Dr David Rock from the NeuroLeadership Institute is set to deliver a keynote address at the 2021 IPAA National Conference this October.
Neuroleadership has come into the spotlight in recent years, with Dr Rock, in fact, coining the term ‘Neuroleadership’ in recognition that a more concrete, science-based approach to growing soft skills would not just resonate with organisational leaders but also make any change initiative more effective.
Applying Neuroleadership Approaches to ‘Ride the Wave of Transformation’
The theme of this year’s National Conference ‘Riding the Wave of Transformation’ will reflect upon the opportunities and changes we have faced as a public service in recent times, and what the future might look like. Neuroleadership approaches to leadership can provide us with new ways to build a positive culture in the workplace that enhances performance and outcomes by understanding the innate psychological principles influencing the behaviour and responses of staff.
In this article ‘How you can apply Neuroleadership to manage others’ we explore the key principles of neuroleadership at a glance. As a topic that many of us might have encountered at only a cursory level, it’s important to understand how this area of leadership development can help you in leading teams or organisations that are engaged, satisfied, productive and motivated. The vital principle of the ‘threat – reward’ response illustrated below highlights the positive outcomes of environments that put our brains in the reward state, and in turn, the adverse effects of perceived threats in the environment.
You can take the next steps in applying neuroleadership principles to your leadership style with several opportunities coming up…
The NeuroLeadership Institute is now a 23-year-old cognitive science consultancy that has advised more than 50% of the Fortune 100. With operations in 24 countries, the Institute brings neuroscientists and leadership experts together to make organisations better for humans through science. David has a professional doctorate in the Neuroscience of Leadership, and is the author of four books including Your Brain at Work, a business-bestseller. He has written for and been quoted in hundreds of articles about leadership, organizational effectiveness, and the brain which can be found in Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, Inc., USA Today, BBC, The Boston Globe and more.
Networking is an effective career development tool that provides access to opportunities that may not be available through other career development methods. Networking is an effective way to keep up to date with industry trends, develop relationships, reveal promising business opportunities, and foster the development of skills and knowledge. Whether you are attending a formal or informal networking event, the following tips can help you maximise the positive benefits associated with networking.
Although it is not always possible to identify who will be in attendance prior to an event, if the opportunity presents itself, it is worthwhile pursuing as promising networking opportunities may reveal themselves. This will assist in creating a networking strategy to inform who you specifically want to connect with. This will help cut through the clutter and make your networking more efficient. By not preparing, you may miss out on potential opportunities if you are unable to identify people of interest during the event. If you do not have the resources to identify who will be in attendance, ask people within your network to see if they have insight.
Waiting for other people to come and talk to you at networking events limits your chance of connecting with new people and being exposed to opportunities. Of course, the idea of going up to strangers to engage in conversation can be quite intimidating. However, it is important to remind yourself that most people who attend networking events are genuinely interested in meeting new people and learning about them. Preparation also makes this easier, as it is more difficult to introduce yourself to someone who you know nothing about than it is with someone you have some basic insight on.
The Do’s and Dont’s of Networking
When talking to new people, you are almost guaranteed to be asked some variant of the question “who are you and what do you do?” or the dreaded “tell me about yourself”. When put on the spot, it can be challenging to respond to these prompts in much detail. As such, many people either keep their answers brief and forgo important details or give extended responses that are not succinct. To avoid this, prepare a short ‘elevator pitch’ that includes the basic details of who you are and what you do. Be sure to also include your unique selling point. This may relate to skills you possess that are unique within your industry, your experiences, or any awards/accolades you have earned. Just be sure not to be too static or scripted in your delivery!
Have you ever been stuck in a conversation with someone that has only been interested in talking about themselves? Keeping yourself as the focus of conversations is one of the quickest ways to disengage with people and limit your chances of developing long-lasting relationships. While it is important to talk about yourself so that others can get to know you, it is equally important to ask questions of others so they have the chance to do so as well. Not only will this improve their engagement in the conversation and opinion of you, but it is also an opportunity to learn about them, their experiences, and their knowledge, which may provide worthwhile insight.
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