MODERN THINKING
to build profit through investment in
technology and expertise. While still
relevant, forward thinking business
is now looking to invest in what is
called their existing mental capital.
A vast amount of time, effort and
energy is invested in recruiting and
retaining the best staff. It makes
sense to ensure that every staff
member is given the opportunity to
work to their best capacity through
developing a workplace culture
based on shared values, beliefs
and purpose. Cutting through
the jargon, what this implies is
that fundamentally business is
about people and the business of
relationships.
A workplace that is people focused,
results in staff enjoying their work
more, helps them retain a higher
level of energy and enthusiasm, and
builds confidence in their ability to
do their work well. When people feel
valued, respected and supported for
the work they deliver, we contribute
more and to a higher level.
In a study published by the Society
of Knowledge Economics in 2011
it was shown how in the highest
performing workplaces, the key
differences lay in how people
behaved and interacted with each
other, leading to a 12 % higher level
of productivity and a profit margin
three times higher than in the low
performing workplaces.
While happiness and better health
can be difficult parameters to
measure, the value of brain fitness
shows up in lower staff turnover
rates, reduced sick leave and
improved profit margins. There are
a number of ways organisations can
quickly and easily incorporate some
of the brain fitness principles:
1
Review reported fatigue
levels.
Operating tired is a cognitive
menace because it reduces
concentration and is associated
with higher rates of human
error, miscommunication and
misunderstanding. When we have
been awake for over 17 hours our
ability to think has been reduced
to the equivalent to operating with
a blood alcohol level of O.05%.
Encouraging staff to not work
extended hours consistently, helps
keep everyone safe.
2
Stay on the move.
Prolonged sitting at our
desks reduces blood flow to the
brain and has been shown to
boost anxiety levels. Exercise or
increased physical activity during
the workday has been shown to
boost attention, lift mood and
increase performance. Encouraging
people to walk rather than take
the elevator, or to stand while on
the phone or in meetings has been
shown to increase energy levels and
productivity.
4
Find your thinking space.
Overbusy brains find it harder
to switch off leading to poor
sleep patterns and increasing
fatigue. Many people today report
how hard it is to find the thinking
space required to pause and
reflect. Scheduling a 20-minute
appointment with yourself is a
great way to start. This could be as
simple as closing the office door
with a do-not-disturb sign, a 20
minute interlude listening to a piece
of your favourite music, a brief
meditation or getting outside to a
nearby green space.
Organisational health is a must
not a maybe for future potential
business growth and success.
Integrating brain fitness is the
logical next step because it
provides the means to know how
to lead, change and adapt in
response to our rapidly changing
environment, and create a brain
healthy workplace that leads to high
performance.
3
Take regular brain breaks.
The human brain was designed
to apply focus in chunks of time.
Attempting to stay focused on
work-tasks for hours on end is
cognitively exhausting and sets
us up to make more mistakes
and take longer to complete our
work. By working in blocks of high
focus time of 60-90 minutes and
then taking a 10-15 minute break,
we provide our brain the break it
needs to consolidate thoughts and
learning and opens us up to mo