Crisis and the brain. Optimal leading/learning environment. How the brain learns.

1. Neuroleadership
Leading with the brain in mind
Bill Flynn
Certificate of Distinction -
Foundations of Neuroleadership
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2. Something to think about
If you knew a few key things that would
ultimately accelerate joyful learning, what
would it mean to you?
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3. Bill Flynn - Bio
• Business Experience
• Worked for/advised over 100 companies including 20+ startups (10 operationally; 5 successful
outcomes)
• 8-time startup VP, WW Sales - UK, Singapore
• 2-time CMO
• GM – Division of $120MM IT services company
• 2 IPOs and 7 acquisitions
• Coaching Experience
• 11+ years as a business advisor/coach
• Certified Growth coach (4 years)
• Predictive Index Certified Partner
• Mass MEP Partner/Speaker
• Certified Vistage Speaker
• Certified with Distinction - Foundations of NeuroLeadership
• Mass Challenge Mentor
• Author
• Further, Faster
• 100+ blog posts
• Speaker
• Vistage
• EO/YPO
• Various Conferences/organizations
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4. Agenda
• Crisis and the brain
• Optimal leading/learning
environment
• How the brain learns
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5. Crisis and the Brain
•Heightened sensory level
•Higher stress and anxiety
–Sustained stress affects
focus, attention and
productivity
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6. COVID-19
Three Threat Levels
Level 1 - Broader Environment
Level 2 - Neighborhood
Level 3 - Upon You
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7. COVID-19
Three Threat Levels
Level 1 - Broader Environment
Level 2 - Neighborhood
Level 3 - Upon You
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8. Positive State Strategies
• Certainty:
– Daily routine can help create a sense of normalcy
and certainty
• Choices:
– Provide sense of control/meaningful work
– Provide opportunity for choice/autonomy
• Relatedness:
– Provide sense of community
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9. A More Beautiful Question
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10. Two Questions
1. When you were ”in the learning groove”,
what is one word to describe how you
felt?
2. Think about something complicated that
you know or know how to do extremely
well. What was the process you went
through to mastery?
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11. Two Questions
1. When you were ”in the learning groove”,
what is one word to describe how you
felt?
2. What do you know or know how to do
extremely well? Think about how that
happened. What was the process?
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12. 2X
The Brain seeks reward and avoids threat –
~5x/sec
Physical ≈ Social
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13. SCARF Model
Status
Certainty
Autonomy
Relatedness
Fairness
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14. Status
Relative importance to others 14

15. Certainty
Being able to predict the future 15

16. Autonomy
A sense of control over events 16

17. Relatedness
A sense of connection 17

18. Fairness
Perception of fair exchange 18

19. Review
• Three threat levels
• Positive Strategies
– Certainty/Routine
– Autonomy/Control
– Community/Togetherness
• Sublime questions
• Psychological Safety/SCARF
– Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness,
Fairness
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20. Two Questions
1. When you were ”in the learning groove”,
what is one word to describe how you
felt?
2. Think about something complicated that
you know or know how to do extremely
well. What was the process you went
through to mastery?
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21. How does the brain learn?
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22. AGES Model Explained
Attention – Focus -> Consequence
Generation – Meaning, Connections
Emotion – Significance, Anticipation
Spacing – Repetition -> Retrieval
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23. AGES Model Explained
Attention – Focus -> Consequence
Generation – Meaning, Connections
Emotion – Significance, Anticipation
Spacing – Repetition -> Retrieval
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24. Review
• Three threat levels
• Positive Strategies
– Certainty/Routine
– Autonomy/Control
– Community/Togetherness
• The beauty of questions
• Psychological Safety/SCARF
• AGES Learning model
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25. Resources
• Neuroleadership Institute
• Books
– Your Brain at Work – Dr. David Rock
– Brain Rules – Dr. John Medina
– Further, Faster – Bill Flynn
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26. Edves Catalyst 2020
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