Building highly effective teams is based on recognizing drive and passion. New research makes that search easier and guides our coaching strategy.

1. What's ‘Buzzing’ You? The new science of performance , productivity and passion in the workplace! Russ Smith [email_address] Canada June 2009

2. Plug into the 'reward cycle'. It’s one of the most powerful technologies ever created by nature. Perfected longer than the human brain or binocular vision. And it's FREE!

3. Ask any coach! Getting humans from point A to point B is not always easy. Billions of years of evolution has a solution . . . The dopamine 'reward cycle'.

4. Dopamine is everything! You don't need to be a neuroscientist to understand how this powerful technology works. Every single goal we achieve involves our 'reward cycle' machinery.

5. How does the cycle work? Every time you achieve even a minute goal, your reward system injects dopamine into your brain. Dopamine is chemically similar to cocaine – a very powerful incentive. It makes you feel content, happy and energized.

6. Even basic goals? Getting out of bed, combing your hair, eating breakfast, catching the bus? All are goals. Based on recent research – ALL are dependant on the 'reward cycle‘ .

7. But it gets better! Big exciting goals generate more of a buzz then the common goals. Goals that are the most important to us generate the biggest buzz. That’s how people are able to achieve amazing goals like climbing mountains and building great companies.

8. The 'buzz' methodology. People with brain damage to their 'dopamine center' will stay in the shower for hours. We need the 'buzz' of dopamine to move us on to our next goals. Whether big or small.

9. How do we know when we’ve decided? Survivors of brain trauma to their dopamine centers can’t decide on even the simplest choices – like what to eat for breakfast. They also lack drive and passion .

10. No two people are the same! Everyones abilities vary widely . . . . . . from hearing, strength, vision, or hitting a golf ball 300 yards . . . none of us have the same level of natural ability. Same with ‘drive’.

11. Where do you fall on the 'drive' range? People's drive and passion vary across a wide spectrum. As a coach and manager your job is to find only the best .

12. Step 1 Find and hire people with passion! You can't create drive. You can only channel people who are driven. They live for the ‘buzz’.

13. What does passion look like? Ask people what they love. Watch for changes in body language. Watch their energy level. Listen for stories of accomplishment. Ask them how interests relate to work. What problems have they overcome?

14. Step 2 Map out their ‘drives’! You need to know the specific details about what moves each team member forward. Or backward. You need to get granular.

15. Do you know what your people love to do? Be exact! Dig down for details. Can that ‘drive’ work on the job? Do they also have a passion for closure? Do they have the skills to follow through?

16. Step 3 Hijack! The human reward cycle was designed to be hi-jacked. We do it every day. Help your people leverage that power for good.

17. Hijacking is not hard! Example: Jane loves helping people. Then put her in a role where she helps your customers. If she hates confrontation, don’t make bill collection part of her job. The better the fit, the more productive she will be.

18. Step 4 Never throw water on a roaring fire! You have more power to de-motivate than you can ever imagine. "Do no harm" should be your motto.

19. Why is this new? The discoveries around our ‘reward cycle’ came about mostly through the invention of new hyper-scanning FMRI technology. Neuroscientists can now actually watch our brains process information.

20. Interested in more info? . How the Mind Works Steven Pinker Your Brain Is Almost Perfect Read Montague Your Money And Your Brain Jason Zweig Buyology: Truth & Lies About Why We Buy Martin Lindstrom

21. For more information Russ Smith [email_address]