COACHING AND

THE BRAIN

Jane Creswell, MCC

August 1, 2013

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Agenda

• Physiology of the Brain • Neural Networks• Storing/Retrieving Information

• Fear• Application to Coaching

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The Brain

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The Brain in Your Hand

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Cortex

Brain stemLimbic

system

Left side view

Front view

From “Coaching With the Brain in Mind” by David Rock and Linda Page

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The Cortex

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MotorCortex

Limbic system

Left side view

RearAssociation area

SensoryCortex

Pre-frontalCortex

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Neural Networks

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Retrieving, Storing, Retaining Info

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Memory StructureMemory Structure

Aging Long-Term Memory

Short Term Memory

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Your Multiple Brains

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Cephalic Brain (50-100B neurons): Cognitive Perception Thinking Making Meaning

  Cardiac Brain (30-120K neurons) :

Emoting Valuing Relational Affect

  Enteric Brain (200-500M neurons):

Identity Self Preservation Mobilization

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Fear

Thalamus: Determines where to send dataSensory cortex - Interprets sensory data Hippocampus – Memory; processes stimuli to establish context Amygdala - Decodes emotions; stores fear memories Hypothalamus - activates "fight or flight" response

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Pattern Matching and Metaphor

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Key Brain Function Concepts

 Use it or Lose it

The Brain is Changing Every Second  Parts of the Brain Used Most Grow Strongest  Free Will has Significant Impact

Fear Inhibits Learning

The Brain is a Pattern Matching System Metaphor: Most Readily Accepted Form of Learning

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Application to Coaching

• Developing the Relationship

• Coaching Presence

• Active Listening

• Powerful Questions

• Direct Communication

• Creating Awareness

• Designing Actions

• Managing Progress and Accountability

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Resources for Coaching and the Brain: Books

• A User’s Guide to the Brain - by John J. Ratey, MD

• The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science – Norman Doidge

• Brains: How They Seem to Work – Dale Purves

• Cellular Wisdom for Women – Joan C. King

• Coaching with the Brain in Mind: Foundations for Practice – David Rock and Linda Page

• Your Brain and Business: The Neuroscience of Great Leaders – Srinivasan S. Pillay

• Your Brain at Work – David Rock

• Using Your Multiple Brains to Do Cool Stuff – Marvin Oka and Grant Soosalu

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Resources for Coaching and the Brain: Web

• The NeuroLeadership Institute– www.neuroleadership.org/

• The Lunbeck Institute; Images of the Brain– www.cnsforum.com

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• How Stuff Works: The brain’s response to fear– health.howstuffworks.com

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