivation, and countless other uniquely human brain traits determine the level of success you will achieve in your professional life. Brain training may hold the key to achieving more than you thought possible. Are you are ready to elevate your level of leadership by harnessing the unlimited power of your brain?
About the Author:
Dr. Michael Trayford is a board certified Chiropractic Neurologist and founder of APEX Brain Centers. APEX Brain Centers use cutting edge techniques and technology to optimize brain function. Their program is safe, effective, research-backed and offers hope to people who are having neurological issues. Dr. Michael Trayford and his team offer help for people suffering from concussions, memory loss, Alzheimers and ADD Brain Training at APEX Brain Centers. Learn more about Brain Training at the APEX Brain Centers website.
Learn more about Brain Training at: http://www.ApexBrainCenters.com
