Maintain A Creative Brain
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We’ve know for some time that leaders require higher levels of emotional intelligence as they career advance. There’s now accumulating evidence that cognitive fitness is becoming a focal area for a high-achieving leader.

It turns out that a lot of what we previously thought about the brain isn’t true.

We’ve discovered, for example, that the brain continues to grow well into our later years through a process called “neuroplasticity.” It accommodates learning by producing new neurons, cells that help transfer information.

With physical training, your body responds to demands by strengthening muscle groups. Similarly, the brain will expand (or not) depending on the challenges you tackle. That’s the good news.

The bad news? If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.



Brain-imaging studies indicate that acquired expertise in diverse areasplaying the cello or speaking a foreign languagehelps expand our neural systems. In other words, you can physically change your brain by learning new skills.

On-the-Job Brain Fitness

Professors Roderick Gilkey and Clint Kilts describe the benefits of cognitive fitness for leaders:




Learn through observing. “Mirror neurons,” activated when we observe someone performing an action, help us learn new tasks and behaviors. Athletes often acquire skills by watching teammates drill, score and fumble.

Read the signs. Mirror neurons can also pick up on facial expressions, gestures and signals. You develop empathy by learning how to read other people’s body language.



Take advantage of direct experience. One of the most powerful ways to gain direct experience, while also flexing your cognitive muscles, is taking a “walkabout” (also known as “management by walking around”). Taking time to talk with staff is one of the smartest leadership practices and well worth the invested time. When you share experiences, you gain a more comprehensive understanding of what happens at other organizational levels.



Play as hard as you work. If you’re not enjoying yourself, you won’t stay with a task long enough to master it. Find ways to bring enjoyment to your work. Studies show that being in a good mood sets the stage for enhanced creativity and decision-making. Play improves your ability to reason and make sense of the world.


Develop a beginner’s mind. Buddhists advocate developing a “beginner’s mind,” in which you step back from current thinking and conventions to cultivate new solutions. When you don’t feel compelled to have all the answers and allow for doubt, you encourage fresh perspectives.

The Brain Advantage



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Moty Koppes













